TWELVE months ago, Hartlepool United took on Morecambe and Leyton Orient in quick succession, two teams in and around the relegation zone. They failed to beat either and ended up relegated from League Two.

In the last week, Pools took on Guiseley and Solihull in quick succession, two teams in the bottom four. They lost to both. They could yet end up being relegated.

The misery shows no sign of ending at Victoria Park. Raj Singh, the new owner, has been there for both defeats. He is taking over a club at its lowest ebb. He and Jeff Stelling can only improve things.

Five games without defeat, three of them wins, lifted Pools seven points in front of the bottom four. That gap should still be enough. Should be.

But the fragility of this side and the losing mindset which is entrenched within means it cannot be ruled out.

They have lost an astonishing ten times in the National League at home this season. Only three Saturday games at Victoria Park have ended in victory. Pools home record has been in negative equity for a number of years now.

Solihull arrived fourth bottom, and looked like a team fourth top. Their boss Mark Yates may have been exaggerating a little when he said “how we haven’t scored seven, eight, nine I don’t know’’, but his sentiments were right.

“It’s disappointing, of course it is,’’ admitted caretaker boss Matthew Bates. “First-half we were as poor as we have been for a long time, all over the park, and got what we deserved in the end.

“It’s down to combination of things- maybe people have taken their eye off the ball and it’s something I will have to look at. Are we struggling to play at home? Now we are getting chances from others rather than chasing ourselves?

“It’s things I will look at in the next few days, we were looking over our shoulders before the game and we still are now so nothing changes.’’

Nothing changes year on year, season on season, week on week, game by game. The downward spiral is one this club and squad can’t shake itself out of.

Is five games without defeat the sum total of what they are capable of?

Pools had one decent effort on target. Josh Hawkes, who again displayed his share of promise as others stumbled around him, turned and unleased a 30-yard drive.

Keeper Max O’Leary was beaten as the angled shot went over the keeper and came back off the underside of the bar.

That was one of Pools’ two shots on target, the other a tame near post effort from Michael Woods.

Moors had plenty more. But when they did score, Pools should have seen in control to see it out.

It’s been said plenty of times this season that Pools lack leaders. Other teams are bigger, quicker and stronger than Pools. Moors didn’t even have to try and bully them, Pools just allowed them to do it with ease.

Darren Carter’s set-piece delivery was always a threat and caused Pools problems, never looking comfortable defensively.

Bates said after the game he wants a crack at the job, keeper Scott Loach backed his claims up post-match. There needs to be some big improvement in the final four games for that to happen.

Just like against Guiseley on Easter Monday, Pools conceded late on. A near post corner was touched in by striker Adi Yussuf. Maybe he didn’t know a lot about it as he diverted the ball in from close range.

But there was enough blue and white shirts in the penalty area to deal with it; the biggest crime was not having anyone on the near post to defend the post.

Defensive organising? Mental strength? Focus? Whatever it was down to, Pools lack it.

“You bunch of losers,’’ shouted on Mill House voice as Solihull celebrated.

No-one could argue.