DANNY Wilson is demanding his Hartlepool United players wake up and start to realise the situation they have allowed themselves to fall into.

Last Friday's shocking home defeat to Cheltenham was a season's low, as they slumped 2-0 to the team with the worst away record in League One.

It also means Pools fell closer to the drop zone, they are just four points in front of fourth bottom ahead of tomorrow's rearranged home game with Southend, who thumped Bournemouth 4-1 at the weekend.

Wilson has yet to make any new signings this month, but changes are needed to halt the slide.

Recalls are on the cards tomorrow night to Joel Porter, Jamie McCunnie and Matty Robson and Wilson fumed: "That is the worst display since I have been here without a shadow of a doubt.

"I have to say we could have been five down, six down and I couldn't have argued about it.

The defending was absolutely atrocious at times.

"We have got to take stock of things. Take stock of personnel, have a look at people and see if they are good enough.

"That is what we will do because we just can't carry on like this - it's happening every week.

But that was the final straw quite honestly, it was very very poor.

"People keep telling me we should be doing this, that and the other. We are trying to do it because we know where the areas are but getting people in is very difficult.

"We will bring them in, I am determined to bring people in and it won't be for lack of trying if we don't."

And, after six games without a win, he warned: "At the start of the season, everyone was talking about championships, top two, definitely in the play-offs but now we are at the other side of it and we will see how we handle it. It is a test of character for us.

"We are getting dragged into it. This club has been through it before and got into that run before.

We are in a scrap but two or three wins can bring you right out of that. But that is a game that I don't think we will see again because it was that poor.

"If one or two of the players were in their comfort zones, they have been snapped out of it quickly.