RONNIE MOORE sat in the stands and winced, watching on as Hartlepool United collapsed to an away defeat.

He wasn’t even manager when he witnessed it with interest first time around and, three months down the line, some things haven’t changed.

Moore saw Pools fold at Burton in mid-December, days before he was appointed – the manager installed on the same day the club was announced as being under new owners in TMH 2014.

Peter Harris and Co didn’t last, Moore has, but so too have Pools’ failings on the pitch.

They’ve yet to win away from home since mid-October and have failed to make inroads on a desperate run of form on the road.

At Victoria Park, it’s been different, however, with four wins from five games keeping them within distant reach of safety.

The Brewers, 4-0 winners in December, have lost their last two games, and suffered only three defeats in 18 since Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink took charge.

“Home form has been really good and we don’t fear them – we respect them. We approach in the right manner and Jimmy has done a fantastic job since he went in there. They pass it well and move it about good,’’ said Moore of the former Leeds, Middlesbrough and Holland striker.

“He’s done a good job, I’m not surprised. It’s always a big test your first job, but it’s a fantastic job to start with a good chairman and board. He may have surprised one or two people, but they are there on merit.

“They want to play, stick to their principles and I know a few of their players – four of them were at Tranmere with me.

“They lost two on the trot now, but we don’t fear anyone ay home after winning four from five and we can add to that.’’

And of that day in Staffordshire, Moore recalled: “I watched the corresponding game before taking over here and it wasn’t very nice on the day. For 45 minutes they were good and in the game, but how many times have I said that since I’ve been here?

“We have been in games for 45 minutes, but it’s about consistency isn’t it.

“It was embarrassing the way we caved in that day and hopefully we can take the game to them.

“Concentration levels are important and maybe now when we concede we don’t ship three of four goals. It’s been a problem here and trying to fix it is difficult when your hands are tired a bit in the abilities we have got.

“But I’ve been in charge of teams that haven’t had the best of abilities, but we have been really hard to beat and that’s what we need now.’’

Pools go to Morecambe and Oxford in the two games after this.

Victory tomorrow, with the points deficit to safety to seven, is again imperative – especially on the back of Tuesday’s disappointment at Dagenham.

“Suppose the two away games coming up does put extra pressure on this home game,’’ said Moore.

“We know we are not winning away, if we start to struggle at home then it is a recipe for disaster.

“If we play the way we played in the last home game then we will certainly be a match for Burton, they have good players and quality but on our day, at home, we are a match for anyone.

“I have seen improvements since Burton away, without doubt.

“Results away from home haven’t improved but performances have.

“We are not creating hundreds of chances away and there is a lack of confidence but we are in a situation where we’d like to be a bit more defensive minded and nick a win.

“But in our position, I’m not saying we go gung ho, but three points were begging for us on Tuesday. We should have won.’’

Matthew Bates has had minor surgery this week to help speed up the healing process from the dead leg he suffered at Portsmouth last month. He was due to be out for six weeks, but needed the procedure to remove a haematoma deep in his thigh to keep his recovery on track. Pools have extended the loan of David Mirfin until the end of the season.