History on Pool's side as Scott plots the downfall of Rovers

Pool have failed to gain promotion through the play-off lottery on four previous occasions but that is set to change this season if you measure historical precedent.

On three separate occasions when Hartlepool have been promoted, the club has made a managerial change at some stage of the season.

In 1967-68 Brian Clough left the club to take over Derby County and Gus McClean was left at the wheel to steer the club to promotion.

In 1990-91 Cyril Knowles had to step down due to ill health and current Newcastle United assistant manager Alan Murray was left to steady the Pool ship in to the old third division.

Finally, Chris Turner left Pool two years ago to take over home town club Sheffield Wednesday and Mike Newell was asked to finish the job.

Last week Martin Scott was asked to repeat what his predecessors have successfully done after the club controversially sacked boss Neale Cooper.

It would be an understatement to say the decision - four days before the crucial play-off decider at Bournemouth - was ill-timed.

Had Pool lost against the Cherries they could have been forgiven for being unsettled by events off the pitch usually reserved for North-East neighbours Newcastle United.

This wasn't the case and Scott, Paul Stephenson and the backroom staff at Victoria Park should be commended on keeping the players fully focused for the job in hand.

It's not unreasonable for fans - who chanted Cooper's name in the early stages of the Bournemouth game - to ask for reasons why the popular Scot left the club. After all he has steered Pool to within touching distance of Championship football on two consecutive occasions.

Whether an answer will be forthcoming from chairman Ken Hodcroft or owners Increased Oil Recovery is debatable.

The club is banking on the play-off semi-finals, hopefully a final win, and a long pre-season to appease supporters discontented with Cooper's removal.

Hartlepool isn't the first club and certainly won't be the last to treat their manager appallingly but some honest answers wouldn't go amiss.

Caretaker boss Scott was left to pick up the pieces in Cooper's absence and make them fit on Saturday and he did so superbly.

Emotional, he hailed his battling charges after they came through one of the most difficult weeks of their careers.

A point was all they needed to secure a play-off place and a point is what they delivered.

Pool didn't have it all their own way and for a large part of the first-half Bournemouth dominated proceedings. But the visitors dug deep and revealed great resolve to come from behind twice in the match to send the 800-or-so travelling faithful home happy.

"I don't think words can describe what emotions we've gone through this week and finish it like we have," said a delighted Scott. "It has been a rollercoaster week. Obviously I preferred Saturday because it was a great occasion for the club.

"Everyone concerned at the club has been shocked (by Cooper's dismissal) but once I had a chat with Neale and a meeting with the players on Thursday we've been totally focused towards the game.

"Everything else, contracts etc, was put to one side to concentrate on the job in hand.

"We prepared right and the players were totally focused and I think it showed in the game. You get your rewards if you put the effort in and I think the players deserved the win."

Scott was in magnanimous mood and hailed Cooper's part in driving the club to the play-offs.

"It wasn't about the one game I was in charge, it's about 46 games and Neale deserves a lot of credit because he was in charge for 45 of them," Scott said.

As all football fans know their club rarely takes the easy option to get a result. Hartlepool were no different on Saturday and put their supporters through the mill, especially in the first period.

But Scott revealed his potential managerial credentials on Saturday and wasn't afraid to change his system after admitting his side sat too deep in the first period and invited the home team on.

"Our two wide men (Eifion Williams and Ritchie Humphreys) sat too deep in the first-half and our full-backs weren't taking control," added Scott. "I changed it in the second half and it worked and we got a goal.

"But you have to understand, in Matty Robson and Ben Clark, we have two very inexperienced players, but two very good players who have done tremendous for us this year.

"But they were finding it difficult because Bournemouth have got good wide players.

"I had that in mind when I made the substitutions and brought on Micky Barron, which allowed Eifion Williams to get forward. Then I changed Matty Robson for Ritchie Humphreys, who played a real captain's role and it allowed Thomas Butler to get in the game."

The former Sunderland defender confessed he was taking a chance dropping his skipper at left back.

"It was obviously a gamble but we had to get a goal. We have certain players who are better defensively but we also have certain players who can get a goal," he said.

"Tommy Butler can create things for you. He needs the ball at his feet and he got it and he produced a great cross for Antony Sweeney to get his 14th goal, which is a great achievement from him."

Once Pool levelled for the second time after 60 minutes it inspired confidence all over the pitch and they never looked like letting it slip.

Scott wasn't leaving anything to chance, however, and Pool's tinker man decided on a more pragmatic approach to close out the game.

"I changed it again and brought Gavin Strachan off and got the experienced Mark Tinkler to sit in front of the back four," admitted Scott. "Even in the ten minutes he was on he showed just what a good player he is because he reads the game so well.

"Defensively he did a great job for us.

"I had played all my cards by then and I was hoping we were going to hang on and we did and I thought it was great achievement."

Result: Bournemouth 2 Hartlepool United 2.

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