Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor praises support following 4-1 FA Cup third round defeat at Oxford United

Dave Challinor praised the 779 travelling Hartlepool United supporters who kept singing throughout the 4-1 FA Cup third round defeat at Oxford United.
Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor before the FA Cup match between Oxford United and Hartlepool United at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford on Saturday 4th January 2020. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News)Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor before the FA Cup match between Oxford United and Hartlepool United at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford on Saturday 4th January 2020. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News)
Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor before the FA Cup match between Oxford United and Hartlepool United at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford on Saturday 4th January 2020. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News)

Pools led at half-time thanks to an early Mark Kitching goal before second half strikes from Rob Hall, Shandon Baptiste, Tarique Fosu and Matt Taylor saw the home side run out as convincing winners in the end at the Kassam Stadium.

Challinor and his Pools players went over to applaud the travelling Poolies after the match with the manager quick to point out the crucial role the supporters play in the club’s success.

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“The fans are our biggest motivations and make me the most proud to be manager of this club,” he admitted.

“What they’ve done today for us as a football club is massive.

“We’ve tried to do our bit and came short but I think our fans absolutely raised our profile because they were amazing and I’m just disappointed that we couldn’t hang on and give ourselves something to go home with and keep ourselves in the draw.

“We’ve got to use the fans as best we can because if they’re giving us that sort of support then we need to repay that and we need to have a team that are worthy of their support and I’ll make sure that happens.

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“We went up against by far the best team in League One in my opinion and did ever so well to lead for over half the game.

“But we weren’t able to hold out long enough and frustrate them in the second half.”