GAVIN Strachan has called on his teammates to show some mental toughness to try to end Hartlepool United's miserable away form.

Pool entertain Stockport this afternoon and aim to maintain their magnificent home form - they have dropped only four League One points in ten games.

On the road, however, they have just three points from a possible 30.

Their latest away defeat came last Tuesday at Walsall, the Paul Merson-inspired home side turning around Pool's one-goal advantage.

And Strachan admitted: "The way we played in the first half was very good, we played them off the pitch and, if we had got a second goal, it was game over.

"They had a ten-minute spell against us and, just like Oldham last week, they scored two goals.

"We are having to score three goals away from home to win a game and you just can't do it.

"Away you are always going to come under that bit more pressure and, when things are not going your way, that ten minutes or so when the home team are on top is an important one.

"That's when you have to be mentally strong.

"I think Walsall was probably the hardest of the lot to take. Brentford was tough because it was a last-minute goal, but this one is the hardest - it's the freshest in the memory.

"They go and get two goals in ten minutes and Merson was very influential.

"He's got a great touch. You close him down and think you've got him then suddenly he's flicked it away and it's gone.''

Pool are in 11th spot but, even with just one extra away win this season, they would be in a play-off position.

As it is, their home form is keeping them in the top half and Strachan said: "The gaffer was saying we've got four away games in this run of six, so we've got to get things going.

"If we had won the other night we could have been right up there in the table. All we can do is take the positives out of the game - we played them off the park in the first-half and did the same at times in the second.

"We've got to look at getting another home win against Stockport. At home we don't have a problem, so long may it continue.

"We can't put our finger on why we keep losing away from home. We are playing good stuff at home and winning games, we are playing good stuff away from home and getting beaten.

"The boys worked their socks off at Walsall. I don't think it's a mental thing, we know we are capable of beating teams. This is an important game because we have to carry on our home form.''

Strachan has lined up lately in Pool's four-man midfield, but has interchanged with Tony Sweeney in moving from the middle to the right.

A central midfielder by trade, switching to the flank has provided a whole new challenge.

"It's a different way of playing, but I'm enjoying it and I just want to be playing games,'' he said.

Micky Barron's injury-hit season shows no signs of abating, with the Pool skipper awaiting knee surgery. After two hernia operations during the summer, Barron finally returned to action in the win over Hull on October 2.

He hobbled off in last week's 5-1 FA Cup win over Aldershot and will again be replaced by Jack Ross this afternoon.

Barron will have his cartilage trimmed, while he has also suffered some damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.

The extent of his ligament damage will not be known until he goes under the knife.

Stockport have yet to appoint a new manager and will still be under the control of caretaker boss Mark Lillis this afternoon.

Paul Gascoigne applied for the job, but hasn't been shortlisted.

Ex-Pool boss Chris Turner has missed out on jobs at both Oxford and Shrewsbury and is in contention for the role at Edgeley Park