We have reached the point in the season where conditions are becoming increasingly difficult and it is essential that we grind out results to ensure we are where we need to be come May.

The two games we have played so far this week are great examples of this and I’m sure today’s fixture at Hartlepool will be no different.

The victory over Dagenham and Redbridge last Saturday was hard-fought against a side battling for their place in the league.

It was a game made more difficult by conditions and the pitch, but the players put in a solid performance and the three points were secured with a fantastic free-kick from Kemar Roofe.

The midweek visit of Newport County was more frustrating.

We knew they would prove tough opponents with them enjoying a patch of form having gone five games unbeaten.

Newport came to the Kassam Stadium with a game plan to maintain their undefeated run and set up with a lot of men behind the ball and made it difficult for us to break them down.

The first-half performance was average. We created a couple of opportunities, but were hit with a sucker-punch on the cusp of half time with what, we have to admit, was a great goal.

We responded well in the second half and put in a fantastic performance rewarded with a very good team goal that was finished off in style by Patrick Hoban.

If it wasn’t for some brilliant saves and numerous blocks in front of goal we would have gone on to win the game comfortably.

We are very much of the mind-set now where we feel a point isn’t enough and there is a real hunger to win every game.

This was something I was so conscious of bringing to the dressing room in our recruitment, as I didn’t feel the need and desire to win was strong enough in the early stages of last season.

That said, to have taken ten points from four games is still a good achievement and we look to improve on that this afternoon.

One of the downsides to Tuesday’s game was losing Danny Hylton mid-way through the first half. He was struggling with stomach cramps.

Ryan Taylor picked up a groin injury that, we fear, could see him out of the squad for a substantial amount of time.

He will be having scans next week to identify exactly what damage there is and we will then have a clearer picture of how long his recovery will take.

We have looked to strengthen the squad as we lose players to inury during this busy period.

Jordan Evans joined us on loan from Fulham and will be included in the squad today. He will be an asset and gives us depth on the left flank.

We also signed Chris Maguire on loan from Rotherham United.

Chris is a player I know well from our time together at Portsmouth, he is vey hard working and has a good set piece delivery.

I’m sure he will be popular with the fans for his scoring ability.

Preparation for today’s game at Hartlepool has been positive, with us training at Barnsley yesterday. We find it helps to break up the journey for away games that have more than three hours travelling time and the players respond well to it.

Today’s game will be similar to that at Dagenham with a difficult pitch and conditions against a side at the wrong end of the table.

This is the last game in the block of five that we set our objectives towards, and although we have consciously stepped away from looking at the table, I am aware that it is very tight at the top. It makes it even more important that we stay focused on what we are doing.

As as long as we continue to stick to the task in hand it becomes almost irrelevant what is going on elsewhere in the league.