Craig Hignett wants Hartlepool United to score not waste time

Craig Hignett insists he is happy with his attack, attack, attack approach '“ whatever the circumstances.
Luke James presses forward for PoolsLuke James presses forward for Pools
Luke James presses forward for Pools

Hartlepool United went for goal at one end in stoppage time at Broadfield, only for Crawley to take play to the other box and almost steal a winner with the last play of the game.

Some managers would have been angry that his players passed up the chance to run down the clock deep in home territory – but not Hignett.

“Absolutely, why not?” Hignett told SportMail.

“When we get the chance to attack, I want us to attack.

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“Even though it was 0-0 with two minutes left I wasn’t bothered.”

Pools had broken through Nathan Thomas, who was chopped down by ex-Pools midfielder Simon Walton.

While Pools duly took their time to arrange the free kick 20-odd yards from goal, they tried to score instead of waste time in the left corner.

Brad Walker saw his free-kick beaten out by keeper Paul Jones and then sent his follow-up into the away fans on the terrace behind the goal.

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Crawley went straight up the Pools end, where they won a corner. While Trevor Carson cleared with a punch, sub Gavin Tomlin squeezed in a cross which Sonny Bradley headed wide from three yards.

“At the end, I said ‘shall we keep it or go for it?’,” said Hignett. “It took too long to make a decision, so I said ‘go for it’.

“I let the players get on with it - if they feel they want keep it, then it’s up to them.

“I felt they were keen to go for it, the game was there to be won, they were playing with confidence, and they tried.”

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Hignett admitted his heart was in his mouth when that last ball went into the Pools box.

“The ball come across and I thought ‘here we go’, but the luck went our way,” added Hignett who praised Billy Paynter for bravery back in defence.

“Billy got in the way at the end, you want bodies being put on the line, that desire to keep the ball out of the net.”