Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor not concerned by 'irrelevant' National League results at Sutton United as promotion rivals look to take advantage

There will be six occasions between now and the end of the season where Hartlepool United don’t have a game while at least two of their top seven rivals are in action and looking to take advantage of their games in hand.

Dave Challinor’s side currently sit second in the National League table, four points behind leaders Sutton United, who have three games in hand.

Pools briefly closed the gap to just a single point at one stage on Saturday afternoon as they led Stockport County 1-0 while Sutton trialled 2-0 at Halifax Town. Both games finished with the score level.

But Challinor remains more concerned about how his own side are performing rather than results elsewhere.

“Our lads have been brilliant and that belief has gradually increased,” he said.

“Results away from us are irrelevant in a lot of ways but from Sutton’s perspective, being 2-0 down and having a goal disallowed in the 90th minute to win 3-2, it’ll still probably feel like a win when the results below them have not picked up three points.

"They are comfortable in their position but we can’t affect that, we’ve just got to be happy with the point we picked up and move on.

"We’ve got a tough Bank Holiday weekend next week. Dagenham beat Torquay on Saturday and we’ve got to make sure we’re right at it for them on Good Friday and then go into Boreham Wood on Monday.”

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