Hartlepool United 3 Dagenham & Redbridge 1: Match reaction, Pools close in on safety

Jake Carroll scores from Nathan Thomas's free-kick. Picture by FRANK REID

Craig Hignett saluted his team for their rapid opening salvo after taking Hartlepool United a major step towards League Two safety.

Pools won an open basement battle with Dagenham & Redbridge 3-1 at Victoria Park thanks to goals by Billy Paynter (pen), Jake Carroll and Jake Gray.

Paynter converted a fourth-minute penalty before Carroll doubled the lead 10 minutes later.

The Daggers were not short of chances but their only response was a Matt Cash screamer and Gray's sixth goal of the season settled it in the second half.

Pools are now seven points above second-bottom York and nine better off than the Eastenders - they also have three games in hand on the pair, the first coming at Newport on Tuesday night.

"To follow up what we did last Saturday with a 3-1 win is really pleasing," said Hignett. "We started the game really well, I thought that was as good a start as we've had because we have been slow starters.

"To go 2-0 up, we looked comfortable. But we then gave a away a sloppy goal, it got a bit tetchy and we sat back a little bit, which was probably understandable given the gravity of the situation.

"I made a [tactical] change with Jake Gray in the second half, it seemed to work and Jake scored straight away and at 3-1 we were comfortable-ish."

Hignett hopes defender Rob Jones will be fit for the trip to South Wales on Tuesday after coming off at half-time after taking a bang to the head late in the first period.