CHRIS Westwood last night refused to give up hope of Hartlepool United securing a Third Division play-off place.

Eleventh-placed Pool lie seven points adrift of Rushden and Diamonds in seventh with just five games to go.

And while many believe a top seven finish has slipped by the Victoria Park club after Friday night's 2-1 home defeat to Macclesfield, Westwood is determined to keep battling away until the end of the season.

"We more or less knew we had to win on Friday because we now have to rely on other results," said the centre-back, who scored his first goal of the season against the Silkmen.

"Speaking realistically I know, as well as the rest of the squad knows, that it is going to be hard.

"But we've got 15 points to play for and that will give us 71 - possibly enough to see us scrape in the play-offs. We know we have to win all five games."

Pool travel to Oxford United on Saturday and then entertain League leaders Plymouth Argyle on Bank Holiday Monday.

And 25-year-old Westwood, a former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender, said: "Our consistency has been our problem. First we couldn't win away and we were great at home.

"Now it seems we can do well away and we are struggling at home. It's been strange.

"Hopefully we can enjoy wins both at home and away over the Easter period."

Meanwhile, Pool have extended James Coppinger's loan move from Newcastle United until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old, who signed an original two-month deal at Victoria Park in January, has played ten times during that period and scored two goals.

Since Turner brought Coppinger in he has played on both wings, but he is still regarded as a striker at Newcastle United.

And the Pool boss indicated that the Middlesbrough-born youngster could play his way to securing a more permanent move to the Third Division outfit.

Turner said: "James is under constant review with the prospect of a long-term contract here."

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