JOHN COVENTRY admits he would have loved the chance to take on Hartlepool United at Rookery Hill.

The East Thurrock boss was proud of his players, after they were knocked out of the FA Cup at Victoria Park.

And, after watching Warrington beat Exeter on Friday night, Coventry looked on in envy.

He said: “We watched Warrington beat Exeter on Friday night, sat in the hotel and looked at it. You know there’s going to be a couple of FA Cup shocks – and when one happens early like that think is that going to be the one?

“But the players can get confidence from that – I know I did.

“It’s a different situation; they are playing on their home pitch. I’d have liked to have been at home and it might have been a different situation.

“But to come away, to experience what we did and take it all in, that’s enjoyable as well.’’ The Rocks travelled on the West Ham United team coach on Friday, trained at Bradford City on the way up and stayed in the same County Durham hotel as Championship leaders Bournemouth, who were playing at nearby Middlesbrough.

It was some experience for Coventry and Co.

“We travelled well, it’s been a good thing,’’ he said. “But we didn’t want to get carried away and think it of as being a nice weekend away. We came here to win the game.

“We did all our homework, we travelled up and had a training session at Bradford City on Friday afternoon on the way up where we worked for two hours.

“That shows we came here to win the game.’’ And he added: “Off the top of my head there’s an awful lot of people we need to thank – Dagenham Football Club helped the bus and organised the hotel, which accommodates football clubs. We stayed in the same hotel as Bournemouth, it was nice and over the next week we will get letters away to everyone who has helped us – especially Hartlepool United.’’ Goalkeeper David Hughes was inspired and the man of the match admitted he enjoyed denying one of his former football heroes.

“I was pretty happy making saves from Marlon Harewood – I used to watch West Ham and I’ve watched him a lot there,’’ he said. “He was a hero of mine, so that was a good experience.

“I was beaten twice, but made some good saves I was pleased with. The second goal was a mistake. I watched the cross come in and I was trying to do two things too quickly – thinking about getting the ball back up the pitch and I took my eye off it, the ball went through my hands and it was a tap-in.

“It’s a blow to lose, but another run next year would be nice to go again next season.

“We normally play in front of 100 or so people so it was great to play in front of almost 3,000. Everyone was really nice, I had a couple of comments shouted at me, but as a goalkeeper that’s always the case if there’s 100 or 3,000!’’