HARTLEPOOL UNITED are out to end their Carlisle hoodoo on Good Friday.

Pools take on the Cumbrians at The Northern Gas and Power Stadium in an uneasy position, just three points ahead of second-bottom Newport in League Two.

The visitors have collapsed in recent weeks, since selling striker Charlie Wyke to Bradford, taking four points from their last 27 on offer – including a run of seven games without scoring.

But their record against Pools is a good one, winning their last three visits to the North-East and they have beat Pools in five of their last six meetings.

Pools only point came at the end of the season in 2015, a 3-3 Brunton Park draw a week after Ronnie Moore completed the Great Escape.

Earlier this season, Pools led against ten men at Brunton Park only to lose 3-2.

Dave Jones, the Pools’ boss, has no injury worries ahead of the weekend double header against Carlisle and then a trip to Leyton Orient.

He said: "We'll certainly try and get the better of them. It just shows they must be a good side that they are still on the fringe of things.

"We've watched videos of them, they are a strong side, they have good players, a good manager I know.

"I'm expecting nothing but a difficult match and anything we get we are going to have to earn.

"They are going through a bit of a difficult time but they are up in the top seven for a reason.

"Keith (Curle) will be coming here to win, but if they are low on confidence then we'll try to use that to our advantage.’’

Pools took on a side equally out of form last weekend, but could only manage a 1-1 draw with Morecambe – who had lost seven in a row before taking on Pools.

With only five games remaining, it’s getting edgy for Pools now and the manager admitted: “It was two points dropped last week, we were all disappointed after the game. Disappointed not to get a penalty towards the end, it was clear cut.

“But these things happen and it’s how you deal with it. To dominate the opening half in the manner we did and not put the game to bed is disappointing.

“Really we should have three points, but we go again this week.’’

He added: “It’s about game management, a lot of things come into play. We aren’t prolific scorers, Podge is a goalscorer, but you have to give him the right service and sometimes we just lack that bit of quality at times when it’s needed.

“We work on it and work on things all the time for the players to get better so that service gets better as we go along.

“Saturday was hard to take after the way we dominated the opening half, chances we created and didn’t stick away.’’