AS he trudged away from Kenilworth Road following another defeat, the Hartlepool United supporter summed it up quite nicely: “If we don’t go down this season then we never will.’’

Bottom of the table for two thirds of the campaign and despite taking two points from a possible 15, Pools can still secure their Football League future at the weekend.

And Scott Flinders admitted: “We have had so many chances to put it to bed and you see how poor the league is that these teams aren’t picking wins up. Somebody up there must be shining down on us and giving us a chance.

The Pools goalkeeper and captain was beaten three times at Luton as Pools struggled to cope with the vibrant Luton attack and the injury-enforced absence of David Mirfin.

Yet, despite the disappointment of this defeat and the lacklustre opening half display, Pools can safeguard their status on Saturday.

Pools remain a point in front of Cheltenham and two ahead of Tranmere, who yesterday parted company with boss Micky Adams. All three relegation dwellers lost again on Saturday.

A win over Exeter at Victoria Park and three points coupled with defeats for Cheltenham (at home to title-chasing Shrewsbury) and Tranmere (at play-off contenders Plymouth) would mean a pressure-free last day of the season at Carlisle.

But can Pools play with freedom against the Grecians and earn that so-vital victory in what could be termed the biggest game in the club’s history?

Since moving out of the relegation zone, and they were bottom of the table from October to March, Pools have stuttered.

They had mitigating circumstances in a draw at Newport and defeats to Southend and York, but against Accrington and Luton they were desperately poor in the main.

“Next weekend is about mentality as much as it is ability and it has been for a while now,’’ admitted Flinders. “Since the run to get us out of the bottom two it’s a different mentality and it’s about getting back to basics and working hard.

“We have stayed out of the bottom two again and it’s still in our hands, but we want to make sure we do the job properly.

“It’s two games now and it’s going to be tough, but it’s been a tough season. We didn’t turn up for this game, but even at three-down the supporters were brilliant and it was as if we were leading so massive thanks to them for their backing.’’

Luton, ten defeats from 13, were all over Pools from the off. Forcing four problematic corners in the first five minutes, Cameron McGeehan lost his marker in Marlon Harewood and nodded in.

By the time Jake Howells rolled in a 15th minute penalty, the game was over.

Pools desperately missed the injured David Mirfin and his calming presence in the back line. Across the back four Pools were ripped open too often and too easily.

Pools would have been five down at the break if it wasn’t for Flinders and a goalline clearance from Nicky Featherstone.

At the other end, they created nothing. Up against a man mountain in Steve McNulty, the centre-half coasted it.

When McNulty and Harewood chased an early long ball into the corner it was akin to two bald men fighting over a comb, the comedy arriving as Harewood bundled over the defender with a shoulder barge.

Pools started the second half brighter, moving the ball well and picking up second balls which they never did earlier.

They were well on top and Luton weren’t at ease defending a two-goal lead. A goal for Pools would have turned the game around, but they never looked like making a breakthrough.

Instead, they shipped a slack third from another corner.

“Luton came at us early and quick, but we put ourselves under pressure,’’ added Flinders. “We improved after half-time when a few strong words were said, but we had to score at two-down and it’s a critical scoreline.

“It’s about what’s in the mind, it’s a massive mental game now. We’ve got ability and showed that in recent weeks.

“We need to reproduce some of the performances we have when we were winning games.

Flinders added: “It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for us and we need to get down to basics again.

“There is a different feeling and mentality now – we’ve been in the bottom two and now we are out of it it’s all about staying out of it and keeping above the line. We’ve enough players here to see the job players out and we’ve got young players here now who have played a lot of games and been in similar situations - we were in a similar spot last season and now it’s up to the lads to again step up to the mark.’’