THE finishing post is within touching distance for Hartlepool United - and the sooner they reach it the better.

Pool go to Bristol Rovers seeking one of the two more wins required for promotion and one of the four more which would probably be enough for the title.

However, Pool have stuttered of late, slipping down the Division Three form table for the first time this season, winning just two from seven.

Tuesday's defeat at Wrexham saw Pool's advantage cut to a still healthy seven points, but fans are now looking over their shoulders with Rushden also having a game in hand.

That catch-up game is on Monday night at home to Rochdale, but Pool's destiny is still sitting comfortably in their own hands. And skipper Micky Barron is desperate to get his team back on track.

"Tuesday was very disappointing for us,'' he admitted.

"We knew it would be hard because Wrexham are a team going for promotion, but we got off to a bad start, conceding an early goal and - we spoke about this in the dressing room afterwards - we didn't create enough chances in the game.

"But that has been the case for maybe the last couple of games and we need to get things right again.

"What do we put it down to? I don't know to be honest. We've discussed it and maybe we are not putting the balls into the area like we were and nothing seems to be happening for us in the final third.

"I don't think nerves or the pressure is affecting us.

"When you go out on the pitch, it's just another game, it's not like we are going out thinking what is going on or working out we need so many points for this or that.

"It's nothing to do with nerves, pressure or anything like that, it's just we are not in the best of form right now.

"Hopefully, it has been a little lull in form, nothing else.''

Three points at the Memorial Stadium this afternoon - Rovers groundshare with Bristol Shotguns Rugby Club - would be a welcome return to form.

Read more about Hartlepool here.