Wednesday 6 March 2013 16:05, UK
Hartlepool boss John Hughes admits referee Geoff Eltringham was wrong to send off Colchester's Jabo Ibehre during their goalless draw.
A point apiece means the gap between the relegation rivals remains eight points at the foot of League One. But the game's main talking point was the decision to send off U's striker Ibehre two minutes before half-time following a challenge on Pools defender Neil Austin. "For the red card, I don't think it was a booking," said Hughes. "Seriously. I sympathise with Colchester. "If one of my players was sent off for that I'd be very disappointed. The lad came through and got his studs on the ball, I felt it was a poor decision." Hughes also felt the one-man advantage did his team few favours. "I felt it was difficult against 10 men, camped in to defend," he added. "We had to be patient, switch play, get it wide and we did it. It might have been one chance to get a goal and then the game would open up. "The keeper made a couple of great saves and we were patient. Against 10 men it was as good as you can ask for in terms of playing football and playing in their half. "We wanted it to drop in the box for us, can someone gamble on a cross? But don't go cavalier and keep them out at the back - but two points have got away from us."
