FOR Ronnie Moore, football is about the basics. And a month into his tenure as Hartlepool United boss he is getting a response to the simple messages he gets across.

Moore hasn’t been asking the earth of his great underperformers, but for some players, the penny is finally dropping.

Last weekend, they achieved a rare and welcome feat – a win and three much-needed points.

Their task today is much harder, a trip to Shrewsbury who are unbeaten at home this season.

Bookmakers last weekend listed Pools as 16/1 shots to win there this afternoon – the same odds you can get on Cambridge to beat Manchester United next weekend.

Moore hopes that this afternoon his charges can take the confidence from last weekend into the game, along with his well-drilled instructions.

He said: “I am surprised it has taken so long because I haven’t asked them to produce anything that they can’t.

“I have just asked them to work hard.

“But that is their job, their job is to work hard and be committed and show desire to do things.

“To give the fans something to shout about, that shouldn’t be hard for 11 players to go out and produce.

“At the Morecambe game the fans had a pop and rightly so but you didn’t hear any of that against Cheltenham.

“The fans have seen a bit of effort and commitment and desire to wear the shirt.

“That shouldn’t be an extra, that is what they get paid for.

“It shows how flat they were when I took over.

“It has taken a while to lift them and you soon find out the ones you can kick up the backside and the ones you can give a sugar lump to.

“Even the ones who want the sugar need a slap around the ear to liven them up to make them realise this is a man’s world and we are fighting for survival.

“This is proper, we are all playing for our survivals to keep the club in the Football League.’’

And, while last week’s win was their first in 13 games, it means they remain seven points short of the survival line.

Pools have long been written off by many, but Moore warned the Conference is a damn tough place to get out of.

“You can see how hard it is to get back,’’ he said. “Look at Cambridge and Luton and your Lincoln’s who are still in there.

“Luton had six or seven thousand every week and it is not easy with just one automatic spot as anything can happen in the play-offs.”

“If we can get four points out of the next two games then the whole situation looks very different.

“But if you lost them you are back to where we were two weeks ago.

“That is what is great about the game - the opportunity is there, can we grasp it?

“If we have the fight and desire and spirit that will go a long way to getting something out of the games.”

Pools have testing back to back away games with the promotion-chasers, having lost 2-0 at Victoria Park back in September, today followed by Tranmere next weekend.

Moore said: “Shrewsbury have done well, not lost at home this season so far, but someone will get a win there down the line.

“Nobody thinks it’s going to be us, instead thinking it will be a nice and easy game for them, but hopefully it won’t be.

“I watched them last Thursday at Luton and they are a big strong side, streetwise, and they know their roles. We know their weakness and we can get at them.

“It’s a big one and if we come away with something it’s a hell of a performance and we try and win it.

“It’s a two-horse race, people won’t expect us to win. I expect us to give them a game. They take us lightly, we produce a performance and we can win the game. We go there to be in it as long as we can.’’