THREE games in and Hartlepool United skipper Carl Magnay has already labelled this evening’s meeting with Chester as must-wi

Pools have struggled in the National League so far, taking one point from nine as they have looked far from convincing.

They lost at part-time Maidenhead on Saturday, a week after being beaten by Dover at Victoria Park.

When Chester visit Pools’ home this evening, Magnay accepts there is little room for error. #

“Tuesday is a must-win game, a must-win,’’ he said. “We may play a way which isn’t attractive, or isn’t as attractive, but we need to win.’’

Both defeats this season have come against teams who have been direct and more forceful than Pools.

Meeting that challenge head on is, says Magnay, key.

“We have to stamp authority on games and take the games to them early on. We are waiting for something to happen,’’ he admitted.

“We are starting games a little lackadaisical and we need to impose ourselves and be on the front foot. We are all learning what we are all about. We are learning about strengths and weaknesses.

“Maybe we need to put it on teams a bit more and be a bit more direct.

“Teams will look at us and try and combat our strengths and this week they have let the pitch grow and not watered it.

“The manager gave us a plan to work to and at the game time we have to take responsibility ourselves.

“It’s our fault and we have different challenges to conquer.’’

Pools have started each game with a different formation, only to change it at the break after falling a goal behind.

On Saturday they were far from convincing with a three-man defensive line and a five-man midfield.

Harrison has yet to settle on his preferred starting XI and Magnay added: “It’s very frustrating to have to change formations in games – it’s about the manager learning about his players and what the best way is to go about it.

“He and Jenks have done great and the information we get has been spot on. It’s up to us as players to deliver it better.

“We also have to recognise that a plan might not work and we have to change it. It starts with being the aggressor and getting at teams early.

“We have a good squad, with confidence in each other. We have to get it right soon and we all recognise that.’’

Pools have designs on promotion and an instant return to the Football League, but it appears to be taking time to adapt to their new surroundings.

Maidenhead were promoted into the National League at the same time Pools fell into it.

The Berkshire side are expected to be amongst the relegation scrap this season, but they were better than Pools for the vast majority of the game.

Magnay added: “It’s a bad result, poor performance first-half. We were trying to play from the back on a slow pitch and we were caught out.

“There wasn’t time on the ball to play and we have to take responsibilities as players when conditions are like that.

“We need to get the ball up in good areas and play from there. This is the challenge of this league, all sorts of challenges from all sorts of teams.

“We have to recognize the situation and play to suit.

“Teams are direct and on the whole we have defended pretty well, it’s sloppy goals we have conceded. Two mistakes.

“We are up against teams who want to go long and get in behind you.’’

He added: “Games have been started slowly and perhaps we need to play in the oppositions half earlier in games.

“We need, without being ugly as we have good players in the side, be sharper on the front foot. We have good pros in there.

“I feel for the fans, we are players appreciate the efforts they put in to follow us and we are gutted for them to come to Maidenhead and watch us lose. We will stick with each other, they need to stick with us.’’