We can't keep giving teams starts, insists Hartlepool United's Michael Woods

The midfielder admits it is frustrating that Pools are performing so strongly at the Northern Gas & Power Stadium but letting themselves down on their travels.

Pools head to Cambridge tonight for another crucial League Two contest.

Only 10 games remain and while Pools currently have a six-point cushion with second-bottom side Leyton Orient, it is hardly a commanding lead, especially with a fifth of the programme still to run after this evening.

Pools are unbeaten in five fixtures at home, but have lost the last five, the most recent two trips ending in 2-1 set-backs at Colchester and Notts County.

The side have played good football in both but have conceded two-goal leads in both before making late comebacks which have fallen just short.

“You can’t keep giving teams head starts,” said the midfielder.

“We’ve given ourselves chances by getting to half-time 0-0 but then given goals away.

“That’s something we are going to have to stop doing.

“The teams around us are fighting and picking points.”

Tonight gives Pools an opportunity to make amends for one of their most humiliating results of the season when Cambridge came to the Vic and won 5-0 in December.

“I think we owe them one,” said Woods.

“We’ve been playing some good football way from home, without getting results, so we have to go there full of belief.”