RONNIE Moore’s previous games with Oxford as Hartlepool United boss have been landmark occasions.

First up, came his opening game in charge of Pools, a 1-1 draw at Victoria Park last December.

Then a win at the Kassam Stadium was part of the vital four-game winning run that ultimately kept Pools in the Football League.

Today’s meeting at Victoria Park may not hold as much significance as that one, but it will certainly test Pools’ credentials.

Second in the table, with only one defeat in 16, Michael Appleton’s side are impressing.

After back to back home wins in their last two Victoria Park outings, Pools lost at Mansfield last weekend, disappointing Moore in the manner they threw the game away in the second-half.

He has called on his players to show more authority in possession and relax.

“We won at Oxford last season, it was massive and it kicked us on a bit,’’ Moore recalled. “We should have beat them at home in my first game in charge.

“We were one up and drew and threw it away. It’s a big one again and we don’t fear anyone. If you saw us on the training ground, and people will think I’m crackers sometimes, but we play really good stuff.

“I’ve no problem, people know where we train so come and watch us if they want.

“At this moment on a matchday we are nervous and give it away, get composed on the ball and we will match anyone in this division.

“We want to move the ball forwards and I feel there’s another 25 per cent off everyone. Get ion front, play and relax.

“Last weekend, second-half we went backwards at Mansfield, somewhere I felt we wouldn’t go again.’’

He added: “At half-time last weekend they spoke a great game –the players I mean. They were going to do this and get about them and then we go out and perform like we were 11 strangers. We fell behind to a wonder-strike, although we could have cleared it, and then dropped off.

“There was still time to get back and have ago, there should not be any nerves out there, let’s play and express ourselves.

“We needed one or two more leaders and a bit more confidence. We don’t want to go long, I don’t tell them that. We go behind and it’s like everyone has to boot it as long and as far as they can.

“I don’t want that, we don’t coach them that. We controlled the game by keeping it and passing it.’’

Their chance to right the wrongs of Mansfield was washed out, when their game at Accrington on Tuesday night was postponed an hour before kick-off.

Moore has been impressed by the Victoria Park crowd this season. While results haven’t been great – the win last time out against Orient was their first League Two win at home since August – the level of support and backing has never wavered.

"To be fair to the crowd, they have stuck with it,’’ said Moore. "There are always going to be one or two moaners, you can't please everyone and the football we've played at home hasn't been fantastic.

"But the vast majority of the fans have stuck with us.

"Look at Mansfield last Saturday, We had 300-odd supporters there and they never stopped singing the whole game.

"We were poor in the second half but they stayed right behind us.

"This is a game when we might need patience but we have to look to set the tempo.

"If we sit back then we are asking for trouble. We are not good enough to do that. What we have to do is get on the front foot from the first whistle.

"Get at them, get in behind them, get the ball wide, get people in the box and put crosses in.

"I think it will be a good game and we'll certainly trying to win it.

"We won't be sitting back saying come at us. You have to be a really good side to do that.’’

Pools are at Salford City in the FA Cup on Friday evening, a game televised live on BBC. The club’s 350 tickets all sold in an instant in midweek.

“Salford is one to come and the tickets sold out straight away, which is unbelievable and our supporters are fantastic,’’ said Moore. “I think if there was another 1,000 on sale they would have gone as well.

“It’s a game on television as well and the response has been brilliant – we have to make sure as a team and a group we respond and give them something back.’’