Pools denied at the death in cup thriller

TWO goals from Burnley’s £3m substitute dumped Hartlepool United out of the Carling Cup last night – after Pools looked set for another Victoria Park upset.

Burnley may have beaten Everton and Manchester United in the past six days, but were pressed all the way by Pools.

Adam Boyd gave Pools the lead and they were well set for round three. Only five minutes remained when Steven Fletcher took the game into extra time, before he went on to win it.

But they could count themselves fortunate, stretched all the way by the home side, who also dominated the 30 minutes of extra time.

“It was an excellent tie – we pushed them to the limit,’’ said boss Chris Turner. “I’m proud of the team, the way they played and fought.

“We created more chances than them and it’s something of a hard luck story.

“We take a lot of credit out of this game and performance.

Every player played their part – that’s all I can ask from my team.’’ Opposite number Owen Coyle reflected: “That’s why you pay money for strikers – two top class finishes.

Burnley, with ten changes made from the the side that beat Everton 1-0 on Sunday, started as if they meant business.

Semi-finalists in this competition last season after seeing off Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal, Coyle may have more important tasks to concentrate on in this campaign, but this was a chance for his squad players to impress ahead of the weekend’s visit to Chelsea.

The Clarets pressed early and sprayed the ball long and wide to touchline huggers Fernando Guerrero and Chris Eagles, but that was without really testing Scott Flinders in the home goal.

Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez put the ball in the net on 22 minutes, but he took Guerrero’s pass from an offside spot. The home-grown striker with the South American name then squandered a chance five yards out, stupidly backheeling a cross straight to Flinders.

But Pools took the lead, with Boyd’s second goal in the competition this season after knocking Coventry out in the previous round.

Monkhouse, again effective and disciplined on the left, crossed deep, Sweeney put it back in the area and Boyd was in the right place to prod into the net. It could have been two within minutes, as Monkhouse creamed a firsttime drive that Penny pushed out two-handed.

As half-time beckoned, referee Jon Moss continued handing out bookings for little reason, cautioning Collins for what appeared to be a fine block on the edge of the box.

Denis Behan had the chance to set Boyd up for a second on 52 minutes. A swift break from the Pools’ penalty area brought the Irishman charging forward. With options either side of him, however, he lost his legs and the opening was wasted.

Minutes later, however, he powered into the box, but his drag back for Boyd was cut out.

Coyle showed his hand by hauling off the strikers and putting Martin Paterson and Steven Fletcher up front, before introducing ex-Darlington favourite Robbie Blake.

But Pools continued to look the part, organised at the back and equally effective on the front foot. Flinders had barely a shot to save, so well was he protected.

But he was beaten on 85 minutes. Substitute Fletcher got in behind the back four on the left channel, and rifled in a powerful drive across Flinders – Burnley’s first meaningful shot on target.

Flinders pushed out a Fletcher shot into the path of Guerrero, but the winger spooned his shot 40 yards across goal.

And in injury time, Blake could have won it. He pushed a shot wide after some penalty area trickery.

Seconds into extra time and Colin Larkin, on for Boyd, rattled the post with Penny beaten.

Pools had the next chance too, Behan beating Andre Bikey and pushing his shot wide of the post.

The game was frantic and the Clarets were down to ten men when Eckersley tugged Monkhouse’s shirt as he was being skinned.

Referee Moss again made the softest of bookings, this time red followed after his earlier caution for dissent.

But the ten men went ahead on 108 minutes. Paterson’s short corner was crossed for £3m Fletcher to powerfully head home.

Still Pools attacked; Leon McSweeney stretching to reach Monkhouse’s low ball across the face of goal and Bikey clearing a Larkin shot off the line.

■ Pools last night completed the signing of Icelandic international defender Armann Bjornsson from Brann Bergen.

Matchfacts

Goals: Boyd (39, 1-0); Fletcher (85, 1- 1; 108, 1-2)
Bookings: Sweeney (23, shirt pulling); Collins (45, dissent); Eckersley (70, dissent); Easton (120, handball)
Sending-off: Eckersley (100, second booking, shirt pulling)
Referee: Jon Moss (Leeds) 2
Attendance: 3,501

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders 6; Haslam 7, COLLINS 9, Liddle 8, Hartley 7; McSweeney 8, Sweeney 8 (Fredriksen 97, 6), Jones 7, Monkhouse 8; Behan 7, Boyd 7 (Larkin 78, 7). Subs (not used): Cook (gk), Austin, Rowell, Greulich, Power.

BURNLEY: Penny 6; Eckersley 6, Edgar 6, Bikey 7, Easton 5; Eagles 5 (Blake 66, 6), Gudjonsson 5, Guerrero 4, McDonald 5; Thompson 4 (Paterson 61, 6), Rodriguez 4 (FLETCHER 61, 7). Subs (not used): Elliott, Jensen (gk), Alexander, Jordan.

MAN OF THE MATCH
SAM Collins – a rock at the back