Former Blues left-back Evan Horwood spoke to the Northern Echo ahead of his new side's League One match at Brunton Park against Carlisle on Tuesday evening, Horwood saying Hartlepool have thrown away a lot of points this season :
"We are 15 points above the drop zone and then as soon as we get to 50-55 points we can really start relaxing a bit and enjoying our football, like we have been doing, We are only eight off the play-offs, which is a great position. But if you look at the season and the points we have thrown away you wonder where we could be. It's Carlisle on Tuesday and a lot of home games to come - you never know.
"But, saying that, we would have to go on some run to do it and it will be hard work. All that's let us down is a few dodgy performances really, don't get me wrong there's been a lack of goals as well at times but as a whole it's been a really good season. A few points closer to the top six would be nice. We played brilliantly to beat Brentford, hopefully we can keep it going against Carlisle and now we can take it on to the two home games. No one likes coming to Hartlepool.
"Brentford started well, but we soon got on top and the team is showing a lot of maturity, Peter Hartley has been brilliant at centre-half, Mick (Wadsworth) put him there and he's repaid his faith with good performances. I think everyone in the team has improved this season.
"I play quite close with Pete, he's the left-sided centre-half and we link up and he can put a good ball in himself. Everyone has really improved in the last few months. He is always talking and organising and the lads we have the team as well - Muzza (Paul Murray) and Sam (Collins), Ritchie (Humphreys) - they are the same, the sort who will pull you to one side if it's not going well."
"I feel I've come on this season a lot. Last season at Carlisle I was playing for a manager who didn't really like me and Mick has given me a lot of confidence. When I made a mistake (against MK Dons) he had a go at me and rightly so, but it was in a positive manner. It's nice to hear good things being said and it's only natural that when someone praises you, he will get the best out of you. He's been fantastic with me this season I think my performances have showed that.
"I go back to Carlisle on Tuesday and I really enjoyed it there. I was at the time a bit disappointed to leave, but it's been a bit of a blessing in disguise really - I'm playing for the club I support and I'm living back in Hartlepool. A lot of my mates used to come and watch me over there, but now they don't have too far to come. There's three Hartlepool lads in the squad here and it's good - to be honest I thought I might get a bit more stick than I have done. Maybe it's because I've had a good season, it might change next season if I struggle a bit!
"Carlisle are a decent team, when I was there we made the play-offs one season and then got to Wembley the next and they are there again this season. It's a good set up there and it will be a tough game, but they have Wembley to come and hopefully we can catch them out like we did to Brentford.
"Their squad has changed quite a bit since I was there, I still know four or five of them but there's a big change around in a short space of time. I hope I get a good reception from the fans, I didn't want to leave at the time. They beat us earlier in the season and it would be nice to get one back for that, it's not a case of owing them one, more just another chance to get towards the safety mark."