Nicky Featherstone insists ‘good times to come at the Football Club’ as 10-man Hartlepool United fall to a 4-0 defeat away to Woking in the Enterprise National League

The Pools manager was embarrassed by his side’s performance in their first game under new ownership.

Featherstone exclaimed, “I’m embarrassed, and I’m disappointed for the new ownership that we’ve started in this manor. 

“I did not see that coming today; it’s shocked me massively. Even the 11 v 11 at the start of the game, I did not see that coming at all, and we were second best in every department today. 

“There are a few things to consider because the drop off from one game to another at the minute is too big and we’re never going to get to where we want to get to with that level of consistency.”

Continuing to focus on the lack of consistency in results, Featherstone said:

“I think with this group, they find it easy to get up for the bigger games.

“What we struggle with massively is getting up for games that are winnable for us and not as glamorous. 

“It’s easy to get up for the Rochdales and Carlisles, and all those sorts of games.

“We’ve got to do it on a regular basis in this league, and like we’ve seen today, if we drop below our level, we’re not good enough to win games of football.

“The drop off is so bi,g and we’ve been stung today. We’ve been hurt by a real lack of effort, commitment, and willingness.

“The most disappointing thing for me is that we’ve had four crosses come into our box and they’ve scored from four crosses, which we’ve been really good at this season.” 

On Cameron John’s red card, Featherstone said: 

“Cam knows he’s let us down today, but he knows he’s been brilliant for us throughout this season so far, and he’ll continue to be brilliant for us the second half of the season. 

“It also costs us for the next three games, and Cam’s a massively important player for this Football Club at the minute, and we have to go without him for three games now, which is the hardest thing.”

Ahead of Saturday’s home fixture against Altrincham, Featherstone said:

“We play a good team in Altrincham, back to the drawing board, and hopefully a positive week. 

“I know we’ve sold a lot more tickets for this one with the new owner coming into town.

“There is loads of positivity all though today is a setback in terms of Play-Offs, and this season the Club is moving in the right direction, and there’s loads of positivity around the place.

“Be disappointed with this week, I am angry, gutted and embarassed but there will be good times to come at the Football Club.”

Watch Featherstone’s post-match thoughts on our YouTube.