PAUL Stephenson was happy to prove the doubters wrong on Saturday, as his Hartlepool United side produced their best display of the season to keep their hopes of staying in League One alive.

After three successive defeats - and only two wins in 22 - Pool turned over in-form Nottingham Forest to set up an exciting end to the season.

Pool go to Brentford on Saturday and end the season at home to Port Vale and Stephenson said: "People had written us off, they had us down. So I said to the players lets go and prove them all wrong.

"The pressure is off us a little bit because of that, so let's go out and play.

"We had nothing to lose, let's show what we can do - and we did that.''

He added: "The players were fantastic - energy levels were high and the system worked well.

"To go one-down was a travesty because they hadn't threatened at all. Tyson has pace to get in and he finished it well.

"We missed a chance just before the goal and it makes you wonder.

"But we got back into it with Joel's header and that sent the place rocking again. We had chances to go in front, but had to wait.

"The pleasing thing is that we created chances all game. Yes, we gave them a sniff and if we had conceded at the end I would have felt for everyone.

"It shows we have to be switched on. Maybe we have had some luck for once.

"We are still in it and it's all to play for.''

After finally getting reward for their performance, Stephenson added: "We've been the better team in a lot of games without getting the results.

"But whether you are the best team or not, it's only about results.

"We now go to Brentford, a battle, a different game but we have given ourselves a chance.

"If we hadn't won this one, then that would more or less have been it. We had to win this one to stay in it.''

* Tickets go on general sale this morning for Saturday's game at Brentford. Pool have been give 650 tickets.

Read more about Hartlepool here.