‘Believe me, the lads are hurting’, insists Hartlepool winger Jack Compton

And the 26-year-old says they will look to bounce straight back and redeem themselves when Pools host Burton Albion at Victoria Park tomorrow (KO 3pm).

The Pools squad came in for fierce criticism from fans - and manager Ronnie Moore – for their “lacklustre” performance in the 2-0 Daggers defeat.

Moore even questioned whether enough of the camp were hurt by the loss, which left Pools seven points from safety with just 12 games to play.

But Compton insists they are feeling it.

“It actually still hurts thinking that we lost that game at Dagenham,” Compton told SportMail.

“It was a massive, massive game for us – it would have been just four points if we’d won.

“The lads are all so disappointed.

“I have seen the reaction on Twitter and in the paper but believe me, the lads are definitely hurt by that defeat.

“It wasn’t that we just gave up.

“They had two shots on goal and beat Scotty [Flinders] from 40 yards with a free kick - that is the luck of the draw when you’re down the bottom.

“We should have scored in the first 20 minutes, there was enough chances and balls into the box and from mine and [Jonathan] Franksy’s perspective, we couldn’t really do anymore.

“We needed somebody to go and attack the ball.”

While the away form has been dismal this campaign, Pools have won four out of five at Victoria Park and they

have the comforts of home tomorrow.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s promotion chasing side are second in Sky Bet League Two and Compton says the players are keen to make amends after a long midweek trip ended in defeat.

He revealed: “We watched the Dagenham game back on the coach home and it was so disappointing to watch - we were all over them.

“But I can’t wait for Saturday now because we have another chance to redeem ourselves, that’s the good thing about football, there’s always another game around the corner.

“Burton are a good side but they are not world beaters.

“If we pass the ball the way we have been at home then there’s nothing to fear.

“The away game was my first back from injury and I asked to come off at half-time because I just wasn’t right, I wasn’t 100 per cent fit.

“It was only 1-0 at half-time but I never expected it to end 4-0.”

Compton said the atmosphere around the Maiden Castle training camp has been lively this week despite the troubles on the pitch and the winger is keen for his teammates to take that into tomorrow.

“Training wise, it has been really good and I wish the supporters could come in and watch us,” added Compton.

“We are popping the ball and buzzing around and I just wish we could take it into the games.

“We did that on Tuesday for the first 20 minutes.

“But that defeat has gone now and we just have to concentrate on the next game.

“We have to get out of the situation we are in.”