AS far as managers go, there’s few out there with as much spark and character as Ronnie Moore.

But the Hartlepool United boss admits installing that confidence into his Hartlepool United players is tough: "The hardest part of the job is lifting the players.’’

Pools are faced with back to back away games in the coming days – Morecambe tomorrow, Oxford on Tuesday – and are eight points short of safety.

With an away win of desperate proportions (two wins, two draws, 13 defeats) the signs aren’t too clever.

Pools lost at home to Burton last weekend, chucking away a game with some rotten defending in the closing minutes to concede.

It was another blow to their belief and outlook and Moore said: "I said to them a point wouldn't have been enough against Burton, we need wins, but for their own confidence, morale and pride, a point against top of the table would have been great.

"I was gutted for them, I don't think we did enough to win it but neither did they.’’

Pools lost 4-0 in the corresponding fixture and should have had a point last weekend, but they failed to cut out a late counter attack, standing off Stuart Beavon as he ran at and through the back line.

"When you consider how we played against them at their place, to lose the way we did - that is a lack of professionalism,’’ said Moore.

"You trip him (Beavon) up and take the yellow card and we come off with the clean sheet.

"We need to be more professional, I'm not saying go around kicking and pulling everybody but there are times to do it and that was the ideal time.

"But if they learn from it then fine.

"The players had given a lot, it was a horrible game. The ball was in the air more than on the ground.

"It was the same for both sides but it was a knife in the gut to concede so late in the game."

Pools lost at Victoria Park to tomorrow’s opponents over Christmas, a miserable display in which they never threatened.

"Morecame at home wasn't nice,’’ recalled Moore. “"No disrespect to them but Morecambe at home, we had a chance of winning that.

"It was embarrassing how easy it was for them.

"We now have a chance to go there and show them we have improved.

"I don't like coming off saying we have done okay but haven't won.

"We need some scrappy 1-0 wins. It is about winning games, how you win them doesn't matter.

"People don't remember how you play, it is how you get over the winning line.

"We need six points desperately. If we get them, then who knows?

"We need to take the chances when they come, because you don't get many when you are down there struggling.

"We are in the position we are in because of the players that are playing at this present moment in time.

"We are not a million miles away from being a competitive side, if we have a striker.’’