Hartlepool United are used to their season going all the way to the final kick and Paul Stephenson is vowing to make sure this season is no different.

Pool have three games to go and three wins are needed to have a chance of staying in League One.

Easter Monday's last-minute defeat at MK Dons left Pool four points adrift of safety.

And, while many see League Two football on next season's agenda, Stephenson won't give up the ghost.

"Conceding last week in the last minute was a massive, massive blow to everyone,'' he said. "But now we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

"It's not over yet and regardless of the games involving other teams, we've got three games which are winnable.

"There are two home games - and some of our home performances have been very good without getting the rewards - and a game at Brentford, who are having a bit of a wobble.

"One win can make all the difference and change the mentality of everyone. It would lift the whole place.''

Pool take on a Nottingham Forest side in the play-off zone and seeking a seventh consecutive victory today. Pool have not won in eight.

"If it is out of our hands a little bit now,'' said Stephenson. "A couple of teams are ahead of us and if they keep winning, then what we do won't make a difference.

"But what we have to do is give it a go, we owe it to ourselves and the fans that we don't give up and we have a go at it like we did in the second half on Monday.

"We had a lot of chances but it was the same old story of not taking them. We could have gone two or three up but again it's about putting it into the net and finishing them off.

"We are not scoring enough goals, but Michael Proctor took his goal really well.

"Maybe there is a lack of belief in front of goal - look at how many we have scored this season. We hit a couple of crosses towards the near post on Monday and no-one went in there.

"We had done it in training, a little finishing session, and people did it there.

"I've said to the lads that Shearer might be old and Sheringham has no pace but it doesn't stop them driving in towards the near post.

"They are on the move and by the time the ball is there it can hit them and go in.

"If you stand hoping it's going to come to you it won't happen. Have the belief and it's going to go your way.''

After two inept first-half performances in the last two games, Stephenson has had to blast his charges during the break.

It worked on both occasions, against Bristol City and MK Dons, but it galls the temporary manager that he has to do it when the league position is so miserable.

"We said some harsh words in the dressing room at half-time on Monday, naming names and pointing fingers,'' he said.

"I said that they had to have a look at themselves.

"There is no point in being retired in 12 years time or whatever and knowing they hadn't done it right. You want people to go down fighting - that's the attitude you need.

"I'm a fighter - I was told I should have been finished at 28 with a fractured jaw but I said no way was that happening.

"I carried on playing, carried on winning headers and challenging.

"That's the sort of spirit you need at times like this. You have to fight for everything - people do it in different ways.

"Some people win tackles, some people want the ball and want to play with it, others put their head in where it hurts. In the first half on Monday we didn't do that.''

Mark Tinkler should stay in central midfield after a solid display on Monday, alongside Darrell Clarke.

"Tinks has had problems with his Achilles, then he's had a virus which knocked him back,'' said Stephenson.

"Darrell came on last Monday and did very well - there are a few players pushing for a start.

"Tommy Butler got a kick on an ankle and has a bit of a twist as well, so we will see how he is.

"We had some good performances down there and we played a bit of a different system, going with 4-3-3.

"It cut out the threat from left back and I thought it worked well.

"Bar the goal, which was a case of people near the ball and inside the box switching off, they were never a threat in the first-half and our system worked well."

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