Turner takes Hart from experience

Clive Walker's penalty miss and an own-goal from Gordon Chisholm left Turner in despair and Norwich City with their hands on the trophy.

Victory would have been a fitting finale to Turner's Sunderland career but it wasn't to be and the goalkeeper signed for Manchester United that summer, leaving just a highly favourable impression behind him after more than 200 games for the club.

Embarking on another League Cup journey at Burnley tonight, Turner's sights will be on more modest progress.

But if his Hartlepool United side could pull off a two-legged victory over the Clarets in round one, it would surely rank as one of his finest achievements.

Pool will be no mugs, having reached the Third Division play-off semi-finals last season.

But consigning Burnley to a third straight first-round exit would still represent a major giant-killing.

Boss Turner, in his first management position, admits that the odds are stacked against his side, which has been built on a shoestring budget and is without three key defenders, but is hoping for a bit of the old cup magic to keep the tie alive for the return in the North East in a fortnight's time.

He said: "Obviously if we were to play a club like Burnley over 10 games they should be clear winners.

"But over two games anything can happen and we will go there and make it as tough as possible for them.

"A lot of our players will be wanting to test themselves against a First Division side, from the young lads who are ambitious and want to play at a higher level to the older lads, such as Paul Stephenson, who will be wanting to test themselves against the likes of Kevin Ball and show they can compete."

Hartlepool's recent pedigree in the competition isn't great.

They haven't reached round two for five years but last season pushed First Division Crewe close, losing 4-3 on aggregate.

And Turner is also hoping that a pre-season performance against Barnsley will stand his team of free transfers and homegrown youngsters in good stead.

"We are hoping to show what we are capable of. We held our own during the summer when we drew 0-0 with Barnsley and I don't think we will get a mauling by Burnley.

"We will play our normal game and see how we go," added the ambitious Turner, who also has his sights set firmly beyond this first-round tie. I would love to take Hartlepool into the First Division and this will be a good test for us for the future," he said.

Tonight's game will represent something of a who's who of Sunderland football with Turner's former Roker team-mate Colin West alongside him on the bench as his number two.

Opposing them will be old Rokerites Kevin Ball, Phil Gray and John Mullin, while Gordon Armstrong was a youth trainee on Wearside as Turner and West were moving towards the end of their Sunderland days.

However, the Newcastle connection is also strong in the Hartlepool ranks with Stephenson and summer signing Anth Lormor both key players. The duo have done the rounds since launching their careers at St James's Park.

Stephenson boasts a cultured left foot in the Pool midfield, while Lormor has been signed to score the goals alongside former Clarets front man Kevin Henderson.

And Burnley boss Stan Ternent won't take any liberties as he looks to improve on Burnley's recent dismal record in the competition.

He said: "I always field what I consider to be my strongest team for any particular game because no one game is any more important than another."

"And when people are paying money and coming to watch I think you owe it to them.

"I think the squad system is a decent system provided the players are happy with it and the club are in a financial position to reward the full squad.

"But when it comes to lower down it isn't just as easy. When you leave a Dwight Yorke or a Solskjaer on the bench financially they aren't embarrassed by it and they are still part and parcel of the squad and the team. They know that and the manager can look after them, where I just don't have that facility."