Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone admits trip to Solihull Moors a 'must-win' game for Pools
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone admits Saturday's trip to Solihull Moors feels like a "must-win" game for Pools.
Pools are bidding to end an ill-timed run of four matches without a win against a Moore side who know that three points would see them leapfrog Saturday's visitors in the tightly packed National League table.
Pools will be hoping to feel the benefits of an unexpected break ahead of this weekend's journey to Damson Park, with Featherstone's side not having been in action since February 11 after games against Sutton United and Wealdstone fell foul of the recent wet weather; by the time of kick-off on Saturday, Pools won't have played for 10 days.
While Pools have had the time to rest, recuperate, work hard on the training ground and bed-in new signings Charlie Caton and Calvin Okike, recent results have gone in favour of Featherstone's side. Solihull, who are still harbouring their own slim hopes of sneaking into the top seven, forfeited a two-goal lead to lose at home to Eastleigh before drawing with relegation-threatened Braintree. Halifax, meanwhile, the current occupants of the coveted seventh spot, suffered a shock defeat to rock-bottom Gateshead in the week, with the Heed ending a record-breaking run of 16 successive defeats.
Even so, Pools have it all to do if they're to usurp the likes of Solihull, the Shaymen and Southend United to sneak into the top seven. Indeed, Featherstone's side are six points behind Halifax and four shy of the Shrimpers, who have three games in hand. Defeat at the weekend, then, would all-but end their hopes of a play-off place.
Yet Pools will be hoping to take heart from a much-improved showing against title-chasing York last time out, with Featherstone and his team denied what would have been a valuable and well-deserved point by Josh Stones' 103rd minute spot-kick. While Pools ultimately left the York Community Stadium empty handed, there were plenty of positives from a spirited showing after Featherstone switched to a 3-4-3 formation.
Standing in their way this weekend are a Solihull side who have made great strides under the wily Chris Millington, who led Halifax to successive top seven finishes as well as FA Trophy glory before taking charge in the West Midlands in October. Having endured a torrid start to the campaign under former boss Matt Taylor, a significant upturn in form has seen the Moors propel themselves into the top half of the National League table and Featherstone admits he's expecting a tough test this weekend.
"I think both teams will be going into the game thinking it's probably a must-win at this stage, a draw doesn't really help anyone," he told BBC Radio Tees Sport.
"We had a good week in terms of results going for us on Tuesday with Gateshead beating Halifax, so it gives us an opportunity to get closer to them if we do manage to win this weekend.
"I'm expecting a tough game. Chris Millington's very experienced at this level, he's had play-off teams before and done really well. He's gone in there and he's improved them, they've had some really good results in his time.
"I think they faltered in their last home game against Eastleigh but they were 2-0 up and in complete control, they just had a mad 10 minutes and so I wouldn't read too much into that. This will be a tough task and a really interesting one for us.
"Like I say, if we want to push into those play-off places then I think both clubs will be looking at this one as a must-win game."