HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner has called for one last push as the chase for the play-offs goes down to the wire.

Pool have two games left and are relying on Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury to drop points in the next week to stand a chance of making the top seven.

And Turner, who last week chalked up his 150th league game in charge of Pool, has issued a rallying call to fans.

Pool entertain Swansea at Victoria Park in their last home League game of the season - they go to Exeter next week - and Turner said: "We are hoping for a good crowd and I would ask our supporters to come along and back us in numbers.

"I hope we can get over 4,000 and it would give everyone a lift. The players would be boosted by a big reception when they come out.

"We played Cardiff on the last day of last season and it was a great occasion - the crowds came out and we had a good win.

"Now we are hoping for more of the same.''

Pool have won three in a row to rekindle their hopes that looked dashed after losing at home to Macclesfield on March 24. Victories over Oxford, Plymouth and Halifax have put Pool back on track and Turner said: "The players deserve immense credit for what they have done.

"Look where we were in October and now with two games to go we can still get in the play-offs. The important thing for us is to win and then take things to the last game of the season.

"I've always believed we could get in the top seven but we should be pushing for the top three rather than the play-offs.

"I just wish that some of the players had the same belief that myself and Colin West had in them at the time.

"We could still get 71 points this season and if we do we will have topped 70 points for three seasons in a row, which is an immense achievement. The reaction from the players in the last few weeks has been excellent but to be fair to them they have always bounced back after a bad result and that was the case after Macclesfield. People are always willing to write us off but I hope we can prove them wrong again.''

Last season Blackpool scraped into the play-offs on the last day of the season, beat Pool in the semi-final and went on to win promotion, an example Turner is hoping to follow.

"If we get in there in seventh place or whatever, I believe that we are capable of doing well this time and would have nothing to fear,'' he insisted. "We have played all the other teams in contention and have done well against them.''

Swansea, who last night appointed Nick Cusack as manager, have nothing to play for and Turner is hoping to make the most of their long-trek to the North-East.

"We must win - nothing else will do for us,'' he insisted. "We have to go for it and if we can get an early goal it will put pressure on them. I hope we can make the most of the fact they have had a long trip and it is the end of the season. There's a lot of talk about us wanting favours from Darlington. If we win and Scunthorpe lose then all the better, but it is what we do what counts.''

* Pool fans are asked to keep their ticket stubs from this afternoon's encounter in case they are needed for play-off semi-final tickets. Ticket holders from today's game will be prioritised second behind season-ticket holders.

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