Boss Hignett demands more of the same from his Pools fighters at Bristol Rovers

Hartlepool United will be 'ready to go again' when they take on another promotion hopeful tomorrow night.
Jake Gray races on goal for Pools against Northampton in Saturday's 0-0 drawJake Gray races on goal for Pools against Northampton in Saturday's 0-0 draw
Jake Gray races on goal for Pools against Northampton in Saturday's 0-0 draw

That was the view of boss Craig Hignett as Pools prepare to head to play-off hopefuls Bristol Rovers.

Pools have been buoyed by a superb display against League Two championship favourites Northampton Town on Saturday when the hosts secured a 0-0 draw.

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“It was hard to see who was top of the league and who was bottom,” said Hignett.

“I’m gutted we’ve not scored, it’s the first time we’ve not got a goal since I came.

“But it’s a first clean sheet for me and a 0-0 against a team winning this league by a street is a pleasing result.

“The performance and result is encouraging, the players can go away knowing they can be more than a match for anyone.

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“To play like that against a team with such a good record is something they can take heart from.

“We have a long week ahead, Bristol Rovers and then Barnet away on Saturday, but we will recover and we’ll be ready to go again.”

Despite taking a point off a side seemingly nailed on for the title, Pools suffered the blow of dropping from 21st to 22nd in the table.

Yeovil moved above Pools after winning the basement battle at Dagenham & Redbridge where Brandon Goodship scored the only goal.

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But Hignett says his side will approach tomorrow night’s match at the Memorial Stadium with confidence strengthened rather than damaged.

“We want to take this into Tuesday,” said the former Middlesbrough star.

“I said before Saturday that we had to take the Luton performance into the Northampton game, without the individual errors, and we would get a result if we did that.

“The players did and they probably did better overall than at Luton, although we can still do better on the ball.

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“There was a spell in the second half when we went a bit long at times and did not keep the ball as well as we could but that will get better.

“We are finding a structure, a method to what we are doing and a way of playing and the players are enjoying it.”

“The feedback is good and we carry on improving and the more they take it on board the better we’ll get.”

Hignett brought back Luke James into his side on Saturday following a thigh problem and the striker should be fit for tomorrow night, providing there is no reaction.

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Michael Woods may also be available as he makes good progress from hamstring trouble.

“Luke came through fine,” added Hignett. “Woodsy is not too far away and he may be OK for Bristol.

“Other than that there’s a clean bill of health.”