Hartlepool United in desperate need of confidence boost

Hartlepool United‘s promotion push has hit a real roadblock in recent weeks, with the National League side falling to defeat in their last four league games.
Last weekend’s loss at home to Barnet left Matthew Bates’ side stranded in 12th place, six points adrift of the play-off positions and the Hartlepool boss admits that he is desperate to see his side return to form.
Speaking after Sunday’s defeat, Bates told Hartlepool Mail, “We went into the game on the back of three defeats. We all want to go on and win it, but individual errors cost us.
“It’s down to a mistake, we all make them as players, but it goes around the rest of the players on the pitch and we didn’t recover from it.
“I said after the game that we can’t do anything as coaches with individual efforts.
“We are going though a bad spell which we hoped would end today. It’s only the players who can eradicate those mistakes.
“We were without two defenders through suspensions and had a very young back four which was always a worry and we have two players to come back which is massive.”
Pools have an opportunity to return to winning ways in spectacular fashion as they seek a giant killing against League One side Gillingham in an FA Cup replay at Victoria Park on Wednesday night.