Hartlepool United 4 Oldham Athletic 2

Danny Wilson's side were invincible in League Two as they romped to promotion. While Mick Wadsworth's class of 2010/11 wasn't expected to make much of an impact on the division, as they enter the new year they are certainly catching the eye.

This win over Oldham was their fifth in six games, and in their last 11 League One games, they have taken 23 points from a possible 33.

It's a run which has moved them to within a point of the top seven and, with a game in hand, two points off second top.

They came from behind to win this one, and did it despite losing the influence of skipper Sam Collins to a knee ligament injury after ten minutes.

Confident and belief is high ahead of today's trip to Notts County and Hartley, who put Pools ahead in the lead up to half-time, admits expectations are rising.

"I spoke to Ritchie (Humphreys) when I first signed and the older players go on about the fact that they would feel going into games that they would win it and wouldn't lose and I feel that now, it's the first time since I came here,'' he claimed.

"We are confident as a team and we know as a team we all work for each other - the old Hartlepool is starting to come back, but we won't get carried away and let's see where it takes us.''

Hartley's form has been much improved since he reverted to his preferred centre-half position earlier in the season.

He and Steve Haslam performed solidly against the Latics and are likely to carry it on at Meadow Lane this afternoon.

Utility man Haslam slotted in seamlessly and Hartley believes every player in the squad is ready to follow suit.

"You can see even the players who aren't in the team are celebrating every goal with us, there's a big change,'' he added. "They want is to win and they know they will get their chance because there is a lot of games to come.

"I see a real difference around the club, you see it in the stands just the same. When we went one-down, last season it was silent and people were nervous. Now the crowd still back us and sing and get behind us.

"I'm starting to feel - and everyone is - more confident and we are showing what we can do, we are a hard team to beat and have had some great results.

"Everywhere we go we want to put our marker down - say we are Hartlepool United and this is what we do.''

He added: "The squad is well balanced, players are ready to come in and do a job. The first people I turn to are Sam and Ritchie if I need to talk about my game. Ritchie has been there and done it and Sam has played at a level I want to be at eventually.

"We take each game at a time and when we get to the 50-point mark then see how many games we have left and wonder where it can take us from there.''

Already on 32 points, six wins from their 26 remaining games would take them to that happy level. Seven wins would put them on par with last season's 53 points (without taking their deduction into account).

They won this one by coming from behind. Hartley stood off on-loan Sunderland forward Oumare Tounkara, who fed Dale Stephens to angle his shot in from 20 yards.

But they got level thanks to a handball from another Wearside loanee, Jean-Yves Mvoto. He had a stinker at Pools on loan for Southend last season and, while this one wasn't quite as bad, he wasn't far off it.

Oldham boss Paul Dickov disputed the award, but tellingly Mvoto didn't and Neil Austin rolled in Pools' first spot kick of the season.

Hartley's close-range volley from a teasing Evan Horwood free-kick put Pools in front.

And on his 500th career outing (462nd for Pools), Ritchie Humphreys bagged his 50th career goal (36th for Pools) after a neat and tidy move.

Humphreys and James Brown swopped roles early on and the latter swept in a cross to the back post, where Leon McSweeney headed across for Humphreys to nod in.

Shortly after the visitors put Ritchie Jones on - the flaky former Pools midfielder was booked within seconds of his arrival - Pools made it four.

A long Austin free-kick was nodded on by Brown for Antony Sweeney to prod in his ninth of the season.

He scored his ninth of the season at the same stage in 2004/5 - a January 3rd goal against MK Dons was one of his finest in a Pools shirt and went on that season to net 14. Surely he is on course to beat that tally playing in this system and as well as he is now.

With individuals and the team playing as well and as compact as they are, who knows what the next few months will bring.

MICK Wadsworth is likely to move into the loan market this month, after losing Sam Collins to injury.

The captain suffered damaged medial knee ligaments in the early stages of Saturday's win and, while Steve Haslam will stand in there at Notts County today, Wadsworth accepts Collins will be a loss.

