MICK Wadsworth insists today is the day for his Hartlepool side to grab their first home win in more than two months as Yeovil Town visit Victoria Park, writes MARK SMITH.

Despite record season-ticket sales Pool have won just twice on home soil this season – the last of those being their 3-0 triumph over Bury all the way back on September 17.

Still placed at 10th in League One after winning five times on the road, Wadsworth said: “Today is a great chance for us to get our act together.

“We have this fantastic away form, but we are all very aware of our home results and everybody is determined to get it right. Our home form has been nowhere near where we want it to be, and it is time to get that back on track.”

Hartlepool welcome Preston on Tuesday in the second of two quick-fire home dates, with the manager saying: “We have got today and Tuesday, and if and when we win them both, it puts us right back in the top six picture.

“The rewards available to us are terrific in terms of status and where we will finish up at the end of the season, and we want to stay as near to the top of the table as we can.”

Desperate to find the cause of his side’s Victoria Park slump, Wadsworth added: “It is hard to put your finger on why the home form has been as bad it has, and it is a bit of a puzzle. The main factor has been that we have made some glaring defensive errors, and not stayed in games long enough. We played very well against Stevenage, especially considering that we were down to ten men for the last 80 minutes of that one. We were very unlucky not to get a result against them, and then our away performance at Scunthorpe last weekend was very good.”

Revealing few expected changes for this afternoon’s visit of Yeovil, he said: “We are pretty much as we were last week. We will wait before making a final decision on Sam Collins in defence, but other than that it is the same as last weekend in terms of available players.”

Preparing to entertain a Yeovil side currently at third-bottom in the relegation zone, Wadsworth reserved no sentiment despite the visitors’ recent struggles. “Yeovil have had a tough time, but then so have we,” he said, with the Glovers being held 2-2 by Exeter last weekend.

Another boost for Pool’s preparations is the availability of Peter Hartley, with the 23-year-old defender freed up to play after his suspension was lifted following his erroneous booking in last weekend’s 2-0 victory at Scunthorpe.

“It was a simple case of mistaken identity,” said Wadsworth in reference to the card picked up for a foul on Bobby Grant, a foul which was actually committed by Evan Horwood.

“The referee made a mistake on the day, and it has been admitted.

“I have got no problem with that, but Peter is still on four bookings and is just one away from a suspension. He has to play with his head as well as his heart, and I am sure he will do that today.”