Pools currently occupy a top-half spot under Chris Turner

Hartlepool director of sport Chris Turner believes the next six matches in League One pose his side's toughest test of the season.

Saturday's trip to Bristol Rovers is followed by journeys to Norwich and Southampton as well as visits from Gillingham, Leeds and Huddersfield.

"We have to pick up points in these matches," he told BBC Tees.

"We can hopefully put points on the board and then kick on to the games where most people expect us to win."

Despite two defeats in their last two games, Pools occupy a top-half place in the League One table, with the season just over the halfway stage.

However Turner admitted he remains anxious about his side's position, with just four points separating the club from the relegation zone.

"Every team looks over their shoulder, because as I've said many a time this season you're never going to be that many points away from them," he said.

"Unless you're up in the apart from the top six then you're always going to be in shouting distance of the bottom four, or seven or eight points off the top eight.

"The league below the top eight is so tight, and the club's below that top eight are as good or bad as each other at different times of the season."

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