DAVE Challinor knows all about the nature of the ups and downs of the National League festive programme.

Fylde, managed by the current Hartlepool United boss, were thumped 4-1 at Tranmere on Boxing Day 2017. In the return game on January 1, Fylde enjoyed a 5-2 victory over the same opposition.

On Boxing Day this time, Pools were thumped 4-1 at Harrogate. They face the same opposition at Victoria Park this afternoon.

“We’ve got to make sure we have moved on from Boxing Day and give all we can and repay some of the faith from the supporters,’’ said Challinor.

“We had a good performance against Barrow from a good result and performance. Still there was a tunge of disappointment over what happened at Harrogate.

“I’ve been in this situation in this league when games tyurn around quickly. I said prior to Harrogate, I went to Prenton Park, one of my old clubs, and lost 4-1. Then we beat them at home days later. Hopefully, as horrible as Boxing day was, this can be a good omen for us.

“I will be critical of the players if they drop their levels from Saturday. They dropped on Boxing Day and we were embarrassed. The disappointment still lingers.

“We have to do all we can do come back. We can’t control the outcome of the result, but we can give all we have got and, if we do that, we will be a lot closer than Boxing Day.’’

Pools gave a much-improved display on Saturday as they played out a 2-2 draw with Barrow. Challinor made five changes to the side and altered the formation from the Harrogate debacle.

Standards were raised and Challinor added: “I am here to do a job that’s best for the club and to get the best out of the players. They need to understand that I want them to develop as best they can. I won’t hide behind things and allow standards to drop.

“They have aspirations to play higher and I would be doing them a disserve if I was to say they were doing well after such a bad result.

“They have to push themselves and I will push them as it’s my job to make them better players and then everyone benefits.

“I will always look at how we want to play and what personnel best suits. I am a manager who wants my teams on the front foot and that fits with the statute of this club and what the supporters want.

“Coming here, we want to give the amazing supporters something to cheer and if we get on the front foot more and earlier then we need to do it. We need to do it tactically, technically and physically.

“If people fall short then I wouldn’t be doing the test of the squad justice by letting them off when they aren’t at their best.

“It’s important to let everyone know where they stand in the team and in the squad. No-one is undroppable or guaranteed to play. We need competition and continue to test each other with the standards we keep.’’