Source: PA
Wadsworth happy with Pools display
Hartlepool first-team coach Mick Wadsworth found it hard to criticise his side after they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
Pools held their own in the first half but saw skipper Sam Collins sent off at the start of the second for clipping Rickie Lambert`s heels in the penalty area.
Lambert scored the resulting penalty, with Jose Fonte adding a second late on.
Wadsworth said: "Once we went down to 10 it made it very difficult but even then I thought we defended excellently. Referees' decisions change games and for the penalty my centre-half says he didn't touch him, he's very angry. It means he misses three games and I`m very angry about that.
"Then directly before their second goal there was a blatant foul on Michael Mackay. It drives you absolutely mental, the whole balance of decisions. It`s not right. He stopped and held his hands up because the guy got across in front of him.
"I wouldn't say we made Southampton look ordinary but the players showed a lot of spirit and common sense. Michael Mackay got on the end of our best chance very well and his pace was telling at that point, but he was denied by a very good save. On another day we score, but there you go. It is disappointing because you just want to reward the players when they work the way they did."
