Cooper in play-off pledge as Pool get back on track

First, on the back of Martin Allen's dips into the River Tees, the Pool boss told a recent fans' forum he would jump into the town's Marina if they reach the Millennium Stadium final.

Secondly, and more seriously, after losing out in the semi-final at the death last season, he's promised to put a defender on the bench to make sure they don't suffer with injuries like they did at Ashton Gate.

The play-offs look more likely after this result and performance.

His opening pledge might be a bit traumatic - it's not too often the North Sea is an appealing swimming pool - the second could be an easier option.

Because with his squad close to full-strength, the likelihood of another defender, Steve Howey, joining on a short-term deal this week and Jack Ross returning to training, Cooper has plenty of options.

He may soon be able to field a full bench of defenders.

As expected, he put Chris Westwood, Mark Tinkler and Hugh Robertson back in the side after the trio had missed the last six games through injury.

And how they made a difference as Pool's four-game losing stretch was ended.

With nine games to go, Pool are on 61 points. Last season 73 - and goal difference - was enough for the play-offs. Perhaps five more wins, 76 points, will secure it this time.

On the same weekend last season, Pool won their 37th game, 2-0 at Grimsby, and took 16 points from the last nine games.

Brentford play their game in hand at Blackpool tomorrow and could edge back into the top six, but it not at the expense of Pool.

Cooper's side didn't look like a team suffering, as they took the game to Bradford from off, creating a welter of chances in the early stages.

The returning trio gave Pool a familiar look, Tinkler's bite in midfield and Westwood's defensive alertness and awareness strengthening the spine.

And, without Adam Boyd alongside him, Joel Porter gave a performance equally as big.

Too often the Aussie's number comes up after 70 minutes away from home, but this was a complete 90 minute performance.

Equally as important, Pool enjoyed the luck which had been missing in the last four games. Somehow they survived a couple of frantic goalmouth scrambles in the closing stages to secure their sixth away win of the season and their 17th away point from a possible 27.

"I thought this was a very good performance, a tremendous result,'' said Cooper.

"The first 15 minutes was very good, but all over the park we worked really hard.

"I explained why I was making the changes to the boys who didn't play. To be fair to them, when we have been doing well it's been these boys - Westy, Tinks, Shuggy - who have been there with their experience.

"I thought they tired towards the end. Hugh came off with a cut calf, so that's a problem. Westy and (Micky) Nelson were excellent and that's been an important part of the successful time I've had at the club.

"Ben Clark has been unlucky to miss out. He's never played, during his time at Sunderland, as many games as he has recently.

"When he was there he didn't play a lot and you can see in the last three games he's felt it, he admitted it. Gavin Strachan hasn't been playing badly, but I felt that Tinkler and (Antony) Sweeney in the middle are strong together.''

And Cooper added: "We didn't play like a team that had lost four in a row. We said during the week that you don't lose what we have in terms of spirit.

"I didn't feel we had the luck of late, but we had a wee bit this time towards the end. The ball was ricocheting around the goal and I thought it was going in, but you need a bit of luck.

"It was a big result for us, because if they had beaten us, they would have been breathing down our necks.''

Wily Dean Windass was the only home player with any fire. Nigh-on everything Bradford create or attempt to create goes through the 35-year-old.

His team-mates had about as much first-half possession as a kid playing pass the parcel, moving the ball quickly towards their talisman at every chance.

But he didn't see much of the ball early on as Pool made all the pressing.

Tinkler and Nelson had a second-minute shooting chance, Porter beat four but couldn't dig the ball out, Eifion Williams' shot was parried into the path of Humphreys, who bobbled his shot wide then Matty Robson did the same.

Jim Provett made a block from Owen Morrison, but that was it before Pool took the lead.

Williams and David Wetherall tangled inadvertantly, with Pool winning the free-kick.

But instead of smashing it at goal like expected, Robertson played neatly into Porter, who peeled away to send a teasing cross towards Williams from the left and he dived to head home.

Bradford came at Pool in the second-half and levelled when Mark Bower met a short corner with his head from eight yards.

Porter, however, towered above the central defender to nod the winner. Robson's long throw was nodded on by Peter Atherton and Porter raced in to leap high and power in the winner.

Then came two big scrambles in the Pool area.

They survived a penalty appeal for a Nelson handball and Windass may still be out on the Valley Parade turf looking for his dummy after claiming he was manhandled before haranguing the referee at the end.

With Easter games against two mid-table teams, Pool could have a tight grip on a play-off spot.

Result: Bradford City 1 Hartlepool United 2.

Read more about Hartlepool here.