Luke James says Hartlepool United aim to go unbeaten for the rest of season after Carlisle defeat

Pools suffered their first defeat in eight matches on Tuesday night at Carlisle United.

Pools travel to Morecambe on Saturday looking to return to the form which saw them pull away from relegation danger before their 1-0 defeat at Brunton Park.

They now have seven games remaining this season, starting on Saturday against the Shrimps, who sit one place below them in the table.

James said: “If we go there on Saturday and get three points we can totally forget about this game.

“That’s all we’ve got to do now, get into training Thursday and Friday and hopefully we can get the three points on Saturday, then the Carlisle game is totally forgotten about.

“We’ve been on a great run, hopefully this is just a one-game blip.

“The best way to combat that is to go get three points on Saturday so the lads will be raring to go.”

Pools’ seven-match unbeaten run saw manager Craig Hignett nominated for the League Two Manager of the Month Award for March, and Jake Carroll for the player’s award.

Tuesday’s defeat against the Cumbrians was just Hignett’s fourth in 13 games as a manager.

James said: “I think the award that he’s up for just shows how well he’s doing and obviously Jake as well.

“The gaffer has done really well and obviously the lads have bought into him and are supportive of what he is doing and what he wants us to do.

“He wants us to play and if you lose it, go win the ball back, no shouting, he just wants us to win the ball back.

“He also likes to get all the players behind the ball and to make it hard and after that go on a counter attack.

“He likes to play attacking football which hopefully will benefit me and all other attacking players.”

Saturday’s trip to the Globe looks the perfect match to bounce back.

Morecambe are one place below Pools, who can move five points above Jim Bentley’s team with a win on the Lancashire coast.

“We’ve just got to build again,” added James.

“Obviously we were seven unbeaten before Tuesday night, we’ve just got to continue that form now, forget about that game and try to get on another run to the end of the season.”