Hartlepool United 2 Yeovil Town 1: Match reaction, Craig Hignett 'massively proud' of Pools win

Second-half set-piece goals by Billy Paynter - his ninth of the season - and Adam Jackson - his first for the club - saw Pools leapfrog Yeovil Town into 21st place.

Paynter scored a 58th-minute penaltty after Jakub Sokolik was adjudged to have fouled Nathan Thomas inside the area though, at first glance, the foul looked outside the box.

Jackson hammered in a 71st-minute header via the cross bar from Jordan Ricchards corner.

Francois Zoko's injury-time header brought Yeovil scant consolation as Hignett's debut started in triumph.

"I'm obviously really pleased with the start that we made, it was important we got the win, it was a big game," Hignett said.

“I said to the players that coming in for my first game I probably didn’t realise how much pressure was on them.

"I'm really proud with how they have tried to play and tried to do what we worked on in training.

“It looked all right at times, and at times you can see there is work to be done, but I knew that anyway.

"But I’m massively proud, not just of the 11, but everyone involved here."

Hignett had no doubts referee Kevin Wright got the pemalty decision correct.

"It was blatant for me, no doubt about it," he said. "If anything, it was against the run of play but I had no doubts Billy would stick it away.

"Goals change games and that did.

“Adam got a corker, I was just moaning to the backroom staff about delivery from corners and it was a fantastic header in off the bar."

The victory moved Pools up to 21st and the result vital given the gap with the relegation zone remained four points because of York's win over Notts County, who visit the Vic on Tuesday night.

“I’m not happy at us being 21st," Hignett said.

"I want us to be as away from the bottom as we can.

"It's a good start, but there’s a lot of work to be done."