By Charlie Summerbell
December 5 2012

Hartlepool United's new boss John Hughes probably welcomed the two-week break the team has had after their sorry exit from the FA Cup, and there's no doubt many of the fans were happy to take a break from the traumas of supporting the worst team in League One.

But it was never going to last for long and Pools are back in action on Saturday hoping for an early visit from Father Christmas as Stevenage visit Victoria Park.

Hughes says he is happy with the work he and the players have done, with their response to his ideas and with the fact that they appear to have a spring in their step.

Hughes knew he was taking on a stiff challenge when he accepted the Pools job, and he says he’s enjoying life at Victoria Park.

He told the club website: “Since I came to the club, the attitude and the commitment from the players is second to none, and they have been open-minded to any new ideas.”

Hopefully those new ideas will include defending well and scoring goals, because Pools have done neither of those basics particularly well this season, and that’s why they are marooned at the foot of the table.

Hughes added: “I feel there is a spring in the step right now and I’m hoping that will show on Saturday.”

Taking account of the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition is a bit of a waste of time for Pools – every team they face is better than them based on the table, and it’s going to take a superhuman effort to climb off the bottom rung of the ladder, let alone to escape relegation.

If Hughes and the players were to get a win, it would be the equivalent of a cup final win for Pools – trouble is, they’d need many more of them between now and May. They need Santa to take up permanent residence at the Vic.