Hartlepool United 3 Millwall 0

SAT in the Victoria Park dressing room with a healthy half-time advantage over Millwall, there was no way Hartlepool United were going to pass this one up.

Last season, after Antony Sweeney smashed Pools into a two-goal 26th minute lead, the relegation strugglers contrived to lose 3-2.

More evidence was provided on Saturday that this team is made of sterner stuff.

“Last season’s game got mentioned at half-time, we all know what happened then.

But 3-0 is a good scoreline, not many teams come back from that,’’ reflected Sweeney.

And Chris Turner admitted: “I was a bit concerned at half-time because one or two lads were sat there laughing and joking in the dressing room.

“They don’t see the seriousness enough of not conceding.

“One-nil wins are good, three-nil wins are even better but we have to have the mentality that we won’t concede even at five-nil.

“When we won at Oldham one player was a bit upset because Colin (West) and I were shouting at them on the pitch about doing the right things and the comment that came back was that we were winning three-nil.

“It’s not the case, we don’t want to concede at all and build confidence from not conceding.’’ This time against Millwall, however, there was no Neil Harris to bag a nine-minute hat-trick and Pools are a sterner unit this time around.

The visiting defence on Saturday were as slack and soft as Pools rearguard last season, as Peter Hartley, Adam Boyd and the hugely impressive Armann Bjornsson netted.

There was a real determination not to concede, as Pools’ workrate and application never wavered, either on or off the ball.

The Lions clipped the crossbar twice early on, first when Scott Flinders’ clearance was charged down by Steve Morison.

Then the striker nipped in ahead of Sam Collins – on a rare occasion the skipper was beaten to the ball – and again hit the bar.

But by then, just 13 minutes in, Pools were already ahead.

And for the second time in five home games, the opener came from Peter Hartley.

After his header put Pools on the way to a win over Tranmere, this time his right-foot fired a low shot in from 20 yards.

Boyd got the second, nipping into the gap between goalkeeper and defence to score from a tight angle after a spot of rank defending.

And when Bjornsson peeled away at the far post to nod in Neil Austin’s deep curling cross, it really was game over this time.

They might be similar in size, but Bjornsson has so far been more of a dainty version of Peter Crouch than a big bustling John Fashanu since signing for Pools.

Bur he proved on Saturday that his giant frame doesn’t have to be used physically to prove his worth.

The 6ft 5in Icelander was a constant menace as he made it two goals in two games, and Turner added: “We went close to scoring more than three.

The big man up front (Bjornsson) held the ball up well to let others come into play.

“Antony Sweeney is desperate to score for himself and went close, he claimed he should have had a penalty as well, but when you have someone like Armann up front holding the ball up it allows others to come into the game and score from midfield.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if Tony gets chances and gets goals.

“If you play with a big man up front like that, he is only as good as the service he gets. If the service into him is poor, he is made to look poor.

“At Carlisle in the second half the service was poor – everyone sees it negatively.

This time the delivery was much better, which gives him a chance to get into position and hold the ball up and he did it well.’’ Bjornsson arrived from the Norwegian top flight and has played four times for his country.

His pedigree is there and Turner added: “Playing like that he looked a threat himself in the penalty area and he created good openings for others as well.

“I’m a great believer that to get out of this division you need a focal point in your team to hit, to play the ball into, to score goals – and he’s got two in two now and you cannot knock that.

“He is biding his time, being very patient when some may be banging on the door. He has showed what he can do and is capable of.’’ Equally impressive was Mc- Sweeney.

Named on the bench, the right winger was shunted into the team when Ritchie Jones took ill and was forced home in the hour before kick-off.

“Leon did well and we are always encouraging him to run at and go past defenders rather than take an extra touch,’’ added Turner.

“(Left back Andy) Frampton had a tough time and couldn’t handle him, which should give Leon confidence to take on.’’

Match facts

Goals:

1-0: Hartley (12, right-foot bouncing shot into the corner from 20 yards)

2-0: Boyd (22, made the most of some poor defending to round keeper and score)

3-0: Bjornsson (29, deft far post header to angle in an Austin cross)

Booking: Morison (42, foul)

Referee: Jon Waugh (Sheffield): Kept things in check, and let the game go without interference 8

Attendance: 3,153

Entertainment: ✰✰✰✰

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):

6 Flinders: Given an early letoff when clearance was charged down, but exuded confidence throughout;

7 Austin: Linked up well with McSweeney and was as combative and solid as ever

7 Collins: Won the battle against the physical Morison with another display miles away from last season

7 Liddle: Always had time on the ball and was composed in possession at the back

7 Hartley: A rare right-footed goal, but the improvement in performance isn’t proving so elusive;

8 McSWEENEY: By far his best performance to date, a real livewire on the right

7 Humphreys: Against a four, five and three man midfield he was always on top of proceedings

7 Sweeney: Lively and concentrated on doing the simple and effective things

6 Monkhouse: Had his share of possession and helped to deliver good balls into the strikers;

8 Bjornsson: Produced the sort of display that up until now didn’t look like he was capable of

7 Boyd: An mercurial figure, alert to produce a good finish and sound link up play Subs:

Fredriksen (for McSweeney 72) Clark (for Humphreys 82) Greulich (for Boyd 82) (not used): Cook (gk), Rowell, Cherel.

MILLWALL (4-5-1): Forde 4; Dunne 3, Ward 4, Robinson 5, Frampton 3 (Smith 62, 3); Hackett 5 (Grabban 46, 4), Bolder 4 (Laird 46, 4), Schofield 5, Henry 6, Abdou 5; MORISON 6.

Subs (not used): Sullivan (gk), Grimes, Fuseni, Price.

MAN OF THE MATCH

LEON McSweeney – wasn’t due to start, but stepped up to the plate in style.