Hartlepool United interim manager Nicky Featherstone warns against complacency ahead of visit of bottom side Truro City
Hartlepool United's interim manager Nicky Featherstone has warned against complacency ahead of this weekend's visit of bottom side Truro City.
The next few weeks look set to provide Pools with a real opportunity to outline their promotion credentials as Featherstone's side bid to continue their fine recent form.
Saturday's commanding 2-0 win over out of sorts Eastleigh, which Featherstone hailed as the best performance of his tenure so far, saw Pools extend their unbeaten run to six matches.
While Featherstone, who has now been in temporary charge for more than six weeks since the sudden sacking of Simon Grayson last month, endured a difficult start to life in the dugout as Pools were dumped out of the FA Cup in the fourth qualifying round by Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity, the veteran midfielder has overseen a remarkable turnaround of late.
Although draws with strugglers Sutton and Morecambe as well as part-time Wealdstone left something to be desired in terms of both performances and results, impressive wins over Solihull Moors, Halifax and Eastleigh have seen Pools revive their faltering play-off hopes.
Indeed, Pools looked like a side more than capable of gatecrashing the top seven during Saturday's dominant victory over the Spitfires, the first time Pools have ever won at the Silverlake Stadium.
While Pools fans know all too well how quickly things can change in football, a lot seems to be going right for Featherstone at the moment.
The 37-year-old, who has spent more than a decade at Victoria Park and is the club's third highest appearance-maker of all-time, has built on Grayson's strong defensive foundations, with Saturday's shutout his side's third clean sheet in five matches, while also transforming Pools into a more expansive and attacking outfit.
The interim boss has managed to get the best out of the likes of Adam Campbell, who has provided two goals and two assists in his last four matches, as well as Jack Hunter, outstanding in Hampshire, while the return of frontman Alex Reid has made a big difference to his side's threat up front.
Although the swirling uncertainty surrounding the club's hunt for a new permanent manager is unlikely to be too helpful, Pools can now look forward to a run of three home games in succession, with the visits of Truro and Yeovil followed by an FA Trophy clash with Northern Premier League Division One Midlands side Anstey Nomads.
The genuine prospect of six points as well as cup success means fans are beginning to believe Pools can still achieve something special this season despite a rollercoaster beginning to the campaign, although Featherstone will of course be well aware all three visiting teams have more than enough quality to hurt his side.
Given the current managerial situation in the North East, it's not altogether clear who will be in charge of Pools on Saturday - the club were criticised following a bizarre update last week in which they said the hunt for a new permanent manager "remains ongoing" despite applications from "some excellent candidates" - fans can look forward to seeing a familiar face in the visiting dugout in Truro boss John Askey.
Although the 61-year-old, who was in charge at Victoria Park between February and December 2023, was unable to save Pools from relegation back to the National League and was sacked following a poor start to life back in the fifth tier, Askey is remembered fondly by most fans and has since gone on to achieve remarkable success with the Tinners.
Askey led Truro to the National League South title last season, meaning he has now won promotion from all three National League divisions, despite the fact the Tinners had one of the smallest budgets and were generally expected to be embroiled in a relegation battle.
Having masterminded their unlikely promotion, however, Truro have found it difficult to adapt to life in the National League and will arrive at Victoria Park rooted to the foot of the table and seven points adrift of safety.
In particular, life on the road has proved a real challenge for the Tinners, who became the first ever Cornish side to reach the fifth division of English football but have found out the hard way that the huge amounts of travelling involved from the South West are not conducive to success.
Indeed, Askey's side have lost eight and drawn two of their 10 away games so far this season, while Truro will arrive at Victoria Park on a dismal run of four straight defeats.
Even so, Featherstone, who remains among the leading contenders to land the Pools job on a permanent basis, insists his side won't be taking anything for granted when Truro make the mammoth 315-mile trip to the North East on Saturday.
"This is the time when you have the chance to implement your standards and things like that even more," he told The Red Radio.
"When you're winning games it's easy to become complacent, and we can't allow that to happen.
"We have to carry on what we've been doing, upholding the standards in training and the standards that have shone through in the games.
"It's just about making sure we work hard to instill those beliefs and standards again."