Eastleigh manager Ben Strevens sympathises with Hartlepool United's red card following goalless draw at Victoria Park

The Spitfires played almost all of the second half with a man advantage following Hartlepool defender Timi Odusina’s sending off for a second bookable offence.

Pools boss Dave Challinor was angered by the decision and Strevens was sympathetic with his counterpart when they spoke following the full-time whistle.

“They had a lot of the ball in the first half which I expected them to have,” Strevens told the Eastleigh club website following the draw.

“When he booked Ben House and Odusina in the first half, I was disappointed that the referee did that for both players.

"That led to their lad being sent off at the start of the second half and being perfectly honest, I was just coming out so I didn’t see because it happened that quickly.

“We take the point, we wanted three but we know how good their home form is where eight other teams have come here over the past few months and lost.

We had a few chances but no real glaring opportunities so it’s not really two points dropped. We tried to nullify them and match them up and they had plenty of the ball and we had some good attacking opportunities too.

“The shape of the game changed second-half but they got a low block in and we take a point."

The 0-0 draw ended Hartlepool’s eight game winning run at Victoria Park but kept them sitting second in the National League table with 14 games remaining.

And Strevens was keen to pay tribute to the job Challinor has done in the north east this season.

“We have taken four points from a very good side over the past month and that’s credit to the job Dave is doing here,” added the Eastleigh manager.

“Our overriding thought is that Hartlepool were top of the table briefly on Tuesday night, they’ve been up there for a while and we’re the first team to come here and take something away in some time.”

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