WITH just three losses in their last 14 games, four wins from five and a place in the third round of the FA Cup in the bag, it’s little wonder confidence is high at Victoria Park.

Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Yeovil earned Hartlepool United a trip to Watford in the New Year.

And, with Charlton Athletic due at Victoria Park on Saturday, it’s a game Antony Sweeney and Co are relishing.

The midfielder grabbed a hat-trick, helping Pools turn around a two-goal deficit.

Charlton may be promotion chasers, but after seeing off fellow high-flyers Brighton and Bournemouth in recent weeks, Pools insist there is nothing to fear when Phil Parkinson brings his side back to his native North-East.

“We are going well, on a good run, and full of confidence,”

said Sweeney. “The fact that we are winning makes the difference, simple as it sounds. We’ve won three on the bounce now after losing at Colchester – and we were very unlucky that day.

“It’s a really good run we are on, and this sets us up for a really big game against Charlton on Saturday. There’s no reason we should be wary of anyone. Sheffield Wednesday gave us a good beating, but that’s it and that was down to ourselves as much as anything.’’ Six years on from his previous treble, Sweeney has a sibling match ball to go alongside his other.

Nine goals from midfield so far this season is a healthy tally and he said: “I’ve one match ball at home, it’s nice to get a second to go with it.

“That was in 2004, it’s been a long wait. I should have had one in the first round against Vauxhall Motors. This was a good win for us, we didn’t want a replay there next week. At two-down we would probably have took that.’’ But two goals in quick succession, and in identical fashion, levelled, before Pools powered to victory.

“We got back to 2-2 and it changed the game,’’ he said.

“Sam (Collins) twice headed down for me, I don’t think he’s scored yet this season, but he’s set two up in the same way for me on Tuesday.

“I was in the right area and it knocked the stuffing out of them. We’ve been in that position, being two-up, conceding one and then losing it. We know how it feels.

“Ritchie (Humphreys) put a top quality volley away to put us in front and then it was ours to lose.”

Pools pitch has been covered after the forecast of freezing weather this weekend.