Are the next three games season defining for Hartlepool United? Manager Dave Challinor gives his response

Pools currently sit 10th in the National League table and four points off the final play-off place going into the final dozen games of the campaign.

But it's the next three games this month that are shaping up to be particularly crucial as United travel to face Solihull Moors this weekend before hosting Notts County and then making the journey south to play Boreham Wood.

All three teams sit just above Challinor’s side in the table as they compete for a top seven place.

“February you could say is a pivotal month for us,” said the Pools manager.

“But we could win all our remaining games [in February] and then not win any in March and find ourselves back in a similar position. The next game is always the most important and it’s difficult to look past Solihull.

“What we do know is that we’re running out of games and every game is going to be pivotal. We’ve just got to get on a run and keep going until mathematically, if it ever proves to be the case, we can’t get to where we want to be.

“For now, we’ll keep working hard and keep doing our jobs and regardless of whether things happen this season, for me looking forward, this is about longer-term ambitions and getting principles bedded down.

“We’ve by no means written off this season but it’s about things happening moving forward.”