HARTLEPOOL UNITED captain Nicky Featherstone admits he is struggling to find a reason for the club's dreadful away form.

Pools were given another painful beating on the road on Saturday when they leaked four goals at Mansfield Town.

It had begun brightly at the One Call Stadium where top scorer Padraig Amond was just off the mark with a lob after goalkeeper Jake Kean had been left exposed.

But, thereafter it was all Mansfield as the Stags galloped to what could turn out to be their easiest home win of the season.

Ben Whiteman took advantage of some generous defending to put the home side in front in the 19th minute and seven minutes later, the second goal was positively gift-wrapped as Danny Rose netted.

There was scant improvement after the interval with Alex MacDonald scoring from range and Whiteman heading in his second from almost the edge of the box.

This drubbing followed on from a 3-1 defeat at bottom club Newport County and the form is a world away from the team which took 11 points out of 18 away from home at the start of the season.

"It's not good enough defensively and we are conceding a lot of goals on the road at the minute," admitted Featherstone.

"Goals change games.

"Podge (Amond) had a chance and it doesn't go in and then at the other end we don't defend well enough in our box.

"If you don't take your chances and then you defend like we have today then you will lose games."

Next up for Pools is a trip to fourth-placed Luton Town tomorrow night, hardly a game to relish for Dave Dones' team.

"But it's a chance to put things right," said Featherstone.

"We're working hard on the training ground and preparing well for each game but, for whatever reason, we're not delivering away from home at the minute.

"It's very disappointing and it's hard to put our finger on why."