THREE games in, three games without a win and Hartlepool United aim to end their duck tonight.

Pools go to Braintree in the National League, with boss Matthew Bates calling on his side to be more ruthless – at both ends of the pitch.

They had enough chances to go ahead in Saturday’s game with Ebbsfleet, but failed to convert any of them and then conceded a slack goal in the last 20 minutes.

Bates is sure his new-look side will soon click into gear. Captain and centre-half Andrew Davies will be missing this evening.

He was forced off on Saturday after landing on his left ankle and will be assessed in the next 48 hours once the swelling subsides.

Louis Laing or Myles Anderson will replace him in the back three this evening.

“Andrew went off injured, the goal doesn’t have anything to do with him not being there, it’s down to others. He was a big miss when he went off and we looked a bit shaky,’’ admitted Bates.

“We started the second half well and him going off meant we stepped off the gas a bit.

“I don’t think he will shake it off quickly, there’s a bit of swelling on his ankle. That needs to go down before we discover the severity of it.’’

Bates added: “Last Tuesday was disappointing, fairly similar on Saturday. I felt we were the better side, created a lot more chances and it was a game decided in both boxes.

“We need to be more ruthless in both boxes – but poor defending or their goal and something we have to look at.

“We created chances, but have to finish them when we do. Anyone can argue about chances, good chances and we need to be more ruthless. We can’t have the attitude of ‘another one might come’ but they may not. We have to take them.’’

Bates was frustrated at the Super 6 Stadium after Saturday’s game.

He added: “We were solid generally, they scored from an individual mistake from us. It’s about learning individually what’s the right thing and what’s the wrong thing to do.

“We want to go again Tuesday and we haven’t got the return from the first three games. We could have had nine, seven, four, but there’s a long way to go yet. This is just the first week, let’s hope for a better second week and go from there.

“It’s about converting chances, and keeping them out at the other end.’’