Williams' Promotion Fear for Pools

Hartlepool striker Eifion Williams believes Hartlepool's surprise run to the League One play-off final will make them an obvious target in League One next season.

Pools came agonisingly close to securing promotion to the Championship before their dreams were shattered by a late Sheffield Wednesday resurgence in Cardiff a week ago.

Bangor-born Williams feels Hartlepool's end-of-season displays will have taken the surprise element away from them, making it harder to achieve promotion next term.

"Nobody knew who we were last year and quite a few clubs did not know much about us this season," he told a local paper.

"They are going to know us now and that is going to make it hard for us. I think the players here have set the standards, this year and last year.

"Teams will have been watching us in these play-off games and know we are a team who likes to get the ball down, pass it around and play attractive football."

Former Barry Town player Williams scored Hartlepool's first goal in that final to level the game, but depite taking the lead in the 71st minute, the Owls equalised from the spot with eight minutes remaining, before taking control in extra time.