Hartlepool United manager calls for consistency ahead of visit of rivals Gateshead
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone has called for consistency ahead of Tuesday night's visit of Gateshead.
Pools are looking to build on Saturday's much-needed three points against Altrincham, their first home game since American businessman and investor Landon Smith completed his takeover of the club, against a Heed side who are rock bottom of the National League having lost all of their last 13 matches.
Featherstone's side were, in truth, well below their best at the weekend on a momentous afternoon for the club, with Smith welcomed onto the Victoria Park pitch with fireworks as Pools embark on what many fans hope will be an exciting new era for the club.
With all the fanfare and excitement in the lead up to the game, expectant supporters were left frustrated by their side's decidedly lacklustre performance, especially in the first half; tellingly, a party atmosphere ahead of kick-off was replaced by a smattering of boos following referee Aaron Jackson's half time whistle.
Yet in the end Pools managed to get over the line thanks to Alex Reid's 83rd minute spot-kick, ending a run of six games without a goal for the frontman. There was perhaps more than a little element of fortune to the Pools winner, with Jackson pointing to the penalty spot despite there appearing to be minimal contact as Reid went down under a challenge from Blackpool loanee Dan Sassi. Nonetheless, a bumper crowd of well over 5,000 Pools fans paid little heed to the Altrincham complaints - Robins boss Neil Gibson was incandescent with Jackson after the game - as their side moved to within two points of the National League play-off places.
Even so, Pools look like they have it all to do if they're to gatecrash the top seven with Southend, who are the only team they can realistically hope to reel in, having three games in hand on Featherstone's side.
If Pools are to cement their status as serious play-off contenders, then they'll have to string a run of wins together at some stage between now and the end of the campaign. So far at least, a lack of consistency has been a real thorn in their side; indeed, Pools have only managed to win back-to-back matches twice all season, while a record of just five victories from 14 home matches in the league leaves a lot to be desired.
There's no time like the present, and January feels like a real opportunity for Pools to begin their push for a play-off place. Of course, Featherstone's side are riding the crest of a wave in the wake of Smith's takeover and Saturday's attendance represented an increase of around 2,000 fans compared to the final few months of former owner Raj Singh's divisive tenure.
What's more, Pools look to have a favourable run of fixtures with Tuesday's visit of Gateshead followed by a trip to relegation-threatened Brackley. Having challenged for the play-offs themselves in each of the last couple of seasons, rivals Gateshead have endured a torrid first half of the campaign in the wake of a tumultuous summer that led to wholesale changes on and off the pitch, all with a significantly reduced budget.
Yet despite the dire straits Gateshead find themselves in, the Heed will make the short trip to Victoria Park still harbouring a glimmer of hope of avoiding relegation following a busy January that's seen popular former boss Rob Elliot replace Alun Armstrong, who has returned to a development role. Indeed, Elliot's side have welcomed a raft of new signings including Mark Beck, who was a target for Pools in the summer of 2024 under Darren Sarll, Solihull Moors defender Brad Nicholson, York forward Billy Chadwick and powerful Walsall attacker Levi Amantchi. Although Gateshead's dismal record continued with a 2-0 defeat at home to title-chasing Rochdale on Saturday, the Heed were by all accounts much-improved and there is a sense that belief is beginning to return to the Gateshead International Stadium.
Tuesday's game, then, promises to be an interesting test for a Pools team who can ill-afford too many more slip-ups in the race for a National League play-off place, with Featherstone calling for consistency as his team look to do the double over their rivals this season.
"Consistency has been the issue since I've been here - being consistently good in terms of results," he said.
"Again, we weren't brilliant today (Saturday) but we found a result, we were better in the second half. It's massively important in terms of recovery from now until Tuesday, but also, come on, this is an opportunity now, let's grasp it.
"It's up to us now, we have to grasp this opportunity. We know that at some point we're going to have to go on a run of three or four wins on the bounce to get us back in the fold properly. We say we've clawed our way back, but Southend have still got a lot of games in hand.
"For us, we have to be consistent - it's not always easy to do that. With a bit of help in terms of getting some players in to add to the group - not to take away from the group, to add to it - then we'll be ok."