Hartlepool United manager hails 'unbelievable effort' after Pools keep play-off hopes alive thanks to Eastleigh win
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone hailed his side's "unbelievable effort" as Pools gained ground in the race for the National League play-offs by beating strugglers Eastleigh 1-0 on Saturday.
Pools came into the game all but out of the race for the top seven following an underwhelming run of results only to have their slim hopes of sneaking into the play-offs revived after edging past the relegation-threatened Spitfires.
With Southend United, who started the day seven points clear of Featherstone's side, losing at Altrincham, Pools moved back to within touching distance of the Shrimpers thanks to an assured showing on home turf.
While it's true that Pools still have a mountain to climb if they're to stand any chance of finishing in the top seven - Southend have a game in hand on Featherstone's side, while eighth-placed Halifax Town will also take some catching - there is at least a sliver of hope.
Pools have endured some well-documented struggles at Victoria Park this season but managed to banish some demons following back-to-back home defeats earlier this month.
While there wasn't much to separate the sides in terms of the scoreline, the hosts were generally far the better team and Featherstone's one frustration was a lack of cutting edge.
Pools, who were unchanged from last week's much-needed win over bottom club Truro City, looked in complete control in the opening period and went ahead after half an hour thanks to Matty Daly's 30th minute strike.
Although Eastleigh, who had scored six stoppage time goals in their last nine matches, rallied late on and the home side survived one or two nervous moments in the closing stages, the result rarely seemed in much doubt as Pools kept their play-off hopes alive.
"It was a really controlled performance in the first half," Featherstone told BBC Radio Tees Sport.
"I thought we probably dominated the game in terms of territory and possession.
"We got into some really good areas but probably lacked a bit of decision-making in the first half, other than the goal.
"I was really pleased with the first half performance, I thought we started really well in the first 10 or 15 minutes and were on the front foot.
"If I had any complaints, it would just be making those right decisions in the final third - that's where we've got to get better, that's where we're short.
"As a team, we don't score enough goals and we don't make good enough decisions in the final third; today, especially in the first half, we probably showed that quite a lot.
"In saying that, probably the best move of the game has resulted in the goal. I'm buzzing for Matty (Daly) because he's really key and important in how we want to play; he's been brilliant for a while now.
"We've done a lot of research on Eastleigh, they score a lot of goals late on and they're dangerous right to the very end.
"I think they've had a lot of winners and equalisers and goals late on, so for us to keep a clean sheet and for us to defend like we did going into the last 10 or 15 minutes was really pleasing for me.
"It puts us three points closer (to the play-offs), it's as simple as that.
"We've got to focus purely on ourselves, I've said that for the last two or three weeks now; I think we've probably been guilty of looking at other people's results and then not taking care of the games ourselves.
"For the last two games we've just said, 'no matter the performances, we win the games of football' - the lads have dug in.
"Like I've said previously, it's not easy to win games of football at this stage in the season; Eastleigh are not quite out of it, so they're fighting for their position in the league. Truro was exactly the same last week, none of these games are easy.
"They're fighting for their lives and for us to go and put two wins together after two really disappointing results - with two clean sheets as well - is an unbelievable effort from where this group was previously in the season.
"History suggests that we put a couple of wins together and then we can't quite do it again and again but the group is well capable of winning lots of games on the bounce, they're a really good group of lads; we're capable of winning games at this level.
"We're going to give a right good go in these last eight games and just see where it takes us - we've got 57 points with eight games to go, we'd have taken that when I took over, absolutely.
"I think the best we've had in recent seasons is 60 points, so to be where we are with eight games to go, four points off the play-offs and with some of the big teams above us still to play, I think it's a really exciting finish."
Pools travel to Morecambe, who were beaten 3-2 by Yeovil Town on Saturday and are three points adrift of National League safety, on Wednesday evening.