Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor praises character in 2-0 win over Solihull Moors to return to second in the National League table

The 2-0 win over Solihull Moors was Pools’ sixth straight home win with goals from Luke Armstrong and David Ferguson seeing the side return to second in the National League table.

Challinor was missing key players such as Nicky Featherstone and Gavan Holohan, who had started every National League game so far this season.

But debutant Tom White slotted in well into the midfield alongside Mark Shelton and Tom Crawford.

And the Pools boss was particularly pleased with how his side were able to grind out another valuable three points and avenge the defeat at Solihull earlier in the season.

“We seem to be getting into habits of beating teams for the first time,” Challinor said.

“It was a really good, gritty performance and I asked the players to step up and show personality and character because of the players that we had out and I think they did that really well.

"We had some big players missing tonight who are massively important to us but tonight it was about those players out on the pitch. We needed players to show that personality and character needed to win the game which they did.

“To get ourselves in front early helped that massively and the second goal helped us see things out and we were fairly comfortable against a good side who I think we owed one too a little bit after being disserviced down there earlier in the season. To put ourselves second in the league now is massively pleasing.”

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