Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper admits confidence has eroded within his camp after his side lost 1-0 at home to Crawley on Saturday.
Richie Barker's side moved up to fourth in League One after their fourth away win of the season following promotion last time out and the difference in confidence and self-belief was evident throughout.
The only goal at Victoria Park came on 14 minutes when Pools failed to defend a corner well and, when the ball was returned in the area, Hope Akpan volleyed in clinically from 20 yards.
"It's hard, very hard," admitted Cooper. "We were a threat more in the second half, but we were careless on the ball at times. In our position it's down to confidence and players who should be winning games for us are struggling.
"Some players who did well needed more support from others in front of them. We needed more quality in attacking and wider areas and at times it didn't happen.
"We went a bit more direct second half, and looked more a threat. When we played too much football we looked a danger to ourselves. There wasn't much in it, it's down to the final third and we didn't perform. It's down to confidence or a lack of it and attacking players have to do better."
