RONNIE Moore labelled his side as ‘chalk and cheese’ as Hartlepool United lost at Mansfield.

A weak second-half performance saw Pools concede twice to the Stags, who earned a first win in five at Pools’ expense.

After going in at half-time level, Pools failed to perform after the break.

And, while the first-half performance was good enough and they merited going in at half-time level, the second-half show angered Moore.

“Our lads can’t think we are better than we are – we have to be seven and eights all the time, every week to win games,’’ he fumed.

“The over-riding feeling is of disappointment.

“We never came out second-half and we were, if anything the better team. I couldn’t see how they would win the game – we had to up the tempo 10, 15 per cent, get on the front foot and get into the box.

“Instead we went the other way, defended deep and it didn’t stick up top – strikers have to do better and that made sure we had to sit back on the edge of our box.

“First-half and it was one of our better away performances from what we have had of late, but then you have to knock it on a level. While we are in the game, don’t lose it – a point would have done, with another away game to come, you have to pick up points on the road.’’

Moore, after Pools beat Orient the previous week, admitted he cannot understand how his players could put in such a poor show.

“It was chalk and cheese again. We had to keep the ball better, move it better, final ball had to be better,’’ he said.

“We got back into it at 1-1 and then we talked about it at half-time, we spoke a good game and then thrown it away – that’s what annoys me more than anything.

“Passion, desire, where’s it at? I’m not saying that they aren’t trying, but it’s got to be better.

“At half-time it was there for the taking and I told them that – if ever there was a game to win, then this was it.

“We are hoping we go out and control the game and dictate the tempo.

“We had to show more desire, quality in the right area, but we never started second-half. Their wingers tormented us. I tried Scotty at right-back and it’s now proven to everyone that he’s not a right-back.

“Do it and see it and until then you don’t know. It’s hard to criticise him because he’s a centre-half playing out of position.

“The second goal was a good strike, but we should have cleared our lines – should have, could have. OK, we are 2-1 down so let’s go again, but we didn’t get out of second gear.

“The third goal was far too easy, show him inside like we always tell them – instead he’s inside and lays it off to score.’’