Stamina in short supply by Pools

HARTLEPOOL United’s season may have been encapsulated in 90 minutes on Saturday.

Promise, workrate and organisation aplenty, tempered by a tendency to run out of steam and be caught up by the opposition.

When the manager, a mere three games into the season, is already talking about getting the maximum out of the same players week in, week out, then it’s obvious a tilt at winning the championship isn’t on the agenda at Victoria Park.

And so it proved against Swindon. Pools were off to a flying start, two goals up after 14 minutes, and playing a high energy game that had the visitors looking nothing like a side tipped for promotion.

But when that tempo caught up with them and the pace wasn’t maintained for long enough, the visitors took control.

By the final stages, it was the home side playing for scraps on the counter attack as the visitors pressed for a winner.

“It’s frustrating to go two up and not win, psychologically,”

reflected Chris Turner. “At half-time, I must admit I did not feel comfortable.

“We needed some legs and energy to help us out and turn Swindon around.

“We ran out of steam and used McSweeeny and Yantorno to try and do something, but they went into a team already losing their grip on the game.

“To be fair to Swindon, they went into the second half thinking they had a chance, turned it around and how many times would that turn into a 3-2 victory for them?

“I’m relieved at that aspect of it, but that’s what we are about. We have to go with the players we have got – and that’s what we have got.’’ And to try and supplement the squad, while unable to bring new players in, Turner is making sure the spirit in the dressing room and within his squad remains high.

Again, getting the most out of what he’s got is the key.

“Spirit is a big thing in this club, we always have had it,’’ he said. “It’s hard to stay in League One, let alone hit the Championship.

“In a nutshell, spirit is about everyone together.

Players, staff, everyone being excellent at the club.

“That’s why we’ve been semi-successful if that’s what you want to call it, successful we think and how we will be this season too.

“I think if we can get results like Sheffield United and points away from home, who knows what we can achieve.

“We need to believe and I could see too many players didn’t believe we could get the third goal or hang on. The punter in the stand can see it, Mick (Wadsworth) and I can see it the same, we want the same and them.

“It’s like a boxer in the ring, bob and weave, bob and weave to avoid getting hit in the face!

“If someone has a 15-yard simple pass on and instead they launch it long – we can see it like the fans can.

“But it’s frustrating isn’t it and that’s where players have to handle that situation better.

We have to have that togetherness here this season and I think they have showed it so far.’’ In the early stages on Saturday, that spirit and energy were at the fore.

Pools were dominant and, while Swindon boss Danny Wilson wasn’t pleased with the goals his side conceded – ‘’We gave away two abysmal goals – under no pressure at all and it cost us’’ – the home side were deserving of their lead.

Sweeney got forward into the left side of the penalty area and when his shot was blocked, the ball popped up for Boyd to tap in his second in as many games. Then from Sam Collins’ searching ball from the back, defender Jean- Francois left his header short of keeper David Lucas and Sweeney was there to lob in the goal his performances have deserved this season.

Evan Horwood bent an effort against the underside of the crossbar in the closest Pools came to a game-clinching third.

But Swindon, with the pace of ex-Newcastle winger Alan O’Brien burning up the left side, were a threat.

Scott Flinders’ brilliant double stop kept out Charlie Austin and then Jon-Paul McGovern before half-time.

Swindon, though, pressed incessantly in the second half, forcing Pools onto the back foot.

Wilson put a second striker on in support of Austin and the result was instant.

Thomas Dossevi, one of the replacements, cracked in a low first-time drive and two minutes later Austin got goal side to pick his spot past Flinders.

“To come back from two down, you are elated,” reflected Turner. “To draw 2-2 from winning two-nil and you feel deflated, but I don’t think we should.

“We’ve scored four goals in three games this week, we’ve not lost and, aside from other things I said to the players after the game is don’t be too disappointed.

“We haven’t lost. We have played well and showed what we can do.’’

Matchfacts

Goals:

1-0: Boyd (4, turned in from close range after Sweeney’s shot was blocked)

2-0: Sweeney (14, confident lob after defence and keeper opened up)

2-1: Dossevi (72, first-time low angled drive)

2-2: Austin (74, close range turn and finish)

Bookings: Gamble (74, foul); Dossevi (85, foul)

Referee: Carl Boyeson (Hull): Frustrated Sweeney in particular on a couple of occasions with decisions against the midfielder 6

Attendance: 2,893

Entertainment: ✰✰✰

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

7 Flinders: Double first-half stop and solid handling throughout;

6 Haslam: Up against the quickest player in the division and stuck to his task

7 Collins: Solid and aggressive as ever in the heart of the back four 7 Liddle: An assured performance without being overly exerted

6 Horwood: Unlucky not to grab a third goal in the firsthalf and has made a good start to his Pools career

6 Murray: Busy start, but again tired in the second half as Swindon got on top

6 Gamble: Enjoying playing with a bit of midfield freedom, not as restricted as previously

8 SWEENEY: Maintained his impressive start to the new season and rewarded with a classy goal

6 Brown: Tormented Swindon in the early stages with his footwork

6 Boyd: Two goals in as many games and if only Pools could get 90 minutes from him....

6 Monkhouse: Linked up well on the left with Horwood first half, but forced to sit deeper later on

Subs:

McSweeney (for Boyd 58): Pools looked to his pace to help them out on the break 6

Yantorno (for Brown 58): Showed some tidy touches and a willingness to chase 6

(not used): Rafferty (gk), Behan, Hartley, Fredriksen, Larkin

SWINDON TOWN (4-5-1): Lucas 6; Caddis 6, Cuthbert 6, Jean-Francois 6, Rose 6; O’BRIEN 7, Douglas 7, Ferry 7 (Dossevi 61, 7), Prutton 5, McGovern 6 (Pericard, 61, 6); Austin 7. Subs (not used): Smith (gk), Timlin, Morrison, Amankwaah, Ball.

MAN OF THE MATCH

ANTONY Sweeney – new formation has brought a new look to his game.