Thomas: Hartlepool can do something special

The in-form advanced player says Pools are looking to continue their strong finish to the campaign to build a platform for a push next season.

Thomas insists Pools’ days of being a bottom-of-the-table struggler will now be a thing of the past.

“Hartlepool United are a big enough club to say ‘we should not be fighting relegation every season’,” said Thomas.

“If anything, we should be fighting at the other end of the league.

“I think we are building towards something special.

“That’s four unbeaten now and if we can keep going the way we are going, we can really can make a platform for next season we can push from.”

Of course, it is early days still in the reign of Craig Hignett, but the boss registered his third clean sheet in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Crawley Town.

It takes him to a record of three wins, three draws and three defeats from his nine games in charge – 12 points from a possible 27.

Thomas says Hignett’s influence is taking full effect and the side want to end the programme as high as they can.

“We want to keep this unbeaten run going,” said the 21-year-old, who came the closest to breaking the deadlock at the Broadfield Stadium.

“The gaffer keeps referring to Northampton and their 10-game run.

“If we can do anything like that, you never know where we could end up.

“We have 11 games left and we want to look back in May and say that was a season we didn’t fight relegation.

“We want to be in a position where we can say that was pretty solid.

“Team spirit is better than it’s ever been and results of course have helped there.

“We had that win at Barnet, then another [against Dagenham], plus the two 0-0 draws away from home over the last week.

“We are probably in the best form we’ve been in all season.

“Everyone in the squad is pulling in the same direction and want Hartlepool United up the league to somewhere where we should be.”

Thomas says for all the optimism for the remainder of the campaign, there is no complacency.

Pools have a nine-point advantage over York City in second bottom and hopes a win over Wimbledon at Victoria Park could make the cushion even more comfortable.

“If we did get three points, we must be pretty much safe, maybe two more wins?” said Thomas.

“The quicker we get those wins the better.

“And when we do, we’ll be a different team and you’ll see how good we really are.

“When we came into the dressing room after Saturday’s match, Scotty Harrison was doing a Jeff Stelling, reading the scores out as they came in.

“We were disappointed not to have won so when the other results went our way it felt great.

“To look at the table now to see the gap is nine points, not one or two like it was at one stage, it feels brilliant.”