Hartlepool manager Matthew Bates insist his side are relishing their trip to second placed Leyton Orient tomorrow. Orient’s “football for a fiver” initiative has led to a sold out Breyer Group Stadium with Bates hoping his side can spoil that day. Speaking to hartlepoolunited.co.uk “we go there full of confidence and nothing to fear. We are second favourites which takes some pressure off. The lads can go out express themselves, get on the ball and we aim to do that”

• League Record – P15  W7  D6  L2  F18  A14
• Only lost one of last 12 – W7 D4  L1

Pool arrive in E10 following their first win in three last weekend. A goal in each half from defender Andrew Davies saw off Boreham Wood and moved Hartlepool up to sixth in the table. Assistant Manager Ged McNamee admitted his side altered their approach but was pleased with the victory. Speaking to Non League Paper “it’s a perfect day, a tough game, they make it hard for you, they are physical and direct. We were aware of that and we had to match them. We played a bit less, got the forward earlier and came away with a result”.

Hartlepool’s Last Six Results

Davies joined Hartlepool in the summer from Ross County and is now getting back after a stop start beginning to his Pool career. The 33 year old was delighted that his side were able to do the other side of the game to win. Speaking to Hartlepool Mail “Saturday was one of our most pleasing wins. Opposition teams are not going to let us pass them off the park and it showed we can do the ugly side as well which is a massive boost for the lads”

• Kept Four clean sheets – one away
• First clean sheet in five vs Boreham Wood
• Kept three clean sheets in last seven
• Kept just one away clean sheet in last 21 away games 

Bates took full time charge of Hartlepool in May after Raj Singh’s takeover and his side have continued to grow. The 31 year old has never lost at the Breyer Group Stadium when he’s played and wants his managerial reign to take a similar route. Speaking to hartlepoolunited.co.uk “I have always liked going to Leyton Orient as a player and I’m looking forward to going there as a manager. We’ve had some good results down there. It will be a good game, one that I’m excited for and I know the players are”.

• Failed to score in four games 
• Scored in last two and five of last six
• Scored in 12 of last 13 away games
• Scored 11/18 goals in second half (including 6/9 away goals)
• Four of their last seven goals have been in second half

With a crowd of over 8000 expected, it will be one of the highest in England and Bates knows that the occasion should not faze his players. Speaking to hartlepoolunited.co.uk “we have got a good group in there, the senior players have played in that type of atmosphere and much bigger than that. We’re used to playing in front of big crowds at home, we aim for it to give us a boost. The lads are excited for Saturday”.

• Hartlepool are the only side not to score or conceded in first 15 minutes of games
• 12/14 goals conceded have been in the second half
• Only Dover (12) have conceded more goals in last 30 minutes of matches than Hartlepool (11)

Davies has started the last four league games after returning from injury and relishes that his side are able to test themselves against one of the top guns. Speaking to Hartlepool Mail  “it will be tough, but let’s knock them off their perch, that’s the biggest thing for me. I love going away to play the best teams. They are showing they are one of the best at the minute but let’s see. We are really looking forward to it”.

Hartlepool’s Next Six Fixtures

Bates’s Pool have the third best away record in the League, only losing to Salford on their travels this season. The 31 year old knows his side will be the underdogs tomorrow, “ no one is expecting us to get anything going to Leyton Orient. We are, we ain’t going just for the day out, we are going to pick points up. There’s no reason we can’t”.

• Away Record – P7  W4  D2  L1  F9  A8
• Only Orient and Harrogate (18) have taken more points away
• Won four of their last five
• Only lost one of their last 12 away – W7  D4  L1
• Last four wins have been by just one goal

Team News

Hartlepool should have striker Luke James available after the striker pulled out of England C duty in midweek. Myles Anderson should be fit after continuing his return from injury in midweek but doubts still remain on Paddy McLaughlin (groin) and Peter Kioso (hamstring). Luke Williams remains absent through injury.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 20, Draw 9, Hartlepool 21

• Hartlepool won both games between sides last season
• Both teams have scored in five of the last seven meetings
• Pools have won two of the last three games at the Breyer Group Stadium
• Hartlepool have scored in four of the last five trips to Orient
• No draw in last nine meetings and just one in last 16 meetings

The Last Eight Meetings between sides

Last Time Out – Hartlepool 2-0 Boreham Wood

Starting 11 vs Boreham Wood

Prediction – Leyton Orient 1-1 Hartlepool