Pool boss demands clinical finishing

Pool face Scunthorpe this afternoon looking for their first win of 2016 – one which would likely drag them out of the League One drop zone.

Three defeats on the bounce have highlighted Pool’s lack of bite in front of goal – backed up by statistics showing they create just one third of the chances their opponents do.

That has led to Pool being the lowest scorers in League One and struggling at the wrong end of the table.

But it’s not the problem of creating chances which concerns the manager.

“Taking chances has been our nemesis all season really,” said McDonald.

“We’ve created chances but we haven’t been clinical in front of goal.

“When we have created chances we’ve not taken them.

“It’s not through the lack of trying, the games have been close. We’ve lost the last couple 1-0 so things are close.

“It’s in the box which we need to improve in, keeping clean sheets and putting the ball into the net.”

Pool welcome back top scorer Mark Cullen this afternoon . He has shaken off an injury which saw him miss last weekend’s defeat against Port Vale. Cullen’s seven goals have been vital for Pool so far, but he’s had very little support from his team mates.

And McDonald wants the rest of his squad to start to chip in.

He said: “I think everyone has to try and contribute.

“We have Brad Potts who has scored three, he can he get into the box more and score more goals.

“But it’s not just Brad, we have a couple of centre halves who scores goals from set plays.

“Whoever these chances fall to must hit the target and if we can score then even better.”

n Former Blackpool boss Jose Riga has been named manager of Championship strugglers Charlton.

The 58-year-old spent three months in charge of the Addicks at the end of the 2013-14 campaign, keeping the club in the Championship.

Since leaving The Valley the Belgian has spent time in charge of Blackpool, Standard Liege and Metz.

Riga replaces compatriot Karel Fraeye - former Blackpool striker Jason Euell is on the Addicks’ coaching staff.