GARY Liddle is sure his Hartlepool United team-mates will take plenty of confidence from Saturday's opening day performance.

While Pools lost at Luton, they controlled the game for long periods and Liddle, who was outstanding in midfield in his first game in a higher standard after making his Football League debut in League Two last season, is relishing the chance to shine on a bigger stage.

"I think we gave a very good account of ourselves and we were the better team in the first-half,'' said the midfielder.

"A couple of decisions which may or may not been correct and a couple of decisions from ourselves in an attacking sense have been the difference.

"We were pleased with the way we played and we can take a lot of confidence into the next game from it. We were a bit disappointed to go in at half-time a goal down because of the way we played - we felt hard done by.

"But we knew it was going to be hard at times and we conceded a second goal we were very disappointed with.

"We played at a high tempo and it's been that way all pre-season.

"That's how the gaffer wants us to play and I think we have the players to do it.

"We put a lot of hard work in and were unfortunate to lose. It was tough in the conditions, it was so hot, but it's the case first game of the season. It won't be long before it's freezing cold again!''

And he admitted: "There was a difference in class and as you step up and we will see more of it as the season goes on, but we have the players to cope.

"The players who the gaffer has brought in have played at a higher level, it's nothing as a squad we won't get used to.''