AFTER three successive National League defeats, Matthew Bates hopes the FA Cup has helped get his Hartlepool United squad back on track.

Pools went to Gillingham of League One last weekend and came back with a creditable 0-0 draw, with the replay to come on Wednesday.

Before then Pools take on Barnet tomorrow at the Super 6 Stadium.

And Bates hopes to put the defeats to Sutton, Wrexham and Bromley to bed.

“Last week was massive really after what happened at Bromley,’’ said Bates, whose side had only lost twice in the National League before their three-game losing streak. “We more than matched a League One side which is good going into a league game.

“Was it planned last weekend? We always felt we could but others probably didn’t. It happens in football and one we are really pleased with and showed we can match a League One side.

“The message before the game was that we should be in that league and we showed it.

“Now it’s all about Barnet and Sunday’s game.’’

He added: “That was the standard and in football you do get blips, but it’s about being consistent and in the main this season we have been.

“Sutton wasn’t a bad performance, Wrexham we were brilliant down to ten men and we lost at Bromley, the worst of the season and it doesn’t help that it came after back to back defeats.

“It’s about being consistent and we have to get back to how we were a month ago, starting against Barnet.’’

The Bees were relegated from League Two last season, and now managed by John Still, the wily former Dagenham and Barnet chief.

Bates added: “They play three at the back, which we have been playing a lot of this season.

“It will be a tough one, on the back of a good week of training – an extended week with it being on a Sunday and we want to put the three bad results behind us.

“Barnet have been stop-start this season, up and down and similar to us they are seeking some consistency again and we have to be on our guard.’’

Bates will have his squad in for training today, with both this week and next altered because of games taking place Sunday and Wednesday.

He admitted: “Playing on a Sunday alters our week – it’s normally train Monday and Tuesday, off Wednesday, in Thursday and Friday to prepare.

“Instead we have had Thursday off, back in Friday and Saturday. That’s the only difference, but it gives the lads a bit more recovery from the last game.’’

Bates will be without suspended centre-halves Carl Magnay and Andrew Davies tomorrow, but Peter Kioso will return from a one-game ban.

Pools will likely stick with the 4-4-2 set-up from last weekend, a change from the 3-5-2 set-up Bates has preferred this season.

Teenage loan signings Tyrone O’Neill and James Butler will be in contention, with the former a possible starter up front.

Bate said: “We have added two players to the squad, they have been in with us and we are pleased with them. Tyrone impressed off the bench last week, he offers something different. James is in contention after being cup-tied last week.

“We want to give him the chance over time to impress.

“He is young and will have to bide his time, we are keeping a close eye on him and looking longer-term rather than short.

“Tyrone will get an opportunity which is why we signed a striker who has been playing regularly for Middlesbrough’s Under-23s this season – it’s down to him to make the most of his opportunity.

“We have four options at the top end with four strikers, but we have suspensions at the back with our two mainstay centre-halves out. But we have Peter Kioso, Myles Anderson and James Butler and they will play on Sunday.

“If you play well, you keep the shirt so it’s up to them to keep it and an opportunity for them and they will get that opportunity.’’