WITH their last two Friday night games bringing their only victories since December, Hartlepool United are in need of making it three in a row this week.

Paul Stephenson has led his side to Friday night wins over Huddersfield and Chesterfield in recent weeks and Oldham Athletic visit Victoria Park this week.

Losing at League One leaders Southend last weekend meant that Pool dropped into the relegation zone and skipper Ritchie Humphreys knows the importance of getting a win before their relegation rivals play their weekend games.

"Friday night games have been good to us in the past and we want to keep that going this week, because we need wins," he said.

"The league table doesn't lie and we know that we will need to scrap and fight to get out of this position which we find ourselves in.

"When you look round our dressing room I can see that we have enough quality players to beat anyone in the league.

"We have only lost twice since Paul Stephenson came in and we believe that we can get the wins that will secure our safety.''

Stephenson refuses to set a target which he believes will see his side clear of the threat of the drop, but with games to come at both Swindon and MK Dons, avoiding defeat in those two is a minimum requirement.

A Friday win will do his hopes the power of good. Opponents Oldham are chasing a play-off spot - they are outside the top six on goal difference - but Pool turned Huddersfield over three weeks ago and Humphreys knows just what hi side is capable of doing.

"Because there is not a massive gulf between any of the teams, you go into every game believing that you can win it, especially the home games that are coming up,'' he said.

"It is going to be tense but we have to be mentally strong and try to get as many points that we need."

Saturday's defeat came after conceding a first-minute goal and he admitted: "It was disappointing to lose such an early goal but I felt we went on and had a lot of good possession, it was three mistakes that cost us.

"We played quite well at times and carved them open. It has been seen all season when teams at the top or at the bottom there is nothing in it.

"But we can't dwell on the Southend defeat because we have some massive games coming up.''

Read more about Hartlepool here.