IF anyone is looking to benchmark Hartlepool United’s progress under Ronnie Moore, it’s clear for all to see.

In his first game in charge, against Oxford on December 19, Pools took the lead. Then they panicked. Being in front was an alien concept and their advantage lasted all of 12 minutes.

As Stevenage visit Victoria Park this afternoon, Pools are a different proposition.

They still sit bottom of the table, but there’s hope of survival now after three successive home victories.

They have showed characteristics in those victories that weren’t around seven weeks ago. A win today and the gap from the bottom could be down to a catchable three points.

"The players were babies against Oxford and have come on unbelievable since that game,’’ Moore reflected.

"We would have won that game now, that was definitely two points lost. Morecambe was another lost opportunity.

"Those five points would look very nice at this moment in time.

"We have shown since that we can see games out, I'm glad Plymouth didn't change their system earlier because we were found wanting in that game.

"On Tuesday against Northampton, we weren't going to get caught out with that again and we changed the way we played to match it.

"If we'd stayed as we were, they might have got one or two.

"We didn't have the players before but we do now. David Mirfin has come in and steadied things down a bit.’’

And, with confidence on the rise with their fortunes, Moore – nominated for last months’ manager of the month award – added: “Two wins in a week at home would be great – we need to do it. It’s the first time the other night we come off and results have done our way.

“Anyone from 16 down over got a result, bar us, which was fantastic.

“Now it’s the third in a week and it’s a big one. Stevenage haven’t been in form of late, but it makes no difference who you play.

“They are big, strong, difficult to play against. Results haven’t gone for them, but I’ve said teams team win five on the bounce and then lose five.

“We have to be at our best to get anything.’’

Tuesday’s game was won thanks to a first goal from loan signing Marvin Morgan. With Scott Fenwick (ankle) out today, he will start up front again with Marlon Harewood.

The latter squandered two chances in the closing stages of Tuesday’s win to ease the pressure, and Moore admitted: "It does frustrate me because you have to be clinical.

"It is not like they are hard chances, we just made the wrong decisions.

"Do you hit one when you should have had a touch or vice versa?

"Maz had two really good chances and chose the wrong decision on both of them.

"On the first one he stopped and the keeper saved and the one he hit first time everyone in the crowd knows he should have had a touch.

"Jack Compton had one too but he at least hit the target and made the keeper make saves.

"Maz set him up and he does give you something different to the normal striker.

"Target players at this level very rarely score more than one in five.’’

In six meetings against Stevenage, Pools have yet to win one. The visitors will include ex-Pools midfielder Simon Walton and Moore will expect Michael Woods and Aaron Tshibola to be too mobile for him in the middle of the park.

The visitors have been out of form of late, but are a big side and Moore said: "I am expecting a different type of game, without doubt.

"They are more physical, people say they are route one but they play it when it needs to be played and have pace up top.

"There are no easy games, if our team turn up then we have a chance of beating anybody up top.

"That is how wide open the league is, but it is about being consistent.

"We need to make teams fear coming to our place and get them on the back foot - the home form will be so vital and important to us staying in the league.

"We haven't won away yet under me but we will pinch one somewhere, it is getting the home form right."