Max Merrick has called on Hartlepool United to carry the courage and belief shown against Eastleigh into Tuesday night’s Enterprise National League fixture at FC Halifax Town.

Pools suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat at Victoria Park on Friday after playing virtually the entire second half with ten men.

Neo Eccleston was dismissed within a minute of the restart before substitute Nelson Khumbeni struck deep into added time to deny Lee Clark’s side a hard-earned point.

Merrick was proud of the collective response following the red card and believes Pools deserved more from a determined second-half performance.

“I’m so proud of the lads,” said the goalkeeper.

“To go down to ten men so early in the second half was a tough ask and I don’t feel we deserved to lose the game.

“Everyone showed courage, including the staff. Even with ten men, we were still going for the game because we wanted to win. I couldn’t be prouder of everyone.”

Pools refused to retreat despite their numerical disadvantage and continued to search for a breakthrough.

Jack Nolan provided renewed attacking impetus on his return and twice went close during the closing stages, while Merrick produced a Player of the Match display at the other end.

Eastleigh eventually found a way through in stoppage time when Khumbeni scored the decisive goal after being found by Harry Sidwell.

The result brought a second successive defeat for Pools, but Merrick believes the performance demonstrated the unity and ambition within Clark’s squad.

“The character in the dressing room is massive,” he explained.

“The bigger the characters you have, the better the results tend to be.

“We’re all together and we’re a family in there. We’re going for the league and that’s what we want to do.

“We’re not shouting and raving about it to everyone, but everybody in the dressing room knows what we want to achieve.”

Pools opened the campaign with successive victories and clean sheets against Barrow and Aldershot Town before suffering narrow defeats against Sutton United and Eastleigh.

Friday’s display represented a positive response to the disappointment at Sutton, with Clark’s side demonstrating the intensity, courage and togetherness the Head Coach had demanded.

Merrick believes the performance with ten men showed the qualities that Pools must now take into their next challenge.

“The second 45 minutes showed exactly what we’re about,” he continued.

“It didn’t matter whether we had 11 players on the pitch or ten; we were still going for it.

“We kept putting crosses into the box and showed courage throughout. You could also see it in the way we defended.

“We conceded the goal in the end, but what we produced with ten men for virtually the entire second half was outstanding. We have to take the positives from that.”

There is little time for Pools to dwell on the disappointment, with Tuesday’s visit to The Shay providing an immediate opportunity to respond.

Clark’s side have collected six points from their opening four fixtures, while Halifax have three points following one victory and three defeats.

The Shaymen responded to early losses against Forest Green Rovers and Boreham Wood with a 4-1 home victory over Tamworth before suffering a 2-1 defeat at Altrincham on Friday night.

Merrick says the quick turnaround gives Pools an opportunity to turn the positives from the Eastleigh performance into a result.

“Everything changes so quickly in football,” he added.

“The gaffer told us to get on with it. He’s proud of us, but we know we have to go again on Tuesday.

“There were so many positives to take from the performance. We have to take those into Tuesday and go there full of confidence because that is what is going to get us a result.”

Merrick returned to the starting line-up against Eastleigh after undergoing tests with parent club Chelsea.

The goalkeeper has quickly settled into life at Victoria Park and expressed his gratitude for the welcome he has received since joining Pools on loan.

“I’m loving my time here,” he said.

“Everyone has taken to me so well and made me feel really welcome, from the supporters to the staff and players.

“I’m so thankful for the way everybody has treated me. It has only been three weeks, but I already feel at home.”