Cooper spreads the love at Victoria Park (From The Northern Echo)

Cooper spreads the love at Victoria Park

8:00am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Sport By Nick Loughlin

TWO wins, two draws of late and it's been a solid start to life back at Hartlepool United for Neale Cooper, but the boss was quick to play down his impact.

His recent January results could pitch him into contention for the League One manager of the month award, particularly on the back of the weekend's 4-0 thumping of Carlisle United.

It wasn't only the performance of two-goal Luke James which caught the eye, Cooper's immediate impact has not gone unnoticed.

Pools have adopted a fluent system of late, rather than the rigid 4-4-2 imposed for the majority of the campaign and the players have taken to it well.

But Cooper said: "Manager of the month? No. I'm not one of those who thinks about it, we are all in it together. I have to come and see the press win or lose and after a win like Saturday's I am a very, very proud person.

"We play a system in which the players can interchange. And we looked better when we finished 4-4-2, Antony Sweeney has some energy down that side of the park and Paul Murray gave some performance in the middle.

"They all worked so hard, that's what we push in training. We train hard and well. No-one likes a laugh and joke more than me, but we train with a high tempo and carry that into the games.

"When we finish training we go and have a laugh and there's such a happy atmosphere around the camp.''

He admitted: "I see a difference in them since I arrived. I try to speak to them as individuals, and before the game.

"I spoke to Scotty Flinders and told him how well he has done and that he is such an important player for us, and too often that doesn't happen. As a player I liked and enjoyed that.

"Sometimes it doesn't happen a lot. I have told them each how important they are. Peter Hartley has a shoulder problem, from the Sheffield Wednesday game, but fought on and we kept a clean sheet. That's important.''

The performance at the weekend was in contrast to the displays at Victoria Park between mid-September and January7.

During that period they lost a miserable nine successive times in front of their own fans, but spirits and confidence have returned on the back of a win over Rochdale three weeks ago.

"Ending the home run of defeats against Rochdale was important, it lifted the pressure,'' said Cooper. "I was only here a week or so before then but I could sense it.

"I felt it on myself, never mind seeing all nine games. From walking in the door, I've got to know them, they have got to know me. If you are working hard then you have a chance.

"That (the workrate) was pleasing - Colin Nish has had a hard time and he needs to show more workrate and all that and he was rewarded with a goal on his return from injury, a good finish.''

Left-back Evan Horwood is likely to be fit for the weekend trip to Bury.

He was stretchered off at the weekend after a clash with the Cumbrians' Tom Taiwo but Cooper said: "Evan had not trained all week, after a bad ankle knock last weekend but credit to the physios.

"Peter Hartley hasn't been as strong with a shoulder injury and was a risk but they trained Friday and wanted to give it a go.

"Evan has a different injury now, but he will be OK, he's on crutches but should be alright in a few days.''

Pools were due to take Alan O'Brien on trial this week, but the ex-Newcastle winger won't be arriving at Victoria Park. He was training with St Mirren last week.

Carlisle yesterday lodged notice of an appeal to the FA over the red card issued to Lee Miller on Saturday. The ex-Middlesbrough forward was harshly sent off for a tackle on Andy Monkhouse.

The club said it is "aware that decisions such as these are difficult to overturn.''