Wilson Wants Victoria Park Fortress

Last updated : 02 October 2007 By Thetashkentterror
Danny Wilson
'Pool boss Danny Wilson spoke to the Hartlepool Mail about his frustration at the atmosphere inside Victoria Park on Saturday during his side's first home defeat of the season, a game won 1-0 by Walsall thanks to a last-minute goal from veteran Saddlers midfielder Paul Hall :


"The atmosphere was flat. We want teams to come here and be scared. I've come here in the past and seen the team have a right go with the crowd roaring them on. The crowd here can intimidate teams and let's be honest, in the last two games it hasn't been like that.

"Why? I don't know, I'm not on the terrace. Maybe they are just expecting us to turn teams over, I don't know, but we need help at times. We need this place to be a fortress and not just because of us and what is happening on the pitch, but with the backing of the crowd as well.

"We want an atmosphere and a loud one created. I hope it's like that tomorrow night, I really do, because that might just push us forward a bit. It's a night game so that might help. We would like the crowd to come out tomorrow and get behind us in good voice - we all want utopia don't we?

"We came away from Leeds with great plaudits, came away from Orient with great plaudits. That's fantastic, and we think we are doing our bit for entertainment on those occasions. We need to get that atmosphere back in here. Whether we are waiting for things to happen first I don't know.

"Let's get back to where we were and let's make things happen. We have our responsibility as well, no-one is hiding from the fact. We are a club and we all pull together and work hand in hand. If we can give the crowd entertainment and they give us something back, then all the better - that's what we are looking for.''

"We want this place to be so up for it and loud and make teams wary of playing here. We want to be focused on our jobs with the crowd right behind us. We have gone into the games on the back of fantastic away performances at Leeds and then (Leyton) Orient and in the next home games we have been very flat.

"Maybe we still have the last game in our minds, I don't know. But Walsall had a lot to fight for, they were bottom of the league, so they weren't going to lie down. They had two banks of four tucking in to defend, but we lacked some spark. It was quiet on the pitch and off it. I don't know what fans expect to be honest, do they expect us to go out and blitz teams 5-0?

"Tomorrow cannot come quick enough for us. Everyone in the game strives for the chance to rectify things and that's what we have to do tomorrow. Ian (Moore) had a little bump in his car on Friday, where a van went into the back of him. He's all right, he's fine but has a little bit of a neck problem. I hope he's OK for tomorrow and we will have a look at him, but he is a little bit sore and stiff."