Crawley Town v Hartlepool United: Red Devils are on Craig Hignett radar

Pools visit the Broadfield Stadium tomorrow when the Red Devils will start the day 10 points above their visitors.

Hignett, whose side are eight points above the bottom two of York and Dagenham, have already climbed one spot this week, overtaking Stevenage thanks to the 0-0 draw at Newport County.

“We had a look at Stevenage to try to catch them and done that,” he said. “Yeovil are the next ones above them, but they are playing well at the moment.

“We have Notts County, Newport and Crawley above us to aim at.

“I’ve never looked the other way, I have belief in what we have here and belief in my own ability.

“I was always looking up, but I could understand the Dagenham game got a little nervy because of the season the players have had and the situation we were in.

“It may get nervy again but I’m trying to change the mentality here.

“I want everyone to fully understand what we are doing and bit by bit we’re getting that.”

Hignett, not for the first time in his reign, reiterated his view that he does not spend too long worrying about the opposition.

He will know the side, skippered by former Pools midfielder Simon Walton, are in fine fettle.

Crawley have won two and drawn two of their last five games.

”Any way game in this league is difficult,” he said. “While I watch the opposition teams and how they play, my focus isn’t on them, it’s on us.

“Every game we’ve played, we’ve had a plan on how we are going to play and Crawley will be no different but I’m more concerned about us.

“I want us to attack so that focus won’t change.”

Pools are in good form and heart.

While they could not find the Newport net in South Wales on Tuesday night, the result extended their unbeaten run to three games, their best sequance of results since August.

“It’s all about momentum,” he said.

“I have seen us improving in training and in games.

“The lads have needed the results to give them a little bit of belief.

“It’s all well and good getting better but you also need results and thankfully we’re three unbeaten now and scoring goals.

“The last three games we’ve only conceded two goals so I’m pleased with the progress, but I can still see room for improvement.”

While it is all smiles at Victory Park, the atmosphere at the Broadfield Stadium is a little strained.

Crawley said they had launched an investigation into claims their manager, Mark Yates, and players were seen fighting at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.