DESPITE sitting 18th in League One and seeing points slip through his fingers in recent weeks, Mick Wadsworth’s belief in his Hartlepool United side remains unshaken.

Pools have squandered seven points from a winning position this season and, in their last away game, conceded a late winner to Orient with the scoreline at 0-0.

Last weekend, Pools allowed Bristol Rovers to score twice in the last five minutes as they drew 2-2.

But ahead of today’s trip to Dagenham and Redbridge – the first meeting between the sides – Wadsworth admitted: “I think the players believe they will move up the table, the quality of our football is good and is getting better.

“We have conceded too many late goals, if I don’t accept responsibility for it then who the devil will? I can’t say ‘It’s not my responsibility, there you go’, it’s got to be my fault – I’m the coach and he takes the hits and then I relay that to the players.

“No-one does anything negative on purpose that’s for sure, but it’s disappointing.

Take the points dropped against Swindon and last week to Bristol Rovers, there’s four more to our tally, it puts us in a much healthier position.’’ And, as he prepares for his 15th game in caretaker charge, he added: “The Exeter game, we should have won and we leading, There’s another three points – seven more would make a massive difference. Other clubs can say could have, should have, may have and the like, but I genuinely believe it.

“It would make a massive difference to us. Some of our football and progress is very marked.’’ Today’s opposition were promoted from League Two in the play-offs last season and sit bottom of the table, with two wins to their name.

They have, however, lost only once at home this campaign, with three draws and two wins .

Pools set off for the capital yesterday and Wadsworth admitted: “Dagenham are at the bottom, people will see it as one we should win and I have to take that view.

“But it’s never ever that easy, it will be tough, they are fighting for points and the points difference between us isn’t that great.

“If it was in January or March then we you could say that there isn’t much between the sides.

“We expect to win, we go there to win, but it’s a tough game, no doubt. It’s another long-haul and we’ve only had one away game when we have travelled on the day, we are used to it. It is a southernbased league this year and there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s part of the programme.’’ Pools have replaced the club’s director of youth Terry Mitchell, who moved to Gateshead as assistant manager, with John Hewitson taking over.

He has been appointed after coaching at the centre of excellence.

Pools remain without a permanent coaching set-up at first-team level, with youth team boss Micky Barron and Ritchie Humphreys assisting Wadsworth.

But the coach admitted he has no difficulties with the status quo.

“Micky’s job is to head up the technical side of coaching the youth side,’’ said Wadsworth.

“The appointment will free him up a bit more, but the youth players are at college on a Thursday which is always a big day for us at first-team level.

“He is wearing a few hats right now and has been a fantastic help. John’s appointment will give us the flexibility we need. I’m very happy with the staff, not saying we need this or that, I like working with Micky and Ritchie and we are happy with that.

“The new appointment will help us enormously."