Hartlepool United 2 Sheffield United 0

THREE days after wondering how he could get the best out of James Brown and Adam Boyd, Chris Turner saw Hartlepool United’s main marksmen combine to earn a place in round two of the Carling Cup.

Dogged by debilitating injury over the last 12 months, Turner and Pools have to manage the pair’s talents and problems to get the best out of them for as long as possible.

And get the best out of them they did as they secured a deserved victory over Sheffield United at Victoria Park.

Pools were rampant, Brown’s sixth minute opener followed by Boyd’s secondhalf penalty as they earned a home tie with Wigan.

“We played very well and looked comfortable,’’ said Turner. “Effort and energy and organisation was good against a Championship side.

“Our boys were better to be honest and deserved the win - it wasn’t really a shock looking at the game.

“The first goal gave us a lift, and Adam’s penalty sealed it.

Tony Sweeney was at his best ever, runs off the ball were well timed and he was outstanding.

“Strikers needs goals and Adam got one from the spot, they all count. He did well in possession and when the game opened up he created things for us.

“We’ve got a good tie to come with Wigan at home in the next round, a Premier League side who like to play football and it will be an interesting tie for us.’’ Only six minutes passed when a lively Pools took the lead.

Andy Monkhouse’s tenacity fed the advancing Joe Gamble and when his shot was pushed out by Steve Simonsen, James Brown was on hand to slot the rebound home from an angle.

Turner may have revealed at the weekend that both Brown and Boyd were unable to play 90 minutes – but Pools were getting the most from their talents.

Combining well with Monkhouse in a three-man forward line, Pools adopted a positive outlook.

Gamble’s lob to the marauding Sweeney led to a delicious ball being played into the corridor of uncertainty and only a touch from defender Rob Kozluk turned the cross away from danger.

Tenacious in the tackle and with a high work ethic, Pools were value for their lead. The Blades were limited to corners and did not trouble Scott Flinders in the opening half.

Four minutes into the second period and Brown was able to turn and shoot low. His shot was fumbled uneasily wide by Steve Simonsen.

Brown, though, soon pulled up lame and was replaced by Leon McSweeney, It wasn’t long before Boyd created and scored the second.

His chip found Sweeney bombing ahead and, when he was bundled over inside the box from a needless push by Kozluk, there was no doubt in awarding a penalty.

Boyd stroked the ball low into the opposite corner to the one Simonsen went for.

Gamble went close instantly with a 20-yard curler.

It could have been a deserved three when substitute Jon Andre Fredriksen put Sweeney in again, his low cross was sliced over his own bar from close range by Nick Montgomery.

And as for Sheffield United’s chances. They had their only goalbound effort in injury time, when Kyle Bartley’s shot was headed away acrobatically by Monkhouse.

Match facts

Goals: Brown (6, 1-0); Boyd pen (60, 2-0)

Bookings: Fredriksen (77, foul); Ward (81, foul); McSweeney (84, foul)

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Preston)7

Attendance: 2,520

Entertainment: ✰✰✰✰

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

Flinders 6; Haslam 7, Collins 8, Liddle 8, Horwood 7; Brown 8 (McSweeney 54, 6), Gamble 7, Murray 7 (Fredriksen 72), SWEENEY 9, Monkhouse 8; Boyd 8 (Behan 75). Subs (not used): Rafferty (gk), Larkin, Bjornsson, Hartley. SHEFFIELD UNITED (4-5-1):

Simonsen 5; Kozluk 5, Ertl 5, Morgan 5, Taylor 6; James 6 (Ward 67, 5), Britton 6, MONTGOMERY 6, Yeates 5 (Quinn 75); Chappell 5, Cresswell 5 (Bartley 82). Subs (not used): Roe, Crichton (gk), Speed.

MAN OF THE MATCH

ANTONY Sweeney – non stop midfield performance just like he did on Saturday