Goals:
1-0: Muir (24, picked out in the six-yard area by Donaldson to tap in)
1-1: McCallum (71, a high cross from the right was met by the striker and his header dropped inside the far post)
Bookings: Payne (foul 21); Miley (77, foul); McCallum (80, foul)
Referee: Leigh Doughty (Blackpool): Allowed plenty of wrestling to go unchecked in the visiting penalty area when Pools had corners 6
Attendance: 3302.
Entertainment: 3/5
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (3-5-2):
8 Loach: Made two superb saves, one in the opening stages, one at the start of the second half;
7 Kioso: Bates said last week’s he’s 19 going on 29 and again defended with authority and strength. Fully committed again
7 Magnay: Admitted afterwards he prefers playing in the back three than at right-back and his performances are reflecting that
6 Anderson: Read the game well and gives Pools a good balance on the left side of the back three. Wrestled to ground every time he went up for a corner;
8 Donaldson: How Pools missed him when he went off with a hamstring injury. Will be missed for the next two weeks. Positive and always on the front foot
6 Noble: Set-pieces weren’t up to standard this week. In open play, always looking for the ball and trying to find space in a congested midfield area
6 Featherstone: Playing in a midfield three gives him more freedom and there’s a more positive player in there now
5 McLaughlin: Tidy in possession, but always on the fringe of the game instead of getting hold of it;
5 Muir: Right place, right time for his goal, but his hold-up play – albeit against three centre-halves – wasn’t of his usual high standards
5 James: Tenacious and busy as ever, and had some openings without getting much joy in front of goal.
Subs:
Richardson (for Donaldson 43): Looked nervous at times and took his time to settle into the game 5
Dinanga (for James 80)
Woods (for McLaughlin 80)
(not used): Hawkes, Newton.
EASTLEIGH (5-3-2): Stack 6; Hare 7, Johnson 7, Jones 7, Wynter 6, Payne 6; Miley 6, Yeates 5, Gobern 7; Dennet 6 (Zebrowski 61, 5), McCallum 6. Subs (not used): Constable, Flitney, Boyce, Hollands.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ryan Donaldson. Pools will miss him for the next couple of weeks, a different player in recent weeks.
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