Hartlepool United 2 Leicester City 2

THROUGHOUT this season, Hartlepool United’s manager has lamented the character and mentality of his side.

Firstly it was Danny Wilson, now Chris Turner.

But Turner had no cause for complaint last night as his team outplayed and outfought leaders Leicester City, grabbing a 90th minute leveller from Andy Monkhouse in a 2- 2 draw.

But the point flattered Leicester. Pools have folded on too many occasions and it looked a familiar tale when, with ten minutes to go, a Steve Howard penalty gave the visitors the lead.

Turner said: “I was proud of them out there – they showed passion against a very strong team. At 2-1 down it was going to be difficult because it was ‘here we go again’ but we lifted the performance again.

“All the boys raised their games – but I told them they have to do it against the other teams in the league, not the bigger ones. We have to perform against Walsall, Yeovil and Orient on Saturday.

“We look for that commitment week in, week out and it’s hard to change the mentality from the short period I’ve had in charge.

“If we played like we have tonight in more of our games we wouldn’t be where we are in the table.’’ Arran Lee-Barrett made a telling stop on 11 minutes, when Wayne Brown’s towering header from a corner was heading into the net.

A minute later at the other end, Matty Robson’s rightfooted volley was gathered by Mark Bunn in a rip-snorting start to the game.

Pools lost Matty Robson to injury on 25 minutes to be replaced by David Foley, and three minutes later they lost parity with the league leaders.

Ritchie Humphreys slipped as he tried to intercept a ball to Matt Oakley. The visiting skipper charged ahead, laid the ball into the path of Howard who drilled low into the net from an angle for his customary goal against Pools.

But four minutes later it was all square. Joel Porter’s run into the penalty area took him between defenders Michael Morrison and Wayne Brown and, as soon as he went over, referee Nigel Miller pointed to the spot.

Goal number 18 of the season arrived in confident fashions – Porter’s penalty rammed high into the net.

Pools were in command and Porter’s low 30-yard effort was stopped by Bunn at his near post.

Lee-Barrett was also called into action to block from Howard; the goalkeeper standing up to the striker as he advanced one on one.

There was no let up in the action and Micky Nelson prodded wide from eight yards after a scramble following a Pools corner, then Ben Clark’s low shot was saved following a clever attack full of trickery.

Monkhouse was in sublime form on the left wing, running the opposition ragged. Pools were on top but couldn’t make their pressure and advantage count.

The sting was taken out of their game and Howard was given the chance to score from 12 yards.

Bruno Berner chased Oakley’s pass into the area and, with the ball running away and out of play, Lee-Barrett needlessly bundled the winger over for the game’s second converted spot kick.

But, with time running out, Sweeney’s cross from the right – at the second attempt – was drilled in from ten yards to cap a superb performance from Monkhouse.

Match Facts

Goals: Howard (28mins, 0-1; pen 80mins, 1-2); Porter pen (33mins, 1- 1); Monkhouse (90mins, 2-2)
Bookings: Oakley (37mins, foul); Collins (50mins, unsporting behaviour); Fryatt (50mins, unsporting behaviour); Morrison (53mins, foul); Humphreys (73mins, kicking ball away); Monkhouse (90mins, handball)
Referee: Nigel Miller (Consett) 5
Attendance: 4,068
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2): Lee- Barrett 5; Sweeney 7, Nelson 8, Collins 7, Humphreys 6; MONKHOUSE 8, Liddle 7, Clark 8, Robson 4 (Foley 25mins 6, (Henderson 86mins)); Porter 7, Lange 6. Subs (not used): Cook, Rowell, Mackay.
LEICESTER CITY (4-4-2): Bunn 7; Morrison 6 (Gilbert 61mins), Hobbs 7, Brown 8, Mattock 6; Dyer 7 (Cleverley 61mins, 5), King 6, Oakley 7, Berner 6; HOWARD 8, Fryatt 6. Subs (not used): Chambers, Dickov, Pentney.
MAN OF THE MATCH: ANDY Monkhouse – probably his best game of the season