Eastleigh aim to move on from 'tough day' ahead of Hartlepool United visit
Hartlepool United will host National League rivals Eastleigh on Saturday afternoon.
Eastleigh will be looking to move on from a ‘tough day’ when they make the long trip to National League rivals Hartlepool United on Saturday afternoon.
The Spitfires are looking nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone after a 3-1 home defeat against title favourites Rochdale and Gateshead’s win against Wealdstone on Tuesday night left them just five points clear of the drop zone. Goals from Casey Pettit, Ethan Ebanks-Landell and former Pools striker Mani Dieseruvwe took Rochdale out of sight by the time on-loan Swindon Town striker Jake Tabor grabbed a late consolation goal for Eastleigh inside the closing stages.
Spitfires interim manager Richard Hill was left with mixed emotions after his side’s latest defeat as he admitted they ‘had to at least have a go’ at their in-form visitors but could not hide his feelings about how difficult his players had found their clash against a Dale side that are expected to secure promotion into League Two this season.
The former Sunderland head of football operations told the club website: "It was a tough day. We could be hypercritical, but we knew what to expect from them, and we got what we expected. They are a good team. They keep the football, they try to move you out of your shape, and they are clinical in front of goal. It got to the point in the game where we had to force it.
“We had to at least have a go and stop them from playing out from the back, but that opened us up and was when they became really clinical. It was a good finish by Jake Tabor. We kept the ball, but we kept the ball behind them. In the first half, we had some promising attacks. We got in good areas, but they were few and far between, but credit to the boys, they stuck at it, and they were more clinical than we were."
What did Gary Liddle say ahead of Hartlepool United v Eastleigh?
Speaking after Saturday’s win at Truro City, the Pools assistant manager told the club website: “We’ve said that many times over recent weeks and I hope it’s not going to be a mixed end to the season. From past form and recent form, I’m sure it’s going to be quite inconsistent at times and quite frustrating at times. It’s one of those where we just have to go in and hopefully take momentum. I know we haven’t won by a large margin today but we can certainly take confidence from it. To come away like this and for the lads to put the commitment in being away from home and away from families they have.
“We prepared unbelievably well in terms of training and match preparation, that hasn’t changed just because we are 450 miles away, but for us to go into a home game, which on paper is quite winnable, as they all are in this league, it certainly gives us good momentum off the back of a good result.”
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