Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor looking to address fine details in order to keep National League play-off dream alive

Pools currently sit six points and six places off the top seven with 13 games remaining.

Challinor’s side are yet to win back-to-back matches during his tenure as they look to get back on track against Aldershot Town at Victoria Park this afternoon.

“It’s a tough league to be consistent in,” admitted the United manager.

“You’ll look at results and think there might be surprises in there, ultimately there are no real surprises. What we’ve got to try and control is the consistency in our performances and, in large parts, we’ve done that.

“The margins are really fine because we could be sitting here, especially before the Barnet game having won four on the bounce and then we could have got something on Saturday but we didn’t. That’s the fine detail between teams challenging at the top and where we are in mid-table.”

On Pools’ play-off chances, Challinor added: “Of course it’s still on and you’ve got to keep believing that – it’s realistic to where we are.

“We’re aware of games running out so three points over one make a huge difference.

“We haven’t got the points that our performances have merited but we can’t keep saying that. Another opportunity comes on Saturday at home against a team who are slightly below us – we need to make sure we do everything we can to win.”