Horwood - pen

By Charlie Summerbell
November 25 2012

A point away to a Walsall side with a record almost as bad as their own won't solve Hartlepool United's propblems or go near getting them out of the deep trouble they are in at the foot of League One. But it's a start.

The first point of John Hughes's career as Pools manager will mean a lot to the Scot, but he’s hoping there’s a lot more where that came from between now and the end of the season.

It wasn’t brilliant, it wasn’t particularly pretty and they needed a faire help[ing of luck … but an away point is very welcome.

Evan Howood had the bottle to score well from the spot after Steve Howard was brought down as he went round home keeper Aaron McCarthy, but the home team levelled early in the second half when Dean Holden scored after Scott Flinders made one of many of his saves.

“I’m delighted with a point,” Hughes told the club website. “At times Walsall were a better footballing side than us, but in terms of spirit and effort we deserved a point.

“We rode lour luck a little bit, but I’m absolutely delighted we got a point for the effort and the commitment they gave.

“It’s encouraging that they showed the tenacity and spirit to hold on to the game.”

In other words, it was hard going but we got there in the end … but as Hughes say, the result is more important than the performance and while he says he’s aiming to get his team to play football, results will continue to count above everything else for the rest of this season.

Hughes and the team have next weekend off, giving him a fortnight to prepare for the home game against Stevenage in which, if they fail to win, they will equal a club record of 20 games without a victory.