RITCHIE Humphreys is leading Hartlepool United's play-off assault from the front.

The midfield has been handed the captain's armband in recent weeks in the absence of Micky Barron and responded with his best display of the season in last Saturday's win over Notts County.

Humphreys, last season's player of the year, opened the scoring in the 4-0 rout and, with results going Pool's way, they look set for a place in the play-offs with a place in Division One at stake.

He said: "I've got four now and I was never going to get a tally like last season - that was my best ever.

"The goals in this team have been spread around a little bit more this season.

"And we've got three games left to see where we end up - it's quite frightening really!

"It's all down to us, no-one else. We just want to kick onto the next game and not worry about the others and what they are doing.

"Another result on Saturday would be a nice.''

Pool go to Rushden on Saturday looking for their fifth win in a row and a result which could clinch a top-six spot.

And Humphreys added: "Most people had written us off after losing two on the bounce against Brentford and Brighton. Things like that can really knock teams down.

"But who would have thought we would have come out with nine points from Luton, Bournemouth and Wrexham - other teams who have been going for a play-off place.

"It's been a fantastic effort from everyone. The two games last weekend, with a tough home game and a trip to Wrexham really took it out of everyone and it's credit to the players that they have carried on.

"We've not worked all season and put all the effort in not to give it a real good go.''

* Wimbledon boss Stuart Murdoch admitted the club's future has been thrown into fresh doubt this week by the Inland Revenue's last-minute decision to contest Pete Winkelman's takeover in the High Court.

The Inland Revenue, who are owed less than £1m, raised an objection on the final day of a cooling-off period and music mogul Winkelman now faces a court battle next month to buy the club.

Murdoch, whose club are already relegated to the Second Divison, said: ''They left it until the last day to do this and I find that difficult to believe. It came as a tremendous shock."

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