Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor reflects on 2-0 win over Notts County to go top of the National League

Goals from Gavan Holohan and Richie Bennett at the end of either half helped Pools to a 2-0 win in front of the BT Sport cameras as they went top of the National League table.

It’s the first time the side have been top of the table since the opening weeks of the season but manager Dave Challinor isn’t getting carried away as other sides still have several games in hand.

"I’d much rather be top next month,” he admitted.

“It was a big, important game from our perspective and it was a must win for us so to be able to do that and put it on the players to go and perform the way they did is massively pleasing. The belief continues to build.

“We were excellent. With our shape we have the ability to dominate but to carry it out is a different thing. Our intensity was brilliant and a great finish from Gav took us into the break in a good position.

“We predicted how the game might pan out and if we do what we want then it can be tough to stop at times.

"They made a change before half-time to try and stop us and we didn’t do as well as I would have liked second half given the control we had.

"That’s credit to Notts County for how they mixed the game up and made us play three for three.”

Notts County were reduced to 10 men late on as Cal Roberts went off injured just moments after coming on as The Magpies’ final substitute.

“We dealt with things and they had the unfortunate incident of losing Cal Roberts which put them down to 10 men,” Challinor added.

"He’s a local lad who had done brilliantly going there and for someone who has been out all season, that’s something you don’t want to see and it’s sickening for him.

"Hopefully it’s not too severe even if it did give us a bit of an advantage to help us see out the game and grab the second goal and make it more comfortable.”

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