FIVE games unbeaten has turned into five without a win for Hartlepool United. Today they come up against the divison’s in-form side.

Yeovil were relegated last season, but have won their last seven games in the National League to push them up to third in the table.

How Pools could do with a run like that. But that’s something they’ve needed for years and not managed.

“Yeovil are a really good side, well organised and competitive, energetic. You know you are in a game with them,’’ said boss Craig Hignett.

“I think teams coming down can go one of two ways… they had a tough start, but them came good winning their last seven. They work hard for each other and are competitive. It’s been their day lately, and you have to be on your game.

“It depends on the day, like everyone, they are confident now but they are getting the rub of the green at the top.

“It’s a winnable game, they all are and if we turn up we will get the better of anyone in this league. We have to make sure are are on it.

“I don’t think we are a million miles away, but we’ve not been clinical enough. Chances have been created without putting them away.’’

Pools are 16th, meandering along after a promising start to the season. They’ve only lost two games in nine, but need to start stringing a winning run together.

At home, form has, as ever, been particularly disappointing with three defeats, three draws and just one win.

Hignett said: “Home form here is disappointing, I think it’s an intimidating place to come but we should use that to our advantage and have a go. Chesterfield was flat, a bit different after what went on, but in the second half against Dover we had a right go and had chances to win it.

“We were good against Woking and should have won, the fans were really good and we have to make it really hard for the away team – we do that by getting on the front foot.

“We need wins to get up there, but the division is and will be tight. There’s no panic, but we need wins to get up and around there.

“We aren’t, even now, a long way off. It can change in a week and we won three in a row and we saw the difference, we need that again to get up there.’’

After the departure of Liam Noble to Morpeth, Hignett has both Nicky Featherstone and Ryan Donaldson available today after serving their two-game suspensions. Josh Hawkes is also in contention for a start.

Hignett added: “There’s a place up for grabs. Josh was excellent against Leicester in a friendly this week, Gav (Holohan) has played the last two and done OK – he needs a run in the team.

“Competition is fierce, and we need a winning formula. They are all in with a shout of playing and they all know that.

“We need a goal, Gime (Toure) has been flying and it’s the others who need to chip in. We can’t just rely on him.

“You want all your strikers scoring – Luke Janes scored two in midweek for the reserves, but we need that in a league game.

“Get a goal, go on a run and we need them to start finding the net.

“We can only change the run of results by working hard, getting on with it and ignoring anything we can’t control.’’