Craig Hignett: Hartlepool players must 'believe' in order to avoid relegation

Hartlepool United boss Craig Hignett has lost two of his three games in charge since taking over from Ronnie Moore

Hartlepool United manager Craig Hignett says his side can avoid relegation from the Football League if they believe in their style of play.

Pools have won once in their last seven matches and face top-of-the-table Northampton Town on Saturday.

"The players have got a belief in how they're playing and how they're trying to play," Hignett told BBC Tees.

"We just need one or two results to reinforce that what they're doing is the right way to go about things."

After winning against relegation rivals Yeovil Town 2-1 in his first game in charge, Hignett's side have lost their last two games.

"The lads have been in the habit of losing games and the sooner we change the mentality, start to win games and pick up points, the better," he added.

"The disappointing thing is they have seen how well they have played but now they've got to turn those performances into winning performances."

Hartlepool have three games in hand on Yeovil, but Hignett warned his side must take advantage by taking three points at every opportunity.

Hignett said: "We've got to start winning games, it's no good playing well and not winning games, we've got to start playing well and winning."