Eastleigh defeat was 'a real kick in the teeth' for Hartlepool United - Lee Clark
Hartlepool United suffered an agonisingly late defeat against National League rivals Eastleigh on Friday night.
Hartlepool United head coach Lee Clark described his side’s late defeat against Eastleigh as ‘a massive kick in the teeth’.
Pools went into their Friday night clash with their National League rivals looking to move on from last weekend’s defeat at Sutton United - but they found themselves up against it when wing-back Neo Eccleston was sent off within three minutes of the start of the second-half. The introduction of summer signing Jack Nolan instilled some forward thrust into Pools as the former Morecambe winger went close with two efforts as injury-time approached.
However, it was the Spitfires that found the breakthrough with 95 minutes on the clock as Nelson Khumbeni fired a low drive beyond Pools keeper Max Merrick to snatch the points for his side. Clark described himself as ‘gutted’ by the events of the closing stages - but stressed just how proud he was of the effort shown by his players.
He said: “I am so sad for the players. For what they’ve done, especially in the second-half, it’s so cruel for them. It’s so unfair. They say football can kick you in the teeth and that was certainly a massive kick in the teeth after what the players have given me in the second-half, being down to ten so early in the game and to have it taken away from us like that. It’s awful for the lads, I’m gutted for the lads and I couldn’t be more proud of them. They couldn’t have given us any more.
He continued: “If you wanted the ball to fall to anyone in that position it’s Jack with his ability. Unfortunately it went the other side of the post and then the cruel part of the game kicked in and it’s galling for the lads.”
The Mail has launched a new WhatsApp HUFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our HUFC WhatsApp channel.
‘We will rally around him’ - Lee Clark on Neo Eccleston
Clark refused to criticise defender Eccleston after he was shown a second yellow card in the early stages of the second-half. The former Huddersfield Town wing-back appeared to slip before going into a challenge with visitors midfielder Josh Lundstram - but referee Dale Baines felt the incident was enough to caution Eccleston for a second time after showing him a yellow card prior to half-time following a coming together with Temitope Eweka.
Clark described Eccleston as ‘a committed young boy’ and revealed both he, his coaching staff and the Pools squad will ‘rally around’ the wing-back as he looks to move on from being shown the first red card of his young career.
He explained: “The second one, I think he’s actually slipped, but he’s gone in for the challenge. He’s a committed young boy, he’s a great little player, he’s got a great mentality and a great attitude. I won’t criticise him, we will rally around him, look after him. We look after each other, that’s what we do in this group and we will make sure he is alright and go from there.”
Your next Hartlepool United read: Ten-man Hartlepool United fall to cruel late defeat against Eastleigh