Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor on quick turnaround to face Notts County following 3-1 win over Halifax Town

Pools will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce after their 3-1 victory over Halifax moved them above Notts County and into third in the National League table.

But with The Magpies not playing a league match since December 15 due to coronavirus self-isolation procedures, Pools boss Dave Challinor is unsure what to expect from Monday’s opponents at Meadow Lane.

“They’re still up and around it and can go above us with the games they’ve got,” Challinor told The Mail.

“It’s a tough place to go in normal times and they haven’t played since the Stockport game in the league. We go into the unknown a little bit so we’ll have to adapt based on the team they name at 2pm.

"A lot of what we’ll do in preparation will be based around video clips and a whiteboard.

"We’ve started well the last two matches and the first bit of the game will be important. We know they’ll try and split and get around the back of us and have their centre-backs step in.

"Hopefully it’ll be a good game with two teams looking to play and this storm whatever her name is isn’t still around to ruin the game with horrific winds.”

Ahead of being appointed Pools boss last season, Challinor attended the 2-2 draw against Notts County in front of 5,258 supporters including 759 from Hartlepool.

"The shame with the game is that no fans will be in the ground,” added the Hartlepool manager.

"That was the first game I attended ahead of being appointed manager last season. It was a good game that you’re leading 2-0 then it swung on a moment just before half time and it ends 2-2.

"But it was a fantastic atmosphere and something that further whetted my appetite to be manager here. Hopefully we can get a positive result and keep looking at that table fondly.”

Left-back David Ferguson took a knock to the shin after colliding with the post in the win over Halifax and is a doubt for Monday’s match. Luke Molyneux and Luke Williams are in contention to be part of the matchday squad.

Despite naming an unchanged squad on Saturday, the quick turnaround could force Challinor’s hand.

“We’ll need to see how we are,” said the Hartlepool manager.

“There will be lads who are feeling it so we’ve got to be honest with players and they’ve got to be honest with us because it’s going to take a big effort for us to go there and play the way we want unless everyone is bang at it.

"I’m sure they will be and they’ll all want to play but they’ve got to be 100% because we can’t afford to carry any passengers but playing twice in 48-hours with a virtually unchanged squad would be a big ask.

"We’ll make decisions based on how we want to line-up and how everyone is feeling so we can hopefully go and win.”

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