DAVE JONES is a wonderful orator, you would not see the Hartlepool United boss doing a ‘Jose’ or ‘Pep’ with an after-match interviewer.

The recently-installed Pools manager has been pretty candid, revealing how a number of people in the football have asked him what the hell he is doing going to Hartlepool?

Or words to that effect.

And the veteran ex-Stockport County, Southampton, Wolves, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday chief could be forgiven for starting to think along the same lines.

Pools suffered a torrid afternoon at the One Call Stadium as Mansfield Town sailed through the mud.

But for a great late save by Adam Bartlett the size of the defeat could have been even wider than 4-0.

Jones has overseen a win, a draw and two losses, with Saturday’s one-sided fixture easily the most troubling, particularly with a visit to fourth-placed Luton Town just a day away.

On the physical side, the 60-year-old has worries in his team after injuries to top scorer Padraig Amond (neck), defender Liam Donnelly (ankle) and keeper Adam Bartlett (foot).

All would appear to be doubts for the trip to Kenilworth Road.

Second top scorer Nathan Thomas will probably also need assessing to see how he is after a 75-minute appearance in heavy conditions, his first start after groin surgery.

But it is the psychological side which will causing Jones to frown the most after seeing his side drop a place to 19th in the League Two standings.

“Technically the team is very good, every one of the players are very, very good,” said Jones. “But you have to add the other ingredients.

“What we need them to do is to transfer their home form away.

“We had started so well against Mansfield, for the first 20 minutes we were comfortable, we were at it.

“Podge had a good chance, a bit more care and it goes in and we had another opportunity to score after that.

“The first goal was our mistake and the second, all of them in fact, no-one seems to do that for us.

“But it’s that first goal which seems to deflate everyone.

“I hope I’m not speaking out of turn here, but that’s been going on for years, so it’s about changing it.

“That’s why the chairman has brought someone like myself in, I have to change it.”

Pools are proving such a soft touch away from the Northern Gas and Power Stadium.

At Newport County a fortnight earlier, the side struggled to adapt to what Jones likened to “Cardiff beach” and conceded three goals from corner kicks against a physically-strong team.

The going was also heavy in Nottinghamshire but, unlike Rodney Parade, there can be no excuses about dodgy pitches and giant opponents.

Pools were outplayed though they also helped the Stags with all four of the Town goals.

Remarkably, it was the hosts who were the first to offer presents, letting in Amond in the 14th minute.

With keeper Jake Kean exposed by his defence, the forward lobbed towards a gaping net from 18 yards but the accuracy was not there and Mansfield survived.

Five minutes later, the Stags were ahead, Shaquile Coulthirst beating Scott Harrison on the right of the box before crossing low.

The ball was blocked but only as far as Ben Whiteman who scored his third goal in three from 14 yards. Number four would duly arrive later.

Town’s second had a comedy element, though not for the away side.

Matthew Bates received an unwelcome pass but still should have booted it clear. Instead, Danny Rose nipped in and ran into the area, where he rounded Bartlett and found the empty net.

Pools had their second and last view of the home goal in first-half injury time when Harrison shot over from a corner.

After the break, Mansfield added two more.

Sub Alex MacDonald was allowed to advance forward from halfway and his 25-yard shot beat Bartlett into his bottom right corner.

With 19 minutes to go, the fans in the away end who stayed must have feared the worst but Town added only one more, Whiteman allowed a free header from 16 yards which ended in the net.

Another gift from a team who need to find those “ingredients”.