Hignett targets repeat show from Pools at Crewe '“ after impressive recovery at Exeter

Craig Hignett will be looking for more of the same when Hartlepool United hit the road again to Crewe tomorrow night.
Billy Paynter (right) celebrates his winner for Hartlepool United at ExeterBilly Paynter (right) celebrates his winner for Hartlepool United at Exeter
Billy Paynter (right) celebrates his winner for Hartlepool United at Exeter

Hignett takes his Pools side south in good heart after clinching their first win of the League Two season, 2-1 at Exeter City.

Just as the previous Saturday, against Colchester, Pools did it the hard way after trailing, to Liam McAlinden’s strike.

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But two goals in 82 seconds, from Michael Woods and Billy Paynter, turned the game on its head and produced three good points.

“It’s great to get a first win. Four points from two games is a good start,” said Hignett. “It’s a tough one at Crewe, but we’ll look forward to it, as we will every game.”

Hignett made a couple of changes at the interval after a disappointing first 45 minutes and altered his system too, pairing Paynter with sub Padraig Amond up top.

“I’ve a squad here now I can chop and change and use to win games,” he said.

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“It’s hard when you give teams something to cling onto which is what we did against Colchester. We give ourselves little mountains to climb, but we are more than capable of coming back and winning games.

“Going one down is not a problem for the team because we have the character to come back. Every player played their part, every one of them.”

Exeter: Olejnik, McCready (Egan 89), Sweeney, Moore-Taylor, Woodman (Jay 86), Taylor, James, Tillson, Watkins, McAlinden (Byrne 70), Simpson. Subs not used: Riley-Lowe, Ampadu, Pym, Storey. Booked: Tillson, Taylor, Sweeney. Goal: McAlinden 31.

Hartlepool: Carson, Magnay, Nsiala, Jones (Bates 46), Carroll, Woods, Hawkins (Amond 46), Featherstone, Alessandra, Paynter (Oates 86), Thomas. Subs not used: Bartlett, Deverdics, Richards, Laurent. Booked: Featherstone. Goals: Woods 74, Paynter 75.

Att: 3,322. Ref: Mark Heywood (Cheshire).