CRAIG HIGNETT has never lacked belief in his players, and hopes Saturday’s late-win will give them the confidence to go on a sharp run of results.

Pools go to Stockport County tonight on the back of Jason Kennedy’s injury-time winning goal against Yeovil.

And, after ending a run of five games without a win, Hignett wants his side to repeat the five-game unbeaten stretch they went on previously – and more.

“The belief is so important, players, staff and we are all in it together… I know what we have in the dressing room,’’ he said.

“To win the way we did, it makes everyone feels better and happy. When was the last time we won a game in injury time? Last season against Dover, but when have we done it when we concede a leveller and then still get a winner in injury time?

“I felt battered when they scored, a punch in the guts. It was so late to concede, I was deflated for them to keep going, fair play, and it was a really good goal we scored.

“The game plan overall was really good. Two points were almost mugged from us.’’

Tonight’s opponents yesterday signed former Pools striker Devante Rodney on loan from Salford. He was on loan at Halifax last season and scored against his former club.

Pools’ centre-half Michael Raynes goes back to his former club tonight, and Fraser Kerr made an early and impressive return from injury at the weekend.

Hignett, who tonight serves the first game of a two-match touchline FA ban, added: “I was really pleased with Fraser, he was outstanding and has hardly trained. We felt he would be important on Saturday and he was.

“Luke James made it hard for the defenders, spinning around them and getting in. I would like to see him in the box more, like we have been saying all week, because that’s where the goals come from.

“Our goals came from then middle of the box – and we have put balls across the face of goal and didn’t have anyone there.

“I felt we were really good throughout on Saturday, a big three points and gives us confidence for Stockport.

“No-one had a bad game, they all did what they were supposed to. Maybe we lacked composure in places, but overall it was what we want in this league. Put that effort in and we will be somewhere where we want to be.’’

He added: “I’ve had a look at Stockport and we will have a way to play against them. They have found it tough going at times, but are capable and on their own pitch will give us a tough game.

“We have a lot of personal pride and we may not win every game, but they can never be accused of not putting the effort in. We take heart from the weekend, beating a team who had won seven on the trot. I was speaking to one of their midfielders on Saturday and he was saying they were rubbish – well give us credit for that because we had a way of playing to strangle them and we were alright in the game.’’