Liam Gibson has dismissed any sense of crisis at Hartlepool United after a difficult run of results. The defender insisted the squad's quality will tell as they look to climb the National League table from 14th place.
Gibson spoke after Friday's 2-0 defeat at Kidderminster Harriers, a result that leaves Hartlepool with just three points from their last five league fixtures. An own goal from Neo Eccleston and a late strike from Callum Stewart sealed the loss, which followed a 1-0 reverse against Everton's under-21 side in a cup match earlier in the week.
Recent struggles
The club had started the season with consecutive wins against Barrow and Aldershot Town. That promising opening has since unravelled with defeats against Sutton United, Eastleigh and FC Halifax Town. Their only recent victory came at home to Woking, secured by a Chris Popov goal.
Gibson told reporters that the current mood should not be one of despair. "It’s not all doom and gloom, we know we have got talent in the dressing room, we just need to be showing it more on the pitch," he said.
Drawing on experience
The full-back pointed to a personal example of a team turning poor form around. "I remember a few years ago when I was at a previous club and we got beat one night six-nil at home and we went on to get promoted," Gibson recalled.
Manager Lee Clark will be looking for a similar response from his players. The team has scored five goals and conceded six in their seven league games so far, leaving them eight points behind leaders Boreham Wood. Their recent form reads one win and four losses from the last five.
Hartlepool's immediate focus shifts to their next league assignment, a visit to Altrincham. The full schedule of upcoming games is available on our fixtures page. The squad, including summer signing Popov, will be aiming to start building momentum from that match and improve their position in the standings.
