MICK Wadsworth does not know why Hartlepool United have a problem playing at Victoria Park – only that they need to put it right as quickly as possible.

An awful October drained Teesside optimism as Hartlepool lost five out of six, including all four home matches.

Victory over Stevenage tomorrow is essential, and doing it in the FA Cup should brighten the mood further.

In recent years at least, Hartlepool have never had it so good in terms of home gates, a generous season ticket offer swelling average attendances above 5,000.

“I’ve no idea why it is,” said Wadsworth (pictured right) when asked to explain why his side have struggled to live up to that. “Our away performances have been in front of some big crowds – bigger than our home ones – and we’ve done well.

“Whether there’s an expectation at home or not, I don’t know. I don’t like anyone finding excuses. We just haven’t played well and we have to play better. We’ve let the fans down and we need to put a show on for the fans more than anything.

“We’ve had a poor run of results and it can happen to any team. It’s happened to us in October. Now we’re in November we’ve seen the back of it.”

Stevenage, who knocked Newcastle United out of last season’s third round, also play in League One, but victory tomorrow would be more valuable to club morale and finances than three points.

“In the sense of excitement and thinking about who you get next, or if you can get to that magic third round, it’s a big opportunity,” Wadsworth acknowledged. “But we’ve got to get Saturday out of the way and it might not be an easy task.

“It’s still the iconic trophy in England and if you speak to any footballer, getting to a Cup final, or winning a Cup final even, would rank alongside most achievements anyone could get in football. To play in an FA Cup final – or to lead a team out – is a real tick if you’ve done it, which sadly I haven’t yet.”

Hartlepool have reduced prices to £10 for adults and £5 concessions for what is, apart from Blyth Spartans v Gateshead, the North East’s only senior football this weekend.