Hignett’s half-time hell-raiser has Hart!
CRAIG Hignett claims a half-time rollicking was the secret behind Hartlepool’s spirited second-half fightback.
Liam McAlinden fired injury-hit Exeter in front in the 31st minute with his first goal since completing a summer move from Wolves.
Hignett took action at half-time, giving his players a dressing down and then making two substitutions in an effort to stir his side from their slumber.
The move paid dividends with Michael Woods levelling in the 74th minute before Billy Paynter made it two goals in a week to complete the turnaround 60 seconds later.
The win made it four points from their first two games and Pools boss Hignett beamed: “We have made a really good start to the season.
“We made hard work of it. We weren’t quick enough or sharp enough in the first half and I wasn’t very pleased.
“There were some strong words said at half-time because it wasn’t good enough.
“We were just coasting through the game and we would probably have lost if we had carried on in the same way.
“So we changed the shape, brought a couple of players on and it worked a treat.
“We keep giving ourselves little mountains to climb but I know I have got strong characters.
“We scored two goals and it could have been more.”
Exeter made the breakthrough on 31 minutes after Ollie Watkins skipped to the by-line and pulled it back for McAlinden to steer a cushioned shot into the bottom corner.
Lloyd James almost doubled Exeter’s lead thanks to a stunning 25yard free-kick that cannoned back off the bar.
Pools ramped up the pressure in the second half and forced an equaliser after Woods rammed home Lewis Alessandra’s cross.
And the 121 visiting fans, who made the 690-mile round trip, were celebrating when Paynter converted Carl Magnay’s cross.
Exeter boss Paul Tisdale said: “I am disappointed obviously. When you are a goal up, it is important not to lose the lead.
“I thought we were very strong and effective in the first half, but I didn’t think we started the second half – right from the kick-off – quite as resiliently as we had played in the first half.
“They were getting on top a little, but we felt reasonably secure.
“Any goal is a disappointing goal, but after conceding one, you think we have to hold strong for five.”