AT home and Hartlepool United appear to have resolved the conundrum; four successive wins at Victoria Park for the first time since 2016 amid a positive run of displays.

Today they go to Boreham Wood seeking a first away win since thumping Chesterfield 5-1 on November 26, a run of eight games in league and cup.

Pools have back to back away games, with a trip to Solihull on Tuesday and the importance of a good haul cannot be underestimated if they are to be in the thick of the play-off race.

Boss Dave Challinor admitted: “Our away form has been a tough one. Looking back, in games away from home, aside from Harrogate we could have won a lot of them.

“Barnet was a close game spoiled by the weather and we probably should have got something, we should have won at Dover, should have won at Yeovil against ten men.

“I would be more concerned if we had been terrible and not playing well. We have got on the right side of fine margins in home games and now away, but I’m not in a panic about our away form.

“Performances can not be a whole lot different in winning and losing games at this level.’’

Challinor is good friends with today’s counterpart Luke Garrard, to the extent that they met up for a meal last night. Boreham Wood lost surprisingly at Aldershot in midweek, a first defeat in 16 games for the team in third place.

The Pools boss added: “I spoke to Luke on Wednesday, it was a surprise result but that’s the nature of the league. Is it s good thing for us? Runs are there to be broken and I would love to have done it.

“In any game you can take lots from it and they have taken the fact they have lost 1 in 16 so it will be tough.’’

There’s little to separate a pack of teams with top seven aspirations and, with 11 games to go, Challinor has set his side a target of seven wins.

He added: “Boreham Wood lost on Tuesday and they are on a great run which goes back to before when we played them. I speak to their manager regularly and in his time, they got to the play-offs and beat us at Fylde, lost their two strikers and struggled and now found some strikers to put them in a strong position. We know it will be a tough one.

“It’s wide open, we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and the pitch will be like a carpet there because of their link-up with Arsenal. An important game which we are looking to go and win.

“We aren’t that far away from where they are and we can have a direct impact on the table and look after ourselves.

“In terms of a small club, they have done unbelievably well and got to the play-off final, only to lose to Tranmere.

“This game has a lot of significance based on what comes at the end of the season.

“We are pretty much where we are with the squad, training was changed a bit with the weather and we have a few little niggles but the squad picks itself really.

“If we don’t have injuries and continue to perform in the way we have then it makes it easy for us.’’