The telling stat Hartlepool United need to work on in order to mount a serious play-off challenge in the National League

Mark Shelton of Hartlepool United shoots at goal during the Vanarama National League match between Hartlepool United and Aldershot Town at Victoria Park, Hartlepool on Saturday 8th February 2020. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News)

Pools are statistically the most proficient passing team in the division, having attempted and completed more accurate passes than any other team.

With that, there is an implication that Hartlepool are a team who play it safe and pass around without posing much of a threat on the attack – but the stats actually suggest the opposite.

Along with being the most frequent passers, Dave Challinor’s side are also the most frequent when it comes to having shots at goal.

They lead the way in the fifth tier with 452 shots as well as touches in the opposition box at 591.

For a side supposedly dominating in two key areas, why is it that Pools are only sitting 10th in the table?

Perhaps the most telling stat of them all is that out of their 452 shots, only 32.5% have hit the target – only three sides in the National League have a worse shooting accuracy.

Creating chances clearly hasn’t been an issue for Hartlepool this season, but converting them has been. Last Saturday’s win against Aldershot Town epitomised both sides of Hartlepool’s game as they created umpteen clear-cut chances but only managed to find the net twice.

With a conversion rate of just over 11%, the players need to get their shooting boots on in order to mount a serious play-off challenge.