ONE defeat in eight games, and Hartlepool United are coming together.

New boss Craig Harrison suffered a stuttering start to his tenure at Victoria Park, but since the woeful home defeat to Fylde, they have turned a corner.

Tuesday’s last-gasp win over Barrow at Victoria Park set them up nicely for today’s trip to Solihull.

The opposition appointed a new boss this week in the well-travelled Richard Money – who was interested in the summer vacancy at Pools.

And Harrison said of the injury time victory: “Sometimes that type of win gives you more momentum, togetherness, more than a comfortable victory. Sometimes you have to grit it out, but to score in the 95th minute I do think that brings people together. It proves people are together and how much they believe to keep going on and I am really pleased to get it, but pleased for the players more than anything else.

“It did come for us. They are a tough team to play against, they have good delivery from set plays and a big throw. The ball is always kept live and we defended that really well.

“Height isn’t our top thing, but it is important for everyone to stick to their job and they did. Scott Loach made two very good saved, they had two opportunities to score, but we hit the post and asked questions. Woods had a good opportunity first half. We have had opportunities ourselves.’’

Victory came with a clean sheet, despite the absence of centre-half Keith Watson. It is hoped the Scot can return to training next week.

Harrison added: “The back four, considering Scott has been out a while. Laing too, Devs isn’t a natural left-backs, so look at it that Mags has played every game bar one, Scott Loach every game, otherwise we have been up and down different personnel.

“I am really pleased for Scott and Laing, they were asked questions of when we were not on our best run, it must have been disappointing for them but they deserve their chance for working hard.’’

Midfielder Michael Woods scored the winner, heading home a Nicky Deverdics cross.

And the match-winner admitted: “I couldn’t believe the size of their players. My last one with my head was York at home. Scott Flinders was in the York net. Other than that nose bleed. Paul Jenkins mentioned before the game, he said you have that licence, he allows us to get forward.’’

“It was like we were up against a flat back five at times, difficult to break down. The message was look back at the Eastleigh game and don’t start as sloppy as we did then. The goal, Devs has whipped a ball in, I have gambled, thankfully it paid off.

“They came for a point so it made it sweeter getting at the end.’’

He added: “The last six to eight weeks, we have done the nasty side a bit better, we have worked hard. Then you get your rewards. The teams at the top, the average points per game it is taking, there is not one team running away from it at the moment.

“If we can get a few wins on the spin together, if we can keep that going then we can start to look ahead.

“I think the belief came where we had Dagenham, Orient and Wrexham but we showed in those games against fancied teams we could compete and rightly so.’’

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday morning at 10am for next Saturday’s FA Cup tie at South Shields. Pools have 405 terrace tickets, priced £10 and £7 concessions. They are available to season ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis.