HARTLEPOOL United's players appear determined to go for the play-offs the hard way.

Pool are making the task of a top-seven finish a difficult one. And it's because they can't stop going forward, leaving a nail biting end of season in store for fans and management alike.

Six goals conceded and two defeats away from home in five days have kicked manager Chris Turner where it hurts.

And if his players, accused of "kamikaze defending" by the boss, can't stop their all-out attacking philosophy then they can wave goodbye to play-off plans.

In the past reaching 50 points has been a reason for street parties in Hartlepool, it's a tally that keeps teams safe from relegation. Not, however, one which gives you a chance of moving up a division.

For that opportunity Pool have needed 72 points in the last two seasons which means they need 22 points from ten games. Possible? Yes, but not on the defensive displays of Cheltenham and Kidderminster.

At home, going gung-ho, all out attack makes for thrilling entertainment, just look at Pool's recent home record, goals, goals and more goals. Away from home, however, solidity is needed, as well as the ability to kill games off and not allow the home side a lifeline.

This mirrored the defeat at Cheltenham last Tuesday. Both opponents were played off the park in the first-half, Pool failed to make the most of their openings and both opponents made the most of their second chance and went on to win.

And Turner was scathing of his players.

"We should have been six up in the first-half, I gave them hell at half-time because we should have been so far in front - without a shadow of doubt,'' he fumed.

"I said to them that you can't miss chances like that and expect to win games - and then the second half went how I expected it to. You expect the home side to have some pressure.

"But we got it back to 2-2 and we should have taken a point and then it was all kamikaze. Players are thinking 'we'll go out and get a third goal', you can't do that away from home and the players have got to take responsibility.

"We are playing well enough to win games, we are playing well enough away from home and we should never have lost that game.

"We should have had it sewn up at half-time but it was only 1-0 - that's why I'm trying to bring players in who are going to win us games. Gordon Watson goes on for half an hour and shows what is required.

"Players who have played well all season are making mistakes that are costing us goals.

"Our back four started to push up against pace and the consequence of that is the third goal goes in. They went lazy and thought they would play offside and it didn't work.''

And he added: "Two defeats like this make it hard for us. It's OK winning 5-1 at home, but there's no way we should have lost that game. I was very, very disappointed to be coming in at half-time only one-up.

"Because with a little composure and a little bit of quality in front of goal we could have had six. We've just counted seven chances in the first-half that should have at least been on target. Mark Tinkler could have had four.

"If we are going away from home and we are poor and losing 3-0 every week then I can accept it because we would be a poor team, but I feel very down after this. We are playing well, but not just winning matches.''

Once again, it started so promising for Pool. Paul Stephenson played the ball into Tinkler and his first-time lay-off found Ritchie Humphreys and on the back of two goals a week earlier, he smashed home.

For the rest of the half, it was a case of missed chance after missed chance. James Coppinger, Kevin Henderson and Mark Tinkler all should have scored.

Instead, it remained just one at the break and giant defender Abodu Sall took a leap on the back of teammate Drewe Broughton and headed in. And when Micky Barron was dragged into the middle, Colin Larkin had space to net.

Tinkler levelled, latching onto Gordon Watson's exquisite through ball and rounding Stuart Brock. Watson made a massive impact in his 31 minutes on the pitch, hassling the defence into mistakes, unruffling Craig Hinton and Sall. One deft backheel played in Darrell Clarke and only a stunning covering tackle from Smith kept him out.

But with three minutes to go with the Pool back line pretending to be the Arsenal back four of old and pushing forward trying to catch the homeside offside Dean Bennett got in to net the winner.

Pool's defence - be it a three man rearguard or four - never have played or attempted to play the offside trap. Who knows why they tried with three minutes to go with the stakes so high?

Read more about Hartlepool here.