Hartlepool United manager insists Pools determined to put Woking drubbing behind them ahead of momentous Altrincham clash
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone insists his side have been hurting following last weekend's humbling 4-0 defeat at Woking.
Pools could hardly have made a worse start to what many fans are hoping will be a hugely exciting new era as they were trounced in their first game since American businessman and investor Landon Smith, who is the co-founder of real estate company Tailwind Group, completed his takeover of the club on New Year's Eve.
Featherstone's side came into the game full of hope, optimism and confidence off the back of their statement win over league leaders Rochdale last time out.
It was little surprise, then, to see Featherstone stick with the 3-4-3 formation that had served him so well in Lancashire - the Rochdale game was played at Accrington Stanley's Wham Stadium while urgent work was carried out at Spotland in the wake of a series of postponements - as his side looked to propel themselves closer to the National League play-off places.
Having been so relentless in their press and determined to get high up the pitch against the league leaders, however, Pools produced a totally different sort of performance as they were dismantled in Surrey.
Featherstone's side sat deep and were passive, tentative and uncertain as a Woking side who came into the game without a win in any of their last four matches were allowed to run riot at the Kingfield Stadium.
True, the normally-reliable Cameron John's red card on the stroke of half time put paid to any slim hopes Pools might have been harbouring of mounting a second half comeback but there was little to no sense the visitors, who were already two goals down at the time of the York loanee's dismissal, were ever likely to get back into the game.
Perhaps the most concerning thing for the travelling fans - some of whom were making the mammoth trip to Surrey for the second week in a row after the initial fixture was postponed due to a frozen pitch - was the lack of commitment, passion and desire from their side.
Indeed, there was a sense that Pools waved the white flag after John was given his marching orders and that the visitors were merely waiting for referee Callum Walchester's final whistle to put them out of their misery.
It was a bruising afternoon for all sorts of reasons, not least because it left Pools' already slim play-off hopes hanging by a thread; while midfielder Jack Hunter insisted in the week that Pools are still confident of sneaking into the top seven, Featherstone's side are now four points behind Southend, the only side they can realistically hope to reel in, having played three games more than the Shrimpers.
For Featherstone, too, Saturday's drubbing felt like a major blow. The 37-year-old, who has been in charge since replacing Simon Grayson, initially on an interim basis, in October is under pressure to prove to Smith that he is the right man to lead the club beyond this season. Yet he could hardly have made a less convincing start to his case at the weekend.
All hope, however, is not lost and Pools have the chance to bounce back ahead of two winnable home games in quick succession. Featherstone's side entertain Altrincham on Saturday, which will be the first home match since Smith's takeover and which the American is set to attend.
The Robins come into the contest languishing in 16th and just three points above the National League relegation zone following a run of five straight defeats while Gateshead, who visit Victoria Park on Tuesday evening, have lost all of their last 12 matches. If Pools can pick up six points, then Featherstone's side could propel themselves back into play-off contention.
Saturday's game promises to be an emotional occasion, with a bumper crowd expected and many fans set to return to Victoria Park for the first time this season having stayed away in silent protest at the controversial ownership of Raj Singh. If Pools can ride the wave without getting overawed then there is a sense that it could be a momentous weekend in the North East.
Featherstone, who has spent 11 years at Victoria Park and is the club's third highest appearance-maker of all-time, is better placed than most to understand just how much Saturday's game means to Pools fans, who have been generally starved of success of late.
The Pools boss described last weekend's defeat to Woking as the most embarrassing moment of his life and insists his players are determined to put things right on Saturday.
"Every professional hurts when you put on a performance like that," Featherstone said.
"I didn't see that one coming - and that's the lack of consistency we've got at the moment. Like I said after the game, our highest and our lowest are too far apart and we need to find a middle ground when we're not quite at it.
"The lads are definitely hurting, they've responded well to the week's training and they will be determined to put that wrong right on Saturday."