IT might be a struggle on the pitch, but Mark Tinkler hasn't felt this good in years.

The Hartlepool United enforcer produced a man of the match display in the goalless draw at Rotherham on Saturday.

Moved to central defence from his normal midfield berth, Tinkler helped Pool stand firm in the second half.

And he revealed the performance came after he has finally shrugged off a series of niggles.

"I felt tired after the game - it's my first game in the first team for a few weeks now. I've played two full games in a week because I played at Rotherham for the reserves on Tuesday as well.

"The last couple of years I have been playing in pain, this is the first time I've been pain free for a while. It's been a combination of things, my knee, calf, Achilles. I've played through game with injuries when perhaps I shouldn't have done.

"But that's my own fault there, every footballer wants to play. Now I've had it sorted out and hopefully keep fit and keep playing.''

Without a win in ten games, Pool have dropped to third bottom in League One.

And, with Friday's home game against Chesterfield to come, ahead of a trip to Tranmere a week tomorrow, Tinkler is desperate to secure a rare home win.

Just three have been recorded this season and Tinkler said: "I think we would take a point on Saturday.

"We worked very hard and showed some real character to come away with a draw.

"Right from the off we took the game to them and could have been a couple in front - it's a shame we couldn't have put them away.

"But we kept plugging away and we will take a point away from home, no matter who you are facing.

"It's our home form which hasn't been up to standard, we haven't won enough games at home to lift us up the table.

"I said to the lads on the bus on the way down that the important thing was that we didn't lose the game and that was the case. We didn't want them to make up any points on us.

"We are at home on Friday and it's vital we get something because we haven't done it at home enough this season.

"Chesterfield are doing well this season, it's going to be hard, but every game is hard for us between now and the end of the season.

"We've got to dig in and look forward to games. Yes, it will be hard, but that's why we are footballers.

"No-one wants to be in this situation and we don't want to be dragged down to the division below - we've been there before and don't want to go back.''