HARTLEPOOL are determined to end their dismal recent away record at London Road tomorrow.
Manager Danny Wilson believes his side's form away from Victoria Park cost them any chance of a place in the end-of-season League One play-offs.
Pools finished the 2007-08 campaign with a very creditable home record – 11 wins and five draws gave W
ilson's team 38 points out of a possible 69.
However, away from Victoria Park it proved more of a struggle as they claimed only 16 points. Hartlepool won just four, but lost 15 of their away matches last season and they were beaten at Tranmere in their only match on the road this season.
Wilson said: "We had a lot of games last season when we dominated, but conceded sloppy goals, that's an area that's going to be massive for us.
"Possibly we may have to be less gung-ho – if we get ourselves into the lead we must make sure we can just see the game out.
"I think we've got a very positive team who always want to go forward and entertain.
"But sometimes we have to tweak that a little bit and say 'hold on, let's make sure we get the three points' and that may be the way we approach certain games this year.
"You can play well every week, but if you don't win, people can lose heart and confidence, so you've got to get that fine balance between attack and defence.
"We played well away from home last season at times, but we didn't win. All we can do is put the performances in again and hope that we turn them into results.
"We want to improve our away form but we don't want to do that at the expense of our home form.
"We want to marry both together and if we do that then we're in with a shout."
The form of star striker James Brown will be crucial as Hartlepool attempt to improve on last season's 15th place finish.
Brown was watched by Celtic manager Gordon Strachan during Tuesday's win over Premier League West Brom in the Carling Cup.
Brown wasn't great in that game, but he's a player with a bright future according to Wilson, who despite the interest from bigger clubs, still persuaded the player to sign a new three-year contract this week.
Wilson added: "James has an ability to change a game on his own and I think that's why he attracts so much attention.
"He is a massive asset – that's why we've put him on the contract."
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