'˜Play like it's your last ever game,' says Pool boss

Three wins in four created daylight between Pool and the bottom four but wins for Oldham and Fleetwood on Tuesday saw that all but disappear.

And Pool have played more games than either of those sides, meaning the pressure is well and truly back on for Saturday’s home clash with second-bottom Colchester.

Pool have five games to save their season and the manager McDonald wants his players to give everything for the cause.

“I want the players to train every day as if it’s their last ever training session and play as if it’s their last game,” he said.

“I’ll keep on at the players to do that until we have the points we need to stay up.

“The unbeaten run means we have points on the board, which is really important, and we must continue our run.”

Pool are unbeaten in four since last month’s defeat at Oldham, the lowest point of the season.

McDonald said: “It was bleak after Oldham but we’ve worked really hard. We had a good chat and asked the players to stick together.

“We asked them to do the right things and keep the basics right. We have done that.”

It could now take as many as 53 points to secure safety but McDonald wants to avoid making targets.

He said: “We have to take each games as it comes and not worry about points totals now. If we manage to play as well as we did against Southend last weekend, then we have a great chance of moving up the league.

“It was vital we got that home win. We have been that little nervous at home, which is only natural. That was a great result for us and a great performance.”

Many expect Pool to continue their good form this weekend,though defeat for Colchester would virtually end their hopes of survival.

And McDonald said: “We can’t take any teams lightly. We are still in a precarious position and we need to pick up points.”