Hartlepool captain Ritchie Humphreys has called for the real Hartlepool to face Swansea tomorrow

Humphreys believes that the only thing that has stopped 'Pools competing with us at the top of the table has been their inconsistency almost since the word go.  Only last weekend they saw themselves beaten 3-1 by Crewe before returning with a 2-0 victory over Yeovil summing up their season almost perfectly.  Their awful away record (14 defeats in 20) is well balanced by a half decent home record (11 wins in 20) and is something that the Swans have to counter tomorrow.

Hartlepool on the back of that record will be confident enough going into tomorrow's game but they are up against the best away record in the division (38 points from 57) but that doesn't phase Humphreys who just wants the best from his team mates "We've got a great home record and scored a lot of goals," explained Humphreys in the Hartlepool mail

"We didn't play well at Crewe but we were pleased to have a home game to go straight into and put it right.

"Some of the football we've played has been excellent and we can't put our finger on why the away form hasn't been as good but it's why were not up the table.

"At certain times we've played well away from home but at others we haven't.

"We know, as a group, it's something we've got to put right and we need to pick up more points away.

"We were looking at the table just now and we're only seven points off with six games to play, three at home, three away," said the 30-year-old.

"The cliches come out now but we've got a great game to look forward to and we'll have to see where it takes us and where we are.

"It's a great way to go into a game like this and they are the team that everyone wants to beat," said Humphreys.

"They are at the top and rightly so and from what I've seen this season themselves and Doncaster are definitely the best. They've been excellent all season and that's why they're top."

Humphreys was also full of praise for the two former Hartlepool players in the Swansea ranks - Darryl Duffy and Tom Butler "They are both great players," said Ritchie.

"Obviously we know Tommy more than Darryl but we all know what Tommy can do with the ball and what he can create.

"Even though Darryl was only here for a short length of time he had a good record and he's a goal scorer."

Photo: Action Images

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