WITH two wins on the road this season and none at Victoria Park, Hartlepool United midfielder Mark Tinkler is desperate to end the run.

Pool meet Swansea at Victoria Park on Saturday. This season, Pool have lost twice and drawn twice in front of their home fans and seven of their nine points have been earned on the road.

And Tinkler, restored to the midfield in last Saturday's win at Blackpool, admitted: "Our home form hasn't been very good recently. We've yet to win this season and lost a few at home at the back end of last season.

"It's strange because it's not normally the case. We are normally so strong at home.

"Since I came here we've won a lot more than we have lost and have had a good record at home.

"It's hard to put your finger on why it hasn't been going right.''

But Tinkler feels his side has shown what they are capable of by winning at Blackpool. Pool needed two late goals to secure a 2-1 win and Tinkler, fit again after a tendon problem, said: "Saturday was exactly what we needed and it showed we have what it takes.

"We stood up strong defensively and started to get the ball down in the second half as the game went on. The young lads came on and showed some good touches as well.

"It was a good win and a good confidence booster. We're on nine points now and there's plenty of points to play for and there's nothing stopping us doing it.

"Now we have to start getting our home form right and that will see us moving up.

"I was a bit shattered towards the end, I just need games now to get there. I've played enough reserve games but there's nothing like real games, that's what gets your fitness up.

"I've been sat watching from the stands and it's not easy when things aren't going great.

"We've a very big squad this season and look at the bench on Saturday, that proved we have plenty of good, young kids coming through.

"There's lads at the club who didn't even travel on Saturday, that's how many players we have.

"But that also means when you get a chance, you have to take it or there are other players ready to come straight in.

David Hodgson has paid tribute to the battling spirit which helped Darlington salvage a point from at Mansfield Town on Saturday.

For the most part Quakers were unimpressive at Field Mill and when Bert Bossu's error handed the Stags a 64th minute lead they looked down and out.

But Darlington battled back and Hodgson, who switched to 3-4-3 after going 2-1 down, says his team's youthful outlook provided that added impetus.

The average age of the starting line-up at Mansfield was just 22 and Hodgson said: "The best thing about having so many kids in the team is that they do not tend to think that the game is over when you're losing.

"Instead they carry on going and they got the goal through their enthusiasm. Because they do not think about the fact we are playing badly they stayed focussed and because of that we ended up getting a goal back and it lifted us.

"The players came off the field with their heads down and in the changing room they said they felt as though we had dropped two points but I don't think that is the case, we gained a point."

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