Morecambe 2 Hartlepool United 5

AS far as responses go, they don’t come much more ferocious. Defeat at Carlisle on Tuesday was Hartlepool United’s first in eight games.

Manager Craig Hignett said good teams don’t lose two games in a row and asked them to prove they were a good team.

From first minute to last at Morecambe they more than proved it, scoring five times in an away game for the first time since doing so at Peterborough in September 2006.

The Shrimps are one of the teams Pools have overtaken in recent weeks. As Hignett mused afterwards, it’s a shame there’s only six games left or they could well be overtaking a fair few more.

In two months since his appointment, Hignett has transformed fortunes, winning seven of his 14 games, drawing three and losing only four.

“When I got the job I felt the season would go down, not to the wire, but further down before it was resolved,’’ he admitted, after taking on a team sitting third bottom at the time.

“The way it’s gone, I could not ask for any more. The turnaround, how we are playing and the points we have got it’s been comfortable for me in the job with a good group of players.

“It’s been easy to come in and implement what I wanted because they are such a good side.

“We have no fears about anyone. We are above Crawley now and we have six games left, 18 points to see where we can go. Let’s get as high as we can, but I am going to have a look at other things and different options now.’’

This win means York and Dagenham, the bottom two, can’t catch Pools. There’s no need for the Great Escape to be played at Victoria Park this season.

Pools won last season at the Globe Arena to trigger a four-game unbeaten run that kept them up. The season before, victory over Jim Bentley’s side at Victoria Park secured safety.

Those were vital victories – and this made a statement in it’s own way. While Pools have dramatically improved of late and adopted a confidence lacking for most of the season, they displayed a clinical nature this time.

From the first minute, Nathan Thomas was unplayable on the left side, tormenting right-back Shaun Beeley. He swopped flanks at the break such, as Bentley put on a new full back to try and halt Thomas.

It mattered little.

Twice in the opening six minutes, Thomas got at and beyond Beeley. First his shot was pushed into the path of Michael Woods to knock in his first goal since netting at York last August.

Then when Thomas cut inside, there was space to shoot and he netted.

His third, five minutes into the second half, was similar. Being allowed to drive into the box, he picked his spot and fired low.

He’s now scored four goals in Pools’ last three away victories.

“Nath does that to people, he can be frustrating at times, but like that he can play higher,’’ reflected Hignnett.

“He’s not playing higher for reason, but I know the reasons. I can try and mould him into what I think he should be.

“We have worked with him and he’s got good players around him who can help.

“He’s come to this club and is playing well. I don’t know in the past if people have got frustrated with him or not got time for him.

“I can’t say for other clubs, but only what we see. He has a bit of devil about him and you saw today what happens when you encourage someone and have confidence in them.’’

Two-up so early and it was a bit too easy for Pools, they passed and passed the ball around at will, ending with 63 per cent of possession.

“I said I wanted it to be a bit of a keep ball session and, after we went two-up, after 20 minutes we slackened off a bit. I said at half time we had to up the tempo and we would score four or five,’’ said Hignett.

“I wanted them to pass, to get on the front foot and they did it. At 2-1 at half-time I was disappointed as one or two relaxed a bit.

“I said at the break this can go one of two ways – and they got back on it and we punished them. I wanted them to be ruthless and they were.’’

After Thomas restored the two-goal cushion , Brad Walker was wiped out and while he wanted the penalty, Hignett’s ordered Luke James to grab it and get his first goal. How he deserved it - and enjoyed it – before setting up Rhys Oates for the fifth.