Hartlepool United 2-0 Notts County analysed: How Dave Challinor is turning his side into a National League powerhouse as their play-off hunt is kept alive with a fourth straight win at Victoria Park

3,839 fans, including 422 from Notts, packed into The Vic on Saturday to witness another fine performance from Dave Challinor’s side as they brushed aside another play-off contender.

The 2-0 victory sees Pools move to within a point of The Magpies in the final play-off place going into the final 11 matches of the campaign.

After a goalless first half, a 10-minute brace from an unlikely source in Nicky Featherstone put the hosts in a commanding position which they saw out with ease.

Much like their previous three home victories, Pools were on the front foot from the start as they put County under real pressure.

Ryan Donaldson and Gime Toure came close in the opening couple of minutes following some good work from Mark Kitching down the left-hand side.

Rob Harker, who was later forced off due to a twisted ankle, came close with a header and Mark Shelton volleyed over in the first half.

United may have felt slightly unfortunate to be level at the break but they certainly had a slice of good luck when they took the lead just moments after the restart.

Featherstone's high ball into the box was completely misjudged by Notts goalkeeper Joe McDonnell in difficult conditions as the delivery found its way into the back of the net.

Just over 10-minutes later, another cross from the 31-year-old missed everyone and curled into the bottom right corner of the goal to double Pools’ advantage.

It also doubled Featherstone’s goal tally for the season with the first brace of his professional career. It turns out the midfielder can in fact score from anywhere, even when he’s not trying to!

Featherstone was rightly named man of the match and is proving to be the frontrunner for Pools’ player of the season as it stands.

This season, he’s evolved from being a clever, technical playmaker to being the standout dictator and influencer in the midfield. His off the ball work must also be commended and he’s one player that epitomises the intensity and endeavour being shown from the team as a whole.

He will get the plaudits but everyone deserves credit for the progress the side is finally starting to show on the pitch as they claimed back to back wins for the first time under Challinor.

The loan arrivals of Macauley Southam-Hales, Timi Odusina, Mark Shelton, Gary Liddle and Rob Harker have helped transform Pools into a high-energy powerhouse in the National League.

Southam-Hales and Odusina were rarely tested at the back against Notts County but conducted themselves exceptionally as Pools kept their third clean sheet in four matches since the pair’s arrival.

When Peter Kioso left the club last month, some may have feared the worst but Southam-Hales has come in on loan from Fleetwood Town and slotted into the side seamlessly.

Odusina is the type of defender that plays on the edge, he’s a confident young lad and will bring the ball out from the back, charge forward and dive in – it can be risky but when it comes off it looks remarkably impressive.

Kitching also deserves praise for the way he tirelessly works down that left-hand side. There is still stuff to work on defensively but he’s always an outlet and shows the energy that Pools need to get forward and create chances.

His link-up work with Toure is also helping the Frenchman get back to his frighteningly threatening self as the team as a whole starting to benefit from the more intense approach being implemented by Challinor.

It’s four wins in a row at The Vic for the first time since 2016 and what is most impressive about that feat is that there has been no real element of fortune or 'snatching’ of three points – Pools have outbattled and outplayed whatever has been put in front of them.

With one defeat in seven and four wins in that time, things are really starting to look up for Pools at a crucial stage in the season.

A real sign of encouragement is that they’ve also been taking points off their so-called ‘play-off rivals’. Barrow, Yeovil, Dover, Stockport and Notts County have all failed to beat Pools recently despite sitting above them in the table.

The team must take confidence from these results and harness it to develop the momentum and consistency required to properly challenge for a top-seven spot.

Even when results weren't going his side's way, Challinor talked a good game and stressed that Pools were a work in progress. While they remain that to a lesser extent, the manager’s comments have been vindicated by the intensity they are now able to apply over a full match.

The progress in terms of fitness and being able to control matches has been exciting to watch and provides plenty of optimism regarding what is to come from this side.

With 11 games remaining, there is still a long way to go for Hartlepool, who have been guilty of choking and taking a step back whenever they’ve got close to a play-off place.

Saturday’s win felt different and regardless of whether Pools make the play-offs or not, the foundations are in place, the philosophies are there, the players are buying into it and it the moment, it's paying off.