Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor reacts to Newcastle United defender Lewis Cass' red card in 1-1 draw at Altrincham

Lewis Cass’ early red card with the score still goalless risked being a big blow for Pools but they responded well as Rhys Oates put them infront just after the half-hour mark.

But an error from Ben Killip allowed the hosts to draw level through Ryan Colclough on the stroke of half-time as the sides went in at 1-1 which is how the game finished.

“If I'd been offered a point at half time I would have taken it,” Hartlepool manager Dave Challinor admitted.

“The goal is a mistake but it's an important point. The second half disciple they showed was worthy of a point. If we can recover quickly and back it up with a win on Saturday it's a good point.

"We started really well and had we kept 11 men on the pitch we looked like a really good team and the game was there for the taking for us.

"Ben made a mistake which has resulted in us losing points but we'll take it. I'd have liked us to have been more of a threat in the second half but I can’t fault the organisation and determination our lads showed when up against it.”

On the red card, Challinor added: “It's hard, Cass said he's caught him but he slipped. It's hard because you don't know, we'll see again but it didn't look like anything.

"It'll go down as violent conduct which it isn't and he'll get a three game ban which is a punishment nowhere close to what it should be.”

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