CRAIG HIGNETT is desperate for his demands to sink in for Hartlepool United to become a real force in League Two – and it would be nice for it to start in the FA Cup this weekend too.

Pools’ suffered defeat at Wycombe last Saturday and sit closer to the bottom two than the play-off places, even though there have been positive signs this season.

In a particularly tight league, though, Hartlepool could soon force their way into the play-off reckoning if they can find greater consistency; so often an Achilles heel of many teams in the lower divisions.

Hignett, whose side face Port Vale on Sunday in the FA Cup second round, said: “There was nothing in the game. There were two bits of slack defending.

“We have gone through the video, shown them exactly where we have gone wrong. We are doing it too often. At some point the penny has to drop.

“As a team we didn't look our usual sharp selves. We looked laboured, and we were poor with the ball.

“I think we were a bit tired and leggy. I don't know the reason for that. Maybe you could say the travel and the training but that would be just making excuses. We have had a meeting and we will move on from that.

“We have to start learning from our mistakes. I can't question out attitude, effort and application but maybe the concentration wasn't quite right.”

Hignett, whose side have won three and lost three of their last six matches including an EFL Trophy and FA Cup first round tie, has urged his players to show the sort of quality that is evident on the training ground.

“We have to stand up to the fight,” said the Pools boss. “It is OK to play nice football but we need to be able to play against teams who get in our faces.

“I didn't think we coped well with that last weekend. It is frustrating because what I see in training is very different to what I actually see in games. We need to bring what we do in the week on to the pitch. It's OK doing it for parts of games but we need 90 minute performances.”