Hartlepool United to start another run at Morecambe says Craig Hignett

Pools were beaten 1-0 at promotion-chasing Carlisle United last night following a magnificent seven-game sequence which has put Hignett in line to be League Two’s manager of the month for March.

But Pools were sunk by sub Hallam Hope’s 55th-minute winner, despite dominating the remainder of the game at Brunton Park.

“The result is disappointing, but we’ll learn from it,” said Hignett. “I thought the performance top-notch – we were much better than we were on Saturday [against Mansfield] when we won.

“I’ve said to the lads that we’ll win more than we lose until the end of the season.

“We don’t want to lose two on the spin, that’s for sure.

“We’ve been on a great run and it’s come to an end last night but we’ll start again on Saturday at Morecambe.

“If we play like that until the end of the season we’ll win more than we’ll lose.

“The result did not go our way but it wasn’t for a lack of effort.

“Sometimes you’ll get nights like this when you dominate teams and not get what you deserve.

“But we’ll take it on the chin and go again on Saturday.

“I’ll be delighted if we play that well again at Morecambe.”

Pools will almost certainly be without skipper Billy Paynter at the Globe Arena on Saturday after the 15-goal striker limped off with a hamstring problem.

“We’ll assess Billy but it looks unlikely at the moment,” said the manager.

Nathan Thomas missed the game with a chest complaint while a dead leg ruled out Michael Woods. Hignett will hope at least two of those three players will be fit to face the Shrimps.

Meanwhile, Hignett said his nomination as manager of the month and defender Jack Carroll’s short-listing for player of the month were a reflection on team merit as much as individual brilliance.

“The award isn’t just for me, it’s the whole club,” said Hignett.

“It’s been the players who go out on the pitch and do what we want them to do and they’ve done it brilliantly. I couldn’t have asked for any more from them.”