Matthew Bates reacts to Hartlepool United's FIFTH National League win in their last SIX

Liam Noble's second-half strike was enough to separate Pools and 10-man Solihull Moors at Damson Park, a win which saw the visitors climb to a National League high of fourth.

"We are pleased with the result. They were unbeaten at home and we were unbeaten away," said Bates after the 1-0 victory in the Midlands.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game. Would be have been happy with a point before the game? Yes, we would.

"Were we happy with a point after the sending off? We wanted the three points.

"I think on the balance of play it could have been a win by more goals but we did not quite get the rub of the green in the box.

I" am pleased with the lads. They managed the game really well, kept the ball and were patient."

Pools had to be patient to get the win and Bates admits he was impressed with the way his side stuck to their principles in order to see the game through.

He only wishes Pools could have won it by more goals.

"We kind of went into a lull when they got a man sent off. We were keeping the ball for the sake of it," Bates said, assessing his side's failings in a disappointing opening period.

"They sat in and made it hard, had a good shape.

"But the gaps opened up when we started to move the ball quickly to Ry (Ryan Donaldson) and to Kitch (Mark Kitching).

"It is not easy against 10 men but what impressed me was the way we went about the game after scoring. We made them chase for the ball and dictated the play.

"We could have won the game 3-0 but we will take 1-0 any day."

The turning point of the game came in the 27th minute when Moors' skipper Kyle Storer was shown a straight red for a lunge on Nicky Featherstone.

Bates thinks man in the middle Richard Hulme got the call spot on.

"I thought it was a straight red," said the Pools manager.

"I think he has lunged in with two feet and the referee has made the right decision. The referee was only 10 yards away from it."