RICHIE Humphreys admits Hartlepool United's 2-0 reversal at Leeds United was hard to swallow but insists he is determined to erase the memory of that bitter defeat when Swindon visit Victoria Park this afternoon.

Hartlepool dominated the majority of their League One clash at Elland Road last week, yet returned with nothing to show for their efforts after seeing a series of opportunities go begging.

Humphreys confessed that he also felt a little guilty for not delivering the right result for the 2,800 Pools supporters he hailed as 'superb' who travelled to their first ever league contest at Leeds.

"We could hear them throughout the match and the Leeds fans were pretty loud as well," said the 29-year-old, who made his 273rd league appearance for the club in the loss.

"Even before the game, in the warm-up, the players were talking about how loud they were, it was great.

"But the Hartlepool fans kept singing right to the end and it helped spur us on to try to get back in the game.

"The atmosphere was special, with both sets of fans playing their part.

"These are the types of games you will look back on once your career is over.

"It was just a pity we could not get the right result for the fans. But I am sure they saw that we were a bit unlucky not to get something out of the game.

"It is hard when you play well to come away with nothing.

"We created chance after chance, we hit the post, they cleared shots off the line, it was unbelievable really.

"But we got punished for making two mistakes and we didn't score, that was the problem.

"It is quite hard to take when you see the lads put so much into a game not to get the rewards you think you deserve - it was frustrating."

Despite the setback Humphreys says he is reasonably happy with the start Pools have made to life back in League One after a season's absence. And he believes the club's performances so far this term merit more points.

"We have done well so far in terms of points but more so performance-wise," he said. "The two defeats we have had were at Luton and Leeds, both sides who came down from Championship, and we more than matched them.

"We may not have taken any points from them but we have to take the positives from those matches. If we can take that kind of form into the other games I am sure we will win a lot more than we will lose."

Humphrey's versatility means he is a man for all positions. With the season a little over a month old he has already appeared at left back, left wing and in the midfield general role in the centre of the park.

He has also suffered being left out of the side in the second league fixture this term at home to Doncaster.

But where some players might bang on the manager's door demanding to know why they have been left out or why they are being chopped and changed every week, Humphreys just sees his versatility as an advantage.

He said: "I just want to keep forcing my way into the team. I have been a bit in and out so far and it is a case of when you get in you try to do your best.

"I will work hard in training through the week - as I always have done and always will do - and hopefully get handed the shirt on the Saturday.

"That is something this club has done well, the whole squad is together and pushing each other all the time.

"I have enjoyed the games in midfield as well as at full-back. I just want to play wherever I can. I will just keep working hard and keep myself fit so that I can play wherever the manager calls on me to play."

Pools boss Danny Wilson warned his side to expect a tighter game than last week's encounter.

"The Swindon match will be completely different from the Leeds one and the line-up will have to reflect that,'' he said.

"Swindon will come to the Vic and try to keep it tight.

"They have dangerous forwards, like Lee Peacock, and will look to win the second balls off him, so we have to be wary of it.

"It will be a battle early on and we will have to win that if we want to earn the right to play our own game."

"Last week at Leeds it was a very open game because they allowed us the space to play."