Hartlepool United v Dagenham & Redbridge: Fans can have a big role says Craig Hignett

That was the rally call from boss Craig Hignett on the eve of the crucial League Two match against Dagenham & Redbridge.

The Victoria Park faithful were loud and passionate in the 0-0 draw with Northampton and last Saturday were at Barnet in large numbers and loud volume.

They were treated to a sparkling win and Hignett hopes there will be more to come.

“We need the fans with us, especially at home,” declared the boss.

“They were brilliant away at Barnet, 336 of them.

“The noise they made was incredible and we gave them something to shout about.

“I have belief in the players, I know what they can do and what characters they are.

“Even if we go a goal behind we can come back, so I’d say to supporters ‘get behind the lads’.

“But if we go in front I’d say ‘make it a difficult place for Dagenham to play’.

“I want that support for the rest of the season, the fans have a massive part to play in what we are trying to do.

“In the Northampton game, they were brilliant.

“They probably came expecting Northampton to win, but they saw how we played and liked it.

“We probably should have won, [manager] Chris Wilder said was happy to have taken the 0-0.”

Hignett feels Pools are in something of a false position and he says he and first-team coach Curtis Fleming are looking to put that right.

“The performances we have put in, we should be higher up than what we are,” said the ex-Middlesbrough star.

“But we’ve got to keep that going.

“I’ve said it all along that if we keep playing like we have done then we’ll win more than we lose.”