NEW-BOY Joe Gamble believes a tightening up of Hartlepool United is essential if they are to end their current rot. Saturday’s loss at Bristol Rovers was their third in a week, and Gamble’s third loss in three games since moving from Cork City early this month.

The midfielder, outstanding at the weekend, is desperate to get on the winning side tomorrow, when Pools take on Gillingham at Victoria Park.

“I have to say there’s a good bunch of lads here and everyone’s honest,’ he said. “But we have to get to the situation where if we don’t play well, teams still don’t get easy goals against us.

“I can accept fellas banging a ball in from 30 yards, but you can’t accept goals that are present.

If you cut that out, you get a 0-0 draw at worse.’’ Twice-capped by the Republic of Ireland, Gamble is enjoying the chance to get back in action after the Irish season ended last year.

“I felt a lot better on Saturday,’’ he said. “MK Dons was my first game in three-and-ahalf months and I had a knee operation before that.

“I’m still in rehab in terms of building my quads up and doing a lot of weight training, but I have to say I felt a bit tired in the last 20 minutes.

“I’d like to think I’ve worked hard to get to a certain stage but there’s still more from me to come. I have to say a felt a lot better in the team. I got around the pitch, made a few tackles and made my presence felt, stopping them play.’’ Gamble offers protection to the back four, an integral part of the new-look 4-5-1 set up.

“I have to say we all look good on the ball. In the first half we gave them the runaround,” said Gamble.

“I think it’s easier to play football in that formation. We might not have the pace in behind so there’s no point banging the ball up front and saying right then, go on.”

He added: “I hope the fans at home realise when they see we’ve lost 2-0 on Sky Sports that we weren’t that rubbish and we worked well.

“If we cut out the mistakes, stick together as a team, we can go somewhere. If we play like that on a regular basis, we’ll win more than we lose.’’

■ Pools trip to Southampton on February 14 will be rearranged after Saints were drawn at home to Portsmouth in the FA Cup fifth round.