MANI'S DEBUT TO REMEMBER

MANI Dieseruvwe marked his Hartlepool United debut in style – with two clinical strikes to seal three points from a highly-charged encounter with Gateshead.

- Paul Fraser

Frustrations boiled over at the Suit Direct Stadium as Pools, ahead at half-time courtesy of Dieseruvwe’s ninth-minute opener on his debut, were reduced to ten men with 36 minutes left.

Referee Aaron Jackson issued last season’s top scorer Josh Umerah with a straight red for diving into defender Robbie Tinkler in Gateshead’s area.

The controversial incident led to a frantic finale which was followed by cautions for both Hartlepool manager Josh Askey and his assistant Mark Goodlad, plus the equaliser from Tinkler with 24 minutes left. Heed’s coach Rob Elliot was also cautioned.

At that point it looked like Gateshead would go on to claim maximum points. Hartlepool had other ideas.