RITCHIE HUMPHREYS feels Hartlepool United have shown their League One rivals that they mean business this season.

Form might have been indifferent until their recent burst of just one defeat from their last six games, but Humphreys thinks victories over some of the division's big-hitters highlight their quality.

As well as defeating promotion contenders Bournemouth in their last league outing on December 11, Pools have also ran Colchester close and recorded impressive results against the likes of Brighton and Peterborough United.

All of those sides are in the promotion mix and Humphreys wants to see a repeat of such heroics when they head to another top team in the shape of Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day.

"We have been more consistent in performances of late," said Humphreys, now playing in a centre-forward role he started his career playing. "Carlisle and Sheffield Wednesday are the only games when we haven't been up to standard.

"We have been very organised and the players have responded to the work ethic and the way we play. Mick Wadsworth's made one or two changes and it's been working.

"There's no fear. At times we have played teams in the top three - Peterborough, Brighton and Bournemouth so why should there be? 

"We have done well of late and know we have to approach the game the way we have been."

While Hartlepool would still be happy to survive this season, Wadsworth has regularly suggested he has a squad capable of finishing in the top half of League One.

That sort of optimism is a far cry from his predecessor, Chris Turner, who spent the summer telling everyone that a relegation fight would be on the cards if there was not further investment.

But there is a drive to ensure the players take nothing for granted, knowing they are as close to the play-offs as they are to the relegation zone.

"Mick is experienced and look at his career and where he has been," said Humphreys, who has effectively been working as the former Newcastle No 2's assistant in recent months. 

"Mick has made us a stronger unit and the players have responded to it. Me and Micky have worked alongside him and enjoyed it, we are doing OK and can still improve in certain areas. 

"In the last few seasons we have played well - at Bristol. Norwich, Southampton when we played terrific and came off with nothing, but we have to keep improving. That has to be the aim."