WITH the bottom three teams in the Football League matching each others results defeat by defeat, Ronnie Moore is desperate for a change this weekend.

But the Hartlepool United boss wouldn’t be shocked if his side win on Saturday – and both Tranmere and Cheltenham follow suit.

Pools take on Exeter at Victoria Park, where victory coupled with defeats for the other two sides would see the relegation issue resolved in Pools’ favour.

All three lost at the weekend and Moore was made well aware of other scores as Pools went down at Luton.

"The other teams are suffering the same as we are, the people behind us kept telling us the score at Luton,’’ he said. "I felt like telling them to shut up, really.

"Everybody is nervous and it will be who handles it the best out of use three. They will be safe.

"But I wouldn’t rule out us all winning - that is the way the season has gone.

"Then you are on a wing and a prayer for the last game. If we can do our job against Exeter it might be a happy dressing room."

Cheltenham take on Shrewsbury at home, with Tranmere travelling to Plymouth and Moore added: “We could be safe if we win and they lose, but the other teams will be saying the same thing.

"Ifs, buts and maybes don't win you anything, it is what we do. And if we don't do our part then we won't stay up.

"They should be enjoying playing, they did second half on Saturday but we were 2-0 down then.

"As soon as we came out of the bottom two, they will say they are not nervous, but they are. Before York it was overly quiet in the dressing room, and the same again on Saturday.

"We didn’t start well and they get nervous. You cannot stop it (nerves), the games are coming, so you have to handle it.

"It is bad enough for us on the bench because we cannot do anything. This is when we need the more experienced players, we don't have many leaders.’’

Two of Moore’s more experienced players were back in the squad on Saturday, with former Middlesbrough duo Matthew Bates and Stuart Parnaby returning.

Bates has been out since February with a severely bruised leg, Parnaby has not played since September because of a knee problem.

Both were unused substitutes at Kenilworth Road and Moore said: It is good to have both Batesy and Parnaby back. Their experience is important for us.

"But I wasn't going to throw Parnaby on, the way we were defending, after his long spell out. That wouldn't have been fair.

"They give us another option.’’

Moore, meanwhile, is calling on supporters to turn Victoria Park into a blue and white at the weekend.

The boss has long-praised fans for their backing in recent weeks and, with ticket prices reduced to £15 and £18 for the weekend (concessions £5), he said: “I keep saying that the fans have been unbelievable since I have been at the Club and now we need one more final push at The Vic to help us to another precious win.

“I didn’t understand just how passionate the fans at Hartlepool were until I started work here and I want them to really turn the volume up again on Saturday and get right behind the players.

“And if we could get them all wearing something blue to show their colours in the stands then that can only add to an atmosphere we all hope can push the players closer to the finish line.”