GARETH Ainsworth said he felt vindicated for sticking by his players, saying he’s not surprised they’ve managed to turn their season around with an unbeaten run.

The same group of players that a few weeks ago were casting nervous glances over their shoulders after a run of one win 18 left them outside the relegation zone on goal difference only extended their run of games without defeat to six as they came from behind to defeat Hartlepool United this afternoon.

For the second week running Wanderers responded to going a goal down to fight back and get something out of the game, and this time they went one better to last week's draw at Southend as they overturned a one goal halftime deficit to win 2-1.

It was the first time they’d come back from being behind to win since defeating Torquay United back in October, but Ainsworth said he felt justified in having the faith his men could stop their slide down the table.

He said: “It’s always been there. For me, it’s not a surprise and I want people to realise that. I work with those boys day in, day out and I know what they are capable of.

“It was dark days and I kept harping on performances were there and it’ll come, we are not far away. Hopefully this little spell is proving that.

“We beat Chesterfield, top of the league, but we were in front for the game. We beat Exeter but we were in front for the game. To go behind and then to come back and win the game is something special. I’m really positive from what I’ve seen today.

“How we are and where we are in the league, who knows, but we are there and we have to deal with that. I think we’ve missed out on five or six points this year and who knows what position we’d be in with those? We are not far away – I think we’ll be improving on last year’s position, without a doubt.”

Top scorers Dean Morgan and Matt McClure both scored for the first time since December as their headers turned the tide against a Pools side who led at the break despite Wanderers having more of the first half chances by far.

Ainsworth said he didn’t have to say much to his players at half time, saying a repeat of their first half display after the break would be enough to seal victory.

The Blues boss said: “No matter what the result was today I was happy with what I’d seen at half time. Second half, [I said] go out and do that again I’ll be happy. I knew if they performed like they did in the first half there was no way they could have stopped us.

“The two strikers scoring as well is the icing on the cake. It’s been a barren run for those front players but I thought they both played really well. Dean Morgan was unplayable today – he had one of his best games.

“We didn’t deserve to be 1-0 down at half time but we definitely deserved to be 2-1 up at full time.”