RONNIE Moore has demanded his Hartlepool United players “man up” after suffering a third successive defeat in the space of a week.

Pools take on Sheffield United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Victoria Park this evening (7pm) on the back of Saturday’s reverse to Carlisle.

Twice leading, Pools contrived to lose 3-2 with Moore pinpointing defensive lapses and a lack of authority in his back four as key factors in the loss.

And the Pools boss admitted it was time to get back to some solid work on the training ground with his back four.

“Carl (Magnay) going off meant we missed his defensive role in there,’’ said Moore. “Ebby (Nelson-Addy) came on give us some attack-minded stuff, but he never got into the game.

“He got caught out for the first goal really, diving in – stupidly. Stay on your feet then the lad can’t come inside, force him out there.

“It’s trying to explain to an attack-minded player how to defend – and we’ve not got many defensive-minded midfielders to give us a bit of cover in there.

“Pre-season we conceded, then we tightened up. We’ve not worked on the back line of late. We did it pre-season and at the start of the season, got clean sheets and eased up on them.

“You think they know what they are doing, but they don’t know what they are doing so we go back to working with them to keep clean sheets.’’

He added: “It’s been three defeats in a week and in this league anyone beats anyone and if we don’t perform on Saturday the same will happen. Man-up. The fullbacks need to cover.

“We got at them and every time we had an opening, but still scored two goals and lost.’’

Magnay, forced off at half-time with a knock, Billy Paynter (hamstring), Michael Woods and Jake Carroll are likely to sit out tonight.

Dan Jones will start at left-back, with Scott Fenwick in for Paynter and Bradley Walker likely to be fit to replace Woods.

Pools have played 4-3-3 this season and, after it worked in the opening games as they won four in a row, Moore wants his players to get back to the values which proved successful.

“We can’t keep three up front against three defenders when their full-backs are bombing forward and putting balls in our box,’’ he reflected.

“It’s a matter of playing 4-3-3 with a left winger, a right winger and a centre forward, when they should be tucked in and keeping two up top.

“I’m marking that full-back, he’s marking him – and there’s no full-backs to mark against Carlisle, it’s wing backs.

“But players take some things in, and forget some things. Throw enough at them and sometimes it sticks.

“You tell them, tell them and tell them and they pick up bits. They are League Two players, but I didn’t see Carlisle suffer too much.’’

Pools lost to the Blades in last season’s competition – the game immediately following another home defeat in League Two to Carlisle as Sam Collins took caretaker charge.

“Tuesday I will tinker, we need to look at one or two players as well,’’ said Moore.

“It’s the understanding of a three-man attack, but we didn’t lose on Saturday because of them. If you can’t defend .... it’s the back four, they have to do their job right and defend right. We didn’t dominate the aerial battles.

“It gives me a chance to look at others. I can give Dan Jones a game at left-back, but he doesn’t really like playing there and start to prepare for Saturday.

“I’m sure Sheffield United will have some players missing as well, but it will give me the chance to give one or two of the lads who have been knocking on my door a game.’’

Admission tonight is £10 adults and £5 concessions.