EIFION WILLIAMS and Chris Westwood have paid tribute to the 'magnificent' Hartlepool United supporters and urge them to turn out in their thousands to boost their Division Two play-off push.

Approaching 10,000 Pool fans made the 48-mile round trip up the A19 to witness their side lose to neighbours Sunderland in the Third Round of the FA Cup.

Victoria Park's average attendance this season is just over 5,300, despite hovering around a top six place for the majority of the campaign.

And now, after the Pool fans made up the largest travelling support in the Stadium of Light's six-year existence, two of the team's mainstays are hoping their battling display will have done enough to convince their newfound supporters to make more trips to watch Neale Cooper's men in action.

Centre-back Westwood said: "What summed it up for me was when I went over for a corner and the fans started singing, that gave me a little shiver down my spine.

"Then I looked up and they all on their feet supporting us - it really was unbelievable.

"If 9,500 people turned up to see this game then hopefully we have done something to convince them to come back and watch us.

"There will have been people who were there who have never been to see us and hopefully they will come more often to the home games."

Lively Welsh striker Williams, who caused problems for the Sunderland rearguard throughout the encounter, also asked the fans not to stayaway.

"It was a fantastic occasion and it was just one of those times in your life when you have to think that it might not happen ever again," said Williams, who shone in front of the 40,000 plus crowd.

"The fans were tremendous and I think all of the players appreciated it.

"It's brilliant when you play in front of crowds like that. In the Second Division it doesn't happen like that, so it is important that everybody enjoys the occasion.

"It showed, I think, that none of us were put off by playing in front of such a big crowd and they were tremendous. To get 10,000 up there was frightening.

"The atmosphere was fantastic and hopefully they will be all packed into Victoria Park at Peterborough on Saturday."

The duo were also united in their belief that Pool - who have made around £300,000 from their FA Cup run - could quite easily have earned a replay from the higher league opponents.

Sunderland goalkeeper Mart Poom made three superb saves to deny Williams, twice, and Paul Robinson.

And it was only Julio Arca's first half strike that proved to be the difference.

"Sunderland were lucky to win the game really," said Williams, who also had an effort blocked by Phil Babb on the line with two minutes left. "The goalkeeper has made some great saves.

"It is a disappointing result really because we feel that we should have at least drawn.

"The goal we conceded was an unfortunate one because it was a really long punt up field and we have failed to deal with it.

"But we can't be downhearted by that because I think we more than held our own."

The Pool striker, who was also part of the side which played Sunderland's Division One rivals West Brom earlier this season in the Carling Cup, also claimed that the Black Cats are way behind the Baggies in the race to return to the Premiership.

"We have played West Brom and I thought they were by far the better side. West Brom were different class," said the 28-year-old. "We only lost 2-1 to West Brom and pushed them all the way, now we have gone close to getting a good result against Sunderland, who I think will be there or thereabouts for promotion at the end of the season.

"But we are a good Second Division side and we went to Sunderland knowing we could get something.

"A draw would have been nice, but it wasn't to be."

Westwood, meanwhile, hailed Sunderland's match-winner Arca.

But the Pool defender, who was caught out by Poom's long ball upfield which led to the only goal of the game, believes that is what the South American should do, given his multi-million pound price tag.

"Arca was the difference. But that's what you expect from a player who has cost three and a half million pounds," said Westwood, who arrived for nothing after being released by Wolves in 1999.

"I actually thought he had a quiet first half. But having said that he hit the post and made some good runs.

"But I think there were just as many good performers in our team because none of us were overawed by the occasion. We have done ourselves justice."

Westwood made his league debut at the Stadium of Light in September 1997 for Wolves in front of just over 30,000 fans - in a game that ended 1-1.

And the 26-year-old admits he enjoyed his second appearance at the impressive venue more. He said: "It was different this time around. On that occasion it was obviously my first taste of League action whereas this time I have got a couple of hundred league appearances under my belt.

"The first time I was more nervous and perhaps I got a lit bit overawed by it. But this time I really loved it. It was a great day to be out there and it'll be something I never forget."

Read more about Hartlepool here.