A shot at redemption and this afternoon's game with Colchester can't come soon enough for Chris Westwood.

The Hartlepool United defender wants to get Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Swindon out of his system.

And Westwood admits the chance to play just 48 hours after a miserable show is the best remedy.

He said: "Last year when we lost a game, we bounced back right away and we have the chance to do it on Monday.

"The gaffer had a go at a few people at half-time, but that's part of the game and par for the course after a game like that.

"He sees things from the sidelines which I and others don't see from on the pitch and it's good to have the faults pointed out.

"We've a game on Monday and, for me, it's the quicker the better.

"We've got to be in the right frame of mind for the Colchester game. It's no good going out there thinking about Swindon and Saturday.

"Last year we got a 1-1 draw at Swindon and we were probably the better side on the day; we weren't this time.''

Pool were celebrating securing a play-off place last time they went to Swindon on the final day of last season and this time there was no comparison.

"It was just so different to last year, we were well beaten,'' he said. "They had two big lads up front, but I don't think any of the goals came down the middle.

"They came from out wide and when they broke us down, they attacked us in numbers and had players coming at us from all over the place. "I don't think we played well enough as a unit and as a team.

"Swindon did to us what we have done to other teams and it's not nice to be on the receiving end."

Swindon boss Andy King believes that, despite Pool's failings on Saturday, Cooper's side will still be challenging at the top end of the table again.

He said: "What you have to remember is that the result and performance was against a team that did well last season.

"Hartlepool are a strong, organised side and I expect them to do something again this season. But we won 3-0 and it could have been seven or eight.

"We missed chance after chance and it was a quality performance, as good as I have seen.

"Mark Yates gave us something else and it was the best performance of the season for us.

"We beat Bristol City last week, but this was far better.''

l Pool will play Hull City at Victoria Park in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy.

The game is likely to be played on Tuesday, September 28.