Hartlepool United manager hails impact of fans after Pools come from behind to beat 10-man Gateshead

Pools had to do things the hard way against a Heed outfit who are rock bottom of the National League and have now lost all of their last 14 matches, the worst run in the club's entire history.

Despite their dismal record, the visitors were the better team for most of the first half and Pools could have few complaints at finding themselves a goal down at the break after Louis Storey glanced home Keaton Ward's corner in the 12th minute.

Indeed, there was a sense that Gateshead were playing with genuine belief while Pools, much like their lacklustre first half showing during Saturday's narrow win over Altrincham, was far too passive, ponderous and uncertain. As the opening period wore on, there were growing fears that Gateshead's appointment of Rob Elliot, who returned for a second spell in charge of the Heed earlier this month, as well as a whole raft of new signings were going to put a major dent in the home side's slim play-off hopes.

With home fans growing increasingly frustrated and some supporters even booing their side following the half time whistle, the game turned on its head five minutes after the break when Storey was sent off for a reckless challenge on Nathan Sheron.

Yet even then the hosts struggled to press home their man advantage as the likes of Alex Reid and Luke Charman, impressive once again, went close. Just when it was starting to look like it might not be their day, Reid scored for the second time in as many matches with nine minutes of normal time remaining, lashing home his seventh goal of the campaign after Tiernan Brooks had initially saved from substitute Danny Johnson.

Moments after an increasingly desperate Gateshead defence had somehow hauled an effort from Johnson off the line, Pools found a winner in the 89th minute thanks to a superb finish from Matty Daly, one of a number of players to make an impact from the bench in the second half. The 24-year-old broke Heed hearts in the last minute of normal time, curling a sumptuous effort into the top corner to score his third goal of the season and second in his last five matches.

True, neither Saturday's narrow win over Altrincham or Tuesday's last-gasp victory over Gateshead were particularly inspiring in terms of performances, but Pools have at least made a strong start when it comes to results since American businessman and investor Landon Smith completed his takeover of the club. In all likelihood, the last week will have given Smith, who has been at Victoria Park to watch his new side in action, both a taste of what Hartlepool United has to offer in terms of passion, excitement and drama as well as a reminder of how much work needs to be done in order to turn Pools into a real force at National League level.

Whatever the case, back-to-back wins - just the third time Pools have recorded successive victories all season - means Featherstone's side are still in with a fighting chance of sneaking into the play-off places, while there is also a sense that hope and optimism are, slowly but surely, returning to Victoria Park. The big challenge for Featherstone, Smith and the Pools players will be improving performances and strengthening the squad in order to help transform that hope into genuine belief.

"I thought it felt like a bit of a derby," Featherstone told BBC Radio Tees Sport.

"The game was played like a derby, there was a real intensity to it. It had everything, a few goals, a sending off, a comeback and a late winner.

"It was exciting for the fans, I thought they were absolutely brilliant today; they probably got us across the line, they were absolutely brilliant. That's what we want it to be like every time. We have a duty - as a team, as a staff and as a squad - to keep them entertained. Although we've done that in the second half, personally I want a bit more in terms of the overall performance.

"We've probably lacked that a bit in the last three games - I thought the Rochdale game was more complete. We've found a way in the last two games, which is pleasing.

"One of the things I've said in the dressing room is, 'when we're not playing well, find a way.' We have; we haven't been brilliant for 90 minutes out of 180 minutes over the last two games, but we found a way and that's all you can ask."

Your next Hartlepool United read: Hartlepool United come from behind to inflict more misery on 10-man Gateshead