Nicky Featherstone says team-mates must find consistency for Hartlepool United

Pools head into a vital clash with third-placed Macclesfield Town at Victoria Park on Saturday, when they can’t contemplate back-to-back defeats.

Craig Harrison’s side have lost two of their last three fixtures, failing to score in either.

Pools go into the mid-point of the season in 13th place and can’t afford to lose ground with the sides in the top seven.

In between the setbacks to Aldershot and Ebbsfleet, Pools thumped Halifax 4-0, an indication of what they might be capable of.

Featherstone said it was about time the players produced the goods, every Saturday.

“I think us as players have to look at ourselves,” he said.

“The staff have done everything they can for us.

“It’s time for the players to stand up and be counted – there is not enough consistency.

“We’re going to have to find it from somewhere.

“Any defeat is hard to take, but Ebbsfleet especially, after coming off the back of such a good win and performance.

“To beat Halifax 4-0 then go and give that performance was not good enough.”

Featherstone insists there must be more blood, sweat and tears shed by the blue and whites.

The experienced midfielder said that Pools fans will accept a drop off in quality providing the players put the effort in.

“It felt like the game passed us by, there was no real fight and fight is what the fans want to see,” he said.

“They want to see the players working hard and they will accept a tough day if you put yourself about.

“We need to find the consistency because it’s hard to take and fathom how we can go from Halifax to Ebbsfleet.”

Pools are about to go into two huge Saturdays, afternoons which could define their season.

The side host the Silkmen at the weekend ahead of a trip to another automatic promotion hopeful, Dover Athletic, a week later.

Featherstone insists Pools should put the same effort into every game but conceded that clashes against two of the big boys might help.

“It should not matter,” he explained.

“We should raise it for every game, but it might help.

“We tend to do well against the better teams – that happened in League Two.

“But it’s finding the consistency, that’s the key, and get our attacking players on the ball.

“When the lads are on it, we’re hard to stop. You saw that against Halifax.

“We got the ball up to them just as much at Ebbsfleet, but, for whatever reason, it didn’t come off.

“That sometimes happens, but then that puts a huge pressure on the midfield, defence and keeper to keep a clean sheet. You have no room for error.

“Take out Halifax, we’re not scoring, something needs to improve, and finding some consistency would be a good start.”