Hartlepool United boss hoping Pools can take another big step towards National League play-off places ahead of visit of strugglers Sutton United
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone is hoping his side can take another step towards the National League play-off places as they gear up to entertain relegation-threatened Sutton United on Tuesday evening.
Pools are bidding to record three successive victories for the first time since August having come from 2-0 down to edge a seven-goal thriller against Solihull Moors before producing one of their best performances of the entire campaign to emphatically beat promotion-chasing Carlisle United last week.
Having looked like rank outsiders to sneak into the top seven, Pools are beginning to establish themselves as genuine play-off contenders following a much-improved run of form under Featherstone. Indeed, a win on Tuesday night would see Pools leapfrog Halifax Town in the National League table and could even see them climb into the play-off places for the first time since September, depending on how Southend United fare against bottom club Truro City.
Whatever the case, Pools have played themselves back into contention ahead of another big week as the race for the top seven continues to heat up. Featherstone's side have two huge home games on the horizon, with the visit of strugglers Sutton followed by a potentially seismic clash against fellow play-off contenders Halifax on Saturday. If Pools can pick up six points from their next two home matches, then the sides in and around them will have no choice but to sit up and take notice.
Having struggled at home for large parts of the campaign - indeed, Pools won just four of their first 15 games at Victoria Park in all competitions this term - Featherstone's side are beginning to find form at just the right time. Indeed, Pools have won three of their last four matches in the North East while a renewed emphasis on purposeful attacking play as well as the loan signing of the outstanding Tyrese Sinclair seems to have solved at least some of their well-documented issues in front of goal.
While Pools fans will surely be in confident mood ahead of Tuesday night's game against a Sutton outfit who are just three points above the National League relegation zone, a lack of consistency has been an Achilles' heel for Featherstone's side ever since relegation from League Two in 2023.
What's more, the Us possess plenty of quality in their ranks despite their lowly league position and caused Pools a whole host of problems when the sides met during a dramatic 3-3 draw earlier in the season, Featherstone's first game as manager.
Of course, the hosts will have to be mindful of the threat posed by Jermaine Francis, who will doubtless be desperate to prove a point having left Victoria Park under something of a cloud in January while Edon Pruti, another former Pools man, scored an added time equaliser in the reverse fixture back in October. Besart Topallaj, who made 21 appearances at Victoria Park during the first half of the season, will also be eager to make an impact from left-back.
While it's true that the Us have made significant strides in the right direction since Chris Agutter replaced Steve Morison in October - the South London outfit were rooted to the foot of the table when the former Worthing boss took charge - Tuesday's game feels like one in-form Pools simply have to win if they're to keep the pressure on their rivals in the race for the play-off places.
"The Wealdstone game getting called off was probably a bit of a blessing after the Carlisle game," Featherstone told the official Pools club website.
"Physically and mentally we put a lot into that game, so we've used the free weekend as a bit of a rest period but also as an opportunity to get on the training ground and work towards Sutton.
"We were delighted with the performance against Carlisle because of the level of opposition and the fact it was a really front-footed performance, which we've been looking for at home for a long time. I did say before the game that I felt like we were missing a top performance at home from my tenure; it was a really top performance against a top team who, hopefully if things keep going well, we might see again later on in the season.
"I've played with three of the Sutton squad and I've coached two of them, Jermaine (Francis) and Bes (Besart Topallaj). I played with Edon Pruti as well, so there are a few familiar faces in there.
"Although they're only a few points above the relegation zone, they actually haven't been in bad form recently. Their style of play and the way they've played recently doesn't suggest they're fighting relegation; they're full of confidence and they're playing a certain brand of football, so it will be a really interesting game tomorrow.
"It's been 20 games since we last played Sutton. I was just looking the other day and I think we've taken charge of 20 league games now and that was the first league game that I took charge of.
"It feels like a long, long time ago - although it's not in terms of time - and we've come a long way since then. Hopefully, we're a better team now than when we took charge then.
"It was a long time ago, we know Edon (Pruti) is a threat physically from set-pieces and he's one we'll have to watch and be aware of. We'll pose our own threats."