TREVOR Carson admits confidence has been dented within the Hartlepool United squad.

Pools are a fragile bunch at the moment, and Saturday’s defeat at Wimbledon was a case in point.

They never threatened the Dons, and crumbled at the back when they were put under pressure.

Only Carson’s heroics in goal prevented a much heavier defeat.

And he admitted: "Confidence is already low and when that goal went in, it went a little lower.

"We then end up falling deeper and deeper. We were 2-0 down but I was slowing the game down, I was desperate for half-time to come to try to settle everyone down.

"It could easily have turned into 5-0 or 6-0.

"I was more worried about that than getting back into the game.

"There is something lacking at the moment whether it's confidence or belief.

"I don't know what it is, we've talked about it again, something needs to change, the boys know that.

"I went through a relegation last year (with Cheltenham) and I don't want that again. A lot of the lads were here last season and it's not a nice feeling.

"It's horrible even just talking in these terms when you think of the quality we have in this squad.

"But quality counts for nothing if you are not picking up wins or points.’’

Pools face Carson’s former club on Saturday in the FA Cup, and the tie is already looking a tricky one for Pools with the Robins at the top of the National League.

Carson saved a penalty on Saturday, but was twice beaten in the first-half as Pools buckled under pressure.

"I thought we had started all right, quietened the crowd,’’ he said.

"But one silly free-kick cost us. A long ball came into the box and we were caught too deep.

"I screamed to the boys before he took it to get to the edge of the box.

"We ended up seven or eight yards out when the ball came in.

"I had no time to react and it goes in and suddenly we are on the back foot.’’

He added: “There’s something missing at the minute. We’ve spoke and talked, we were in last Sunday and went over that game and the boys know, we all know, we are falling short right now. We have a good set of lads here, we just need that belief and we are lacking it recently. We have to trust each other a bit more and take it out onto the pitch.’’