SKIPPER Mark Blake insisted the Shrewsbury debacle had been forgotten and the first away point should kick-start their season.

Blake, who has made a habit of scoring at Hartlepool after a goal there last year with old club Mansfield, equalised in Saturday's 1-1 draw.

After grabbing his second goal of the season, Blake is encouraging his team-mates to follow his lead and that of top-scorer Tony Bird.

But he was quick to pay tribute to the assist from defender Ian Clarkson, admitting: "It was all down to the quality of the ball and the credit goes to him more than me.

"But we need to improve our goal-scoring all round the team. The whole team has to contribute more. If the forwards don't score, it's got to come from somewhere.

"We can get goals if the balls are put in right and I do like to make the late runs into the box."

Blake, who was among many to disagree with Hartlepool's penalty award, revealed the players had held a meeting in the wake of the Shrewsbury mauling.

He said: "We all had a chat. All the boys have to put it right and we had to look at ourselves in the mirror.

"The gaffer said this is where we start our season. What's gone off at Shrewsbury is forgotten and we kick-start our season.

"We played well and battled. The only shame was we conceded a goal but now it's about the way we play from here on.

"We have been conceding too many goals away from home. It's strange because at home we haven't played well but we don't give much away."