CONFIDENT Chris Turner believes self-belief is the key to ending Hartlepool's miserable start to the season.

Pool lie second bottom of Division Three, level on six points with rock-bottom Exeter and above the Grecians only on goal difference.

After Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Lincoln extended the run to just one win in nine, Turner came out fighting.

"Normally when teams are at the bottom they are stuggling for form and to create things, but that's not the case,'' he insisted. "We just have to believe in ourselves and keep going.

"We had chances to go in front at Lincoln, but that's the way it's going for us. We lost 2-0 but played well and did everything apart from put the ball in the net. We made one mistake on Tuesday and they scored.

"The players need to roll ther sleeves up and it will come right for us.

"When you are down and struggling is the time to stick together. If they were lacking bottle, or there was a lack of effort or cohesian or movement, then I would be asking why they are not playing for me, but they are.

"I don't think anyone let me down and that has been the case for most of the season. I know it might be a long struggle but we are going to fight it and we will come out of this spell.''

l Pool's PFA representative Paul Stephenson has backed the proposed players' strike and believes the lower divisions will unanimously back the action.

The footballers' union is urging its players to pull out of televised games in a bid to secure a bigger slice of the millions of pounds from the new television deals.

"I'll definitley be voting for it,'' he admitted. "I think all the lads here will - it's pretty unanimous.

l Darlington forward Danny Mellanby has praised strike-partner Barry Conlon for helping push Quakers into the top five while easing him into his first year in professional football.

The Irishman's equaliser on Tuesday against Macclesfield made him joint leading scorer alongside Mellanby and Mark Ford and the Newton Aycliffe youngster was more than happy to see Conlon get on the scoresheet.

"I'm as chuffed as anyone when he scores or anyone else does. I don't care when I don't score, as long as we win," said Mellanby who has become a first-team regular since joining in the summer from UniBond League Bishop Auckland.

"Barry's doing really well. He's good for me and the team because he's experienced so he looks after himself against some of the teams that like to play rough."

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