CRAIG HIGNETT’S belief is unwavering in his Hartlepool United side.

Defeat on Tuesday at Carlisle was their first reverse in eight games, as they moved clear of the relegation process.

They could be mathematically safe today. Pools go to Morecambe and are 16 points ahead of second-bottom York, who have five games to play after today.

If York lose to Wycombe, Pools are confirmed as safe.

But Hignett is more concerned with his own players and insisted good teams don’t lose twice in a row.

This afternoon’s opponents were beaten at Dagenham, the one team below York, on Tuesday night, as Pools fell 1-0 at Brunton Park.

"We were really good, what let us down was our ruthlessness in the last third,’’ he reflected.

"Our picking of a pass, our decision-making was missing. Overall, it was a good performance.’’

He added: "It will be a tough one - they are below us in the table and they'll be fighting for every point.

"But we have no reason to be scared of anyone.

"Morecambe have had a tough run. Jim's (Bentley) a top lad, a good manager, he's been there a long time now.

"League Two is a grind, especially when you are playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday.

"We'll prepare properly and concentrate on our own game.

"I'm not too worried about who we are playing, I'm more concerned about how we play, how we go about it.’’

Hignett missed out on the League Two manager of the month award for March, pipped by Bristol Rovers’ boss Darrell Clarke.

He said: "I'm pleased to have been nominated, I don't think my start in management could have gone any better.

"The turnaround has been brilliant and the credit has to go to the lads and how they have set about doing what we want to do.

"They have taken to it really quickly and that shows we have intelligent footballers here.

Pools are likely to be without both Nathan Thomas and Billy Paynter today. That could mean a move around with Luke James taking Paynter’s central role.

And, while James played in the middle, one of Paynter’s possible replacements will be elsewhere.

Scott Fenwick wanted games, but wasn’t getting any at Victoria Park. He’s moved on loan to Tranmere and will be part of their squad today at Torquay.

“If there’s no Billy it gives me a chance to see people in a proper, meaningful game. You can train all you want, but in a League game with points in the line it makes it different,’’ said Hignett.

“It’s all about decisions with Scotty. He expressed a desire to go on loan and it was Mansfield at the time. His agent phoned Russ and asked for a chance and if players want to go and don’t want to be here then I won’t stand in their way – he can go with my blessing.

“Go out, play and score goals. The move didn’t happen (to Mansfield) he got back in the squad here, but didn’t play. Gary Brabin phoned to ask, he wanted to take him so I asked Scotty and he wanted to go and play games.’’

Fenwick has been substitute in his three games to date and Hignett added: “Go, do well, score and the door is not shut on him. Now with Billy being injured, if he stuck it out he could have been playing on Saturday with eight games left to show me what he can do.

“You make decisions as players and sometimes they work out, sometimes they don’t. He’s gone to a team doing well, he’s got a chance of playing at Wembley and I’ve said we will have a look at where we are come the end of the season.’’