SKIPPER Ritchie Humphreys doesn't want his Hartlepool United players to let their opportunity go begging.

Pool, after last weekend's 5-1 win at Wrexham, go into the festive period on the edge of the play-off zone.

Neale Cooper's side have four League One games in eight days.

And that gives them a great chance to cement a place in the top six.

Pool have home games with Oldham and Milton Keynes Dons, with away games at Bristol City and Barnsley sandwiched in between.

After banishing their away-day hoodoo - Pool had lost eight successive League One encounters - at the Racecourse Ground, Humphreys admits Pool enter the busy period in fine fettle.

He said: "If we had managed another few points away from home, we could have been right up there at the top end of the table.

"We are in a decent position looking at the play-offs, but if we had a point here or a win there we would be in the mix.

"Our home form has been so good and the important thing is to keep it going.''

Humphreys, skipper in the absence of Micky Barron, who is recovering from a knee operation, added: "Picking up a couple of away wins at Bristol City and Barnsley would be nice.

"We are full of confidence, especially after the performance at Wrexham.

"Even though we were on top, they scored and it gave them a lift. Even after half-time when we were 4-1 up the last thing we wanted to do is concede because it gets everyone interested again.

"It was important to keep them out and then we went man to man to keep them out. The goal on the break really deflated them.''

l Former Pool loan signing Kevin Betsy is a doubt for Sunday's game. Now at Oldham, the striker suffered a twisted ankle in the defeat at Port Vale last weekend.

l Victoria Park is set for a healthy crowd for tonight's England v Scotland under-18 game.

Tickets only remain for the Town End, with the rest of the ground sold out. Admission on the gate is £5, £1 concessions.

The game is Dick Bate's first in charge of the side - he coached the under-19s last season. Included in the squad are Sunderland goalkeeper Ben Alnwick, Middlesbrough defender David Wheater and Newcastle's Paul Huntingdon.

l Bradford have verbally agreed new contracts with manager Colin Todd and his assistant Bobby Davison.

Both men are expected to sign over the Christmas period as the club look to rebuild after coming out of administration

Read more about Hartlepool here.