BENIDORM: where plenty of footballers end their season, a few drunken days away after the rigours of a nine-month campaign.

Fair to say that is not, however, how Mick Wadsworth sees it.

The Hartlepool United coach, naturally, would prefer to be overseeing his side in the play-offs come May when nine tenths of English footballers are winding down.

And, after a hugely successful start to the season, hopes were raised that Pools could fight for a top six spot.

Three successive home losses have represented a blip, which Pools aim to put right this afternoon when Charlton visit Victoria Park.

Tuesday's reverse to Tranmere was searchingly disappointing for Wadsworth and, while he was full of anger in the immediate aftermath, he has since reflected on the hurt inside the dressing room.

"Of course there's a response expected - they were terribly disappointed in there the other night, a mix of youth and experienced players were hurting,'' he admitted.

"The older players - Hassers, Ritchie, Sam, Monkhouse, Murray - without doubt hold the group steady.

"It's not they don't care, they do but the decision we have to make is this: Do they want a season of doing something special? Or do they want to do OK, say well done little old Hartlepool you finished eighth, tenth, thirteenth of whatever and now you go to Benidorm and enjoy a little holiday, then come back for pre-season go on tour to Holland and start the cycle again?

"That's not for me, ain't for me. I want better than that. We've done some great things in the club in the last year, everyone has, with the youth training, the season tickets, training, coaching and come on a ton.

"We are in better shape and that has to continue we are building a club to do well for the next umpteen years.''

Wadsworth has tinkered or altered his formation for the last three home games, a 4-4-2 against Sheffield Wednesday converted to a 3-5-2 against Wycombe and a midfield diamond shape in midweek.

But, this afternoon, it's back to the tried and trusted.

"I think we will be 4-4-2 on Saturday we will match them up,'' he said. "Jobs are then simple and responsibilities are easy to judge - right winger, get on top of the left back, central midfield make sure you get the better of the opposition. There could be a couple of changes to find the right blend.

"We won last week and there's a sense of frustration we don't build on last weekend. It was hugely disappointing, and I was angry.

"But not angry in an aggressive way against the lads but we want a season to remember and, at the very least, let's see if we can get in the play-offs.

"If we can't get as damn near as we can. If we are there around Christmas then stay there and get promotion - it sounds crazy with the opposition we have to be better than but let's aim high.''

Wadsworth hinted he could make changes to his starting XI this afternoon, but with only two home wins to their name this season, he accepted the need to improve at Victoria Park.

"It's vital we win at home, the fans deserve it as they have been supportive and it's up to us to get the thing going. They deserve a good performance,'' he said.

"Charlton are one of a few - Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday and United - big clubs whose support level is greater to help them attract better players.

"And Charlton have some momentum from new ownership and know where they want to go.

"These are big teams with terrific financial resources. But we have some terrific players also and there's no reason why we can't match them and we beat a lot of the top teams last season.

"The main thing for us is hard work - if we don't work hard we won't beat the top six or seven in this league. If we work hard week in, week out we can compete for the top six or seven.

"Every point we get we earn it and that's the case this year. Every win is earned - at Chesterfield last weekend we had to work hard to finish the game off for a result. That's the modus operandi from now on in.''