Trevor Carson admits Hartlepool United have some way to go before they can start considering themselves to be a good team.

While back to back victories over Cheltenham and Leyton Orient brought confidence and relief to Pools, it also saw their inconsistent nature resurface.

They’ve had a short-term lift, but there’s no sign of long-term gains.

As Carson admitted, a really good side would use the last two victories as a platform to better things, to shut the gap from what was only six points to the play-offs.

Instead, Pools wasted the chance. Level at half-time at Mansfield, their second-half display was insipid.

Granted, and as Ronnie Moore accepted, their first 45 minutes was improved on some of the recent lacklustre performances and if the displays at the likes of Wimbledon and Northampton were repeated they wouldn’t have been in the game at the interval.

"It's a match we should have come away with a decent point,’’ reflected Carson.

"Getting that goal back the mood was good in the changing room at half-time, we said all the right things, but we couldn't kick on.

"Maybe not with a swagger after winning two in a row, but play with a bit more confidence and belief.

"It seems at the moment that we need to be going behind to start playing and showing that we can play.

"You have to be a good team to go and win three in a row but maybe today showed that we are not at that point yet.

"It shows something has to change, whether that's mentality, bravery, I'm not sure what it is.

"I can't put my finger on it but things need to be put right before we can become a team which starts talking about getting into the play-offs.

"To do that you have to be able to win three four, five games on the bounce - we haven't been able to do that."

And there you have Hartlepool United summed up. Consistently inconsistent.

For all their pre-season optimism, they aren’t pulling up any trees.

They lumber in lower mid-table. They might make upper mid-table, perhaps higher, but only if they do manage to string a real run of results together.

Pools have been boosted by the recent loan signings, but none of them contributed as much as Mansfield as they did beforehand.

The Stags had clearly watched Pools beat Orient on Sky Sports with intent, as they nullified the attacking threat from deep of midfielder Jake Gray.

He was shackled in a tight midfield, likewise Mikael Mandron got little change up front from the centre-halves.

Pools did miss Michael Duckworth at right-back. Scott Harrison was moved there, but struggled against the direct running of Nathan Thomas.

It is hoped Duckworth is recovered enough from muscle damage suffered in a bout of cramp against Orient to take his place tomorrow night at Accrington.

Moore has a couple of other options to consider if necessary, but Harrison won’t be one of them.

It was from one of many Thomas’ crosses which The Stags took the lead, as striker Matt Green beat Carson to the low ball to knock in. It was his side’s first goal in five games.

Pools levelled with fortune, as a Gray free-kick diverted into his own net off the head of defender Krystian Pearce.

That lifeline should have been enough for Pools to press on. It caused the home side to be booed off at the break, something which disappointed boss Adam Murray.

Instead, the half-time talk in the Pools’ dressing room came to nothing.

After failing to deal with a routine home attack, substitute Adi Yussuf latched onto a loose ball and creamed a shot past Carson into the top corner.

There was still no reaction from Pools, the nature of the strike deflated them.

And the third came from a move which should have really been cut out in the area before Green rolled his finish past Carson.

The goalkeeper concluded: "If I knew what needed to change, then I would be the manager!

"The gaffer has questioned are there enough winners in the team? Enough characters.

"I think you have to agree with him. If you win two in a row surely that's a great platform to build on.

"But I think you need a good team with great set of winners, I just don't think we are at that stage yet.

"We're a young team and I think we'll have to grow up quickly if we are going to move up this league."