Hartlepool United v Exeter City: Paul Tisdale plays the beautiful way says Ronnie Moore

Pools fought off Wycombe and won 1-0 and were unlucky to not repeat that result at Cambridge last Saturday.

Ronnie Moore’s side more than matched the U’s but were pegged back by a late home equaliser.

But in between the two physical tests, Pools were outplayed at Accrington.

Exeter are going to be very much in the same vein as Stanley – they will be playing football at Victoria Park, or certainly trying to.

The Grecians are concentrating on the league after their FA Cup exploits.

They followed their third-round exit at Anfield with a 2-1 win over Accrington, who had just run rings around Pools. Paul Tisdale’s team have also just won at Leyton Orient, 3-1, so they are in sparkling form and are just a few points from the play-offs.

“Exeter had a good result last weekend beating Accrington,” acknowledged Moore.

“We know they’ll come here to play – it won’t be big balls into sthe box.

“It will be football, passing the ball. The manager plays the right way.”

Moore joked that Exeter’s leading scorer, 12-goal Tom Nichols, might not be about to cause Pools problems, with a number of clubs believed to be circling St James Park.

“Tom Nichols is a danger, maybe he will have gone by the time the game comes along!” he laughed.

“Jayden Stockley is alongside him and he’s a good player.I tried to get him here, but he’s a southern lad and wanted to stay down there.”