'It gives everyone a lift' – Dave Challinor discusses Hartlepool United's perfect end to 2020 following 1-0 win at Notts County

While manager Dave Challinor admitted the standings are slightly ‘false’ at the moment due to most teams having multiple games in hand, he feels players and supporters will take plenty of satisfaction seeing Pools’ name second.

Monday’s 1-0 win at Notts County made it a perfect end to 2020 for Pools as they made it three wins from three over the festive period.

“We’re up where we want to be and the table is a bit false but I’d much rather be in our position having played 16 games than playing catch up with games in hand,” said the Pools boss.

"We all want to be successful. As much as this is a job, we’re winners and it makes your job a whole lot easier when you can look at the table and see Hartlepool United’s name sitting second in the table.

"It’s been a long time since that has been the case at this point in the season so hopefully by the time supporters can get back in the ground, they’ll have something to really cheer about.”

After dropping into the bottom half of the National League following a run of just one win in eight league matches, Pools have turned things around dramatically heading into 2021.

“The players will take an awful lot of satisfaction from going second because it reinforces that what we’re doing and what they’re putting in is working,” Challinor added.

“They won’t look at games played getting us so many points, they’ll look at the fact that we’re on so many points and we’re second.

"We’ve got to do everything we can to make sure we stay there.

“It gives everyone a lift. It’s difficult without supporters but the dressing room in there tells me that they’re starting to believe a little bit and momentum is massive in football but it works both ways.

"We’ve got to keep building on it and recognise what has got us results in the last three games and keep doing that.

"It’s a lot easier to learn in victory that it is in defeat and it’s a really satisfying win against a really good side.”

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