"We lost Sam Collins which was a big blow because he's been immense for us and we don't have a natural replacement in terms of that type of player; I've always said if we lose a centre-half it could make it tough,'' he said.

"But Stevie Haslam came in and did really well - he hasn't maybe got the height but what he offers you is a great reading of the game which he showed.

"He's very good in the air, relative to his size, and I thought he did a terrific job.''

"We're not sure how bad it is at the moment, we'll have to wait and see. He's not in contention for Monday, that's a certainty - but we'll have him looked at and see where we go from there.

"If Sam's going to be out for a longer period we'll have to think about maybe bringing a big guy in because you need size there in this league.''

Notts County's former Pools' defender Graeme Lee is a short-term possibility after he was told he can leave Meadow Lane.

Andy Monkhouse is available today after suspension and he will start. James Brown and Paul Murray are likely to be on the bench, with Joe Gamble starting in place of Murray in central midfield.

And while Pools are on the edge of the play-offs, Wadsworth won't be getting carried away with his focus for the season.

"It's just great to be in this situation of getting up the table and giving us, most importantly, the chance to secure League One football for next year because I still say that's the first marker - let's get past 52 points,'' he said.

"That's what the chairman wants and he's right to ask for that.''

MATCHFACTS

Goals:

0-1: Stephens (18 , took pass from Tounkara and fired in low)

1-1: Austin pen (24, cool low finish after Mvoto handball)

2-1: Hartley (44, made no mistake latching onto Horwood's fizzed in free-kick)

3-1: Humphreys (58, turned in McSweeney's clever knock down from close range after a flowing move)

4-1: Sweeney (69, close range prod after long free-kick was headed on by Brown)

4-2: Mvoto (81, high looping header dropped in over Kean)

Bookings: Hartley (2, foul), Taylor (34, dissent), Mvto (44, foul), Austin (62, handball), Jones (66, foul), Hazell (86, foul)

Referee: Andy Haines (Sunderland): Oldham's approach was always borderline, but he called his share of fouls right 7

Attendance: 3,411

Entertainment: ****

Hartlepool United (4-3-3):

6 Kean: Did what he was asked to do, again commanded and exuded confidence;

7 Austin: Cool spot kick, disciplined and gave nothing away

5 Collins: Only lasted ten minutes due to knee injury and will be a big miss for a few weeks

8 Hartley: Had a shaky couple of minutes around the first goal, but recovered with a commanding display and without his mentor alongside

7 Horwood: Great delivery for second goal, and stuck to his defensive duties well;

8 Liddle: Most people's choice to move to centre back when Collins went off, but stayed in midfield where he excelled

7 Murray: More than just a midfielder who sits deep, always looking for the pass, always there to protect and when he lost possession chased it back

7 Sweeney: Nine goals from midfield at this stage of the season is a record to be proud of;

7 Humphreys: Moved up front to put pressure on the central defenders, and after doing that task nabbed his 50th career goal

7 Brown: Floated over a perfect cross for the third goal and was a constant threat

7 McSweeney: Developed into a key part of the side in recent weeks and fits seamlessly into the system

Subs:

HASLAM (for Collins 10): Maybe a surprise pick to replace Collins, but didn't put a foot wrong as he shone in the heart of defence 8

Larkin (for Humphreys 75)

Bjornsson (for Murray 84)

(not used): Rafferty (gk), Gamble, Boyd, Yantorno.

Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Brill 5; Lee 5, Mvoto 4, HAZELL 7, Black 5; White 6 (Brooke 77), Furman 7 (Jones 65, 5), Stephens 7, Morais 4 (Evina 65, 5); Tounkara 7, Taylor 6. Subs not used: Kelly, Fleming, Feeney, Trotman.

MAN OF THE MATCH

STEVE Haslam - a valuable squad player, slotted in at central defence as if he'd played there all his life