Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone previews tomorrow’s clash against play-off rivals FC Halifax Town at the Prestige Group Stadium in the Enterprise National League.
“I’m looking forward to this one massively”, Featherstone told local press.
“[It’s] a great game to try and get a response against a team that’s a couple of points above us, but we’ve got a game in hand.
“They’re a young, energetic team that have done really well under this management. They try and get on the ball and hurt teams on the attack, and are quite fluid.
“What better way to get back on the horse than against a team that’s directly in competition with us.
“If we can bounce back and get a good result, we’re all of a sudden in a good place again.”
Following a 2-0 loss against Sutton United last time out, the Pools boss said: “There are ways to lose, I can accept us getting beat if we give everything. We just fell short of those standards on Tuesday night.
“They [the players] have shown on several occasions that they can perform against the very best in the league. What we’ve got to do is back that up with more consistency.
“We’re going to give it our best shot going into the last 11 games. What this group of players have done is given themselves a chance going into the last part of the season, which should be a positive.
“We haven’t been in this position for a very long time. Go and give it the best shot possible, and whatever happens, happens.”
Featherstone also gave a valuable update on the fitness of Luke Charman, after the winger was stretchered off the pitch with an ankle injury against Solihull Moors two weeks ago.
“Really good news on that front, in terms of his injury”, the manager added.
“He [Charman] said himself, he’s happy with the result. The good thing that’s come out of this is that the injury isn’t as severe as we first thought.
“His recovery should be up and running pretty soon, it’s just [a case of], can we get him back in time for the last two or three games of the season, and hopefully beyond that.”
