HARTLEPOOL-BORN Steve Fletcher is convinced his table-topping hometown club have not blown their chances of lifting the Third Division title.

The Bournemouth striker was a constant menace to the Hartlepool United rearguard during Saturday's 0-0 draw.

The result means Pool's lead at the top of the Third Division has been cut to three points after Rushden & Diamonds' victory.

But Fletcher insists Mike Newell's side are still the favourites to lift the crown, despite their recent slump in form.

"There's no way Pools have blown it and I don't think they will," said the 30-year-old, whose family were in one of the directors' boxes at Victoria Park.

"I have spoken a lot about Pools to my mates and I say to them what I will say now and that is that they have just hit this blip.

"All teams have one and this is Pools'. I think they have played badly at times this season and come away with victories.

"Now they are having their first real blip and they will come out of it. Their home form will get them up. Arsenal and Manchester United have both had blips, every team does."

Fletcher was a big Pool fan in his younger days and he admits that he still looks for the result on a Saturday afternoon.

He is desperate to see the League leaders claim promotion for the third time in the club's history - so long as Bournemouth join his boyhood heroes at a higher level.

"I want Pools to go up," he said. "I used to come here (Victoria Park) all the time when I was at school. I said at the start of the season that I wanted us both to win promotion, that has not changed.

"Even now, the ideal thing for me would be that we go up in second and Pools finish third.

"Hartlepool are a soundly-ran club. The future looks good here and because they have good young players. They should be able to make an impact in the Second Division."

"They are similar to us. If you look at this Bournemouth team there are some very good young players. That's why I say we will be able to make an impression in the higher league."

Bournemouth - who are a point behind third-placed York City now - dominated the first half on Saturday, but failed to find a breakthrough.

And in the end only a fine save from Cherries keeper Neil Moss prevented the visitors from going home pointless.

And Fletcher admitted: "It's our home form that's keeping us up there because we have not been able to claim results away.

"But it's not been bad performances because we have been playing well. Pools rallied themselves. You can see why they have won a lot of games. It could have gone either way."

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