HARTLEPOOL United set their standards last weekend. Now the onus is on the squad to maintain them.

Victory over Maidstone at Victoria Park was as comprehensive as it was comfortable as Pools gave their best show of the season, and that by some distance.

They take on Dagenham this afternoon, before going to Wrexham on Tuesday and Orient next Saturday.

Those three games will go a long way to shaping up the coming weeks, and boss Craig Harrison said: “It’s a strange league, everyone is beating everyone and it’s about finding consistency.

“Go on a run, seven, eight, nine games to get right in the mix.

“We have some in-form teams to play – will the same teams be up there in another eight or nine games?

“They are in form, but we have to make sure we are right. Do that and play like we can and we will be very competitive. Consistency is the key. An unbeaten run pushes is well and truly up the league.

“We go out there to win the next three games, no question about it. The last two games have been a real, solid cornerstone for us.’’

Pools will be without Jake Cassidy for the coming two months, as he has suffered a stress fracture of his right foot.

In his place last weekend, 17-year-old Connor Simpson scored and impressed in a front three.

Their formation now seems settled after much chopping and changing in the winless opening games.

And Harrison also has Rhys Oates available now after the striker suffered niggling injuries in the opening days of the season.

“Rhys is back in contention and he looked good last weekend. It’s been tricky as he’s had a couple of injuries and we made a concerted effort to get him right,’’ said Harrison.

“He could have been right two weeks ago if need be, but instead we tried to do two weeks of fitness work with him to eradicate the niggles and fitness issues.

“We saw that on Saturday, he looked so much more powerful and in 20 minutes he looked a different player. He didn’t struggle after one run, he made two, three or them.

“He is outjumping centre-halves, quicker, stronger physically which will prevent injuries in the future.’’

He added: “Dagenham have had a good start, but have conceded goals which is encouraging for us after such a good win last weekend.

“We had double figures in shots on target, with nine, ten corners too. We almost kept a clean sheet too – conceding in the last minute – and I believe if we keep a clean sheet we have the belief to win games.

“Do that and we stop giving silly goals away, then get the first goal it’s massive. It’s important to start well at the Vic and get at them from the off like Maidstone.’’