EIGHT points from ten games – as well as a hefty cup defeat – and it’s not been much of a start to the season for Hartlepool United.
And today, as third-bottom Pools meet basement dwellers Carlisle at Victoria Park, Colin Cooper admits he’s, as yet, unconcerned with his side’s position. Defeat today would mean it’s a worry, even if it isn’t now. 
Carlisle won for the first time last week when they saw off Tranmere at Brunton Park, their first win in 16 games, tellingly coming in the third game under new boss Keith Curle.
Appointed, with ex-Pools assistant Colin West as his No 2, following the sacking of Graham Kavanagh, Curle’s job has started promisingly.
“Position doesn’t concern me, I’m more bothered about points and performances rather than where we are. I’d rather not be where we are, and with another six-seven points on the board and up the table, but we aren’t,’’ reflected Cooper. 
“Last week, first half and Portsmouth could have been ahead, but second-half they held on for a point.
“Carlisle have a new manager and the one thing Keith is doing is lifting them. It’s strange because how that happens in a group of people who have a habit of losing and then turn it around to win is staggering.
“I know it’s happened in football over the generations and it’s astounding that the same group of players get three points, when they couldn’t get a point before.
“But Keith, having played against him and knowing him, is a tough guy who will galvanise them and they won with a clean  sheet last week, so he will think they are off and running.
“Our job is to try and bring them down to earth. Whatever happens in football, we are at home and need three points.
“If you are at the wrong end of any table, it’s because you are not scoring enough and conceding too many. We are in the same predicament.’’
While Pools have looked at Clinton Morrison and Jordan Laidler this week  on trial, Carlisle fielded eight hopefuls aiming for a contract in an 8-0 defeat to Newcastle. 
Morrison has also been training with the Cumbrians and Cooper said: “Keith has a lot of trialists in to try and address the balance there and I’ve had a few in myself this week. Trying to find the answers to lock the back door and open the front door. He has the same issues and will want to be coming here difficult to beat.
“But our job is to make sure we keep it tight and take the chances and half-chances we create. Last week we had a lot of momentum towards Portsmouth’s goal last weekend. ‘’
Pools have drew their last two home games 0-0, after beating Shrewsbury 2-0 previously. A win today is imperative, but the issues and problems at both ends of the pitch that pegged Pools back last season remain.
Cooper said: “If you isolate the issues, we have kept three successive clean sheets at home. Now can we maintain that and find a way through at the other end? Last two games at home we haven’t managed that.
“You can only win by scoring goals. The heavy concessions – Port Vale and Northampton – are not nice to watch and all we can do is try and replicate not giving anything away and getting something at the other end.
“Playing without fear isn’t easy, it’s easy to say it. In certain positions it does take a lot of nerve to cross the white line and play without fear. As a player, I always used to think of worst-case scenarios and try to ensure they didn’t happen. 
“As a creative player, a forward you can play without fear – just be better than the defenders and if you score, you are a hero.
“So it’s easy for us to say it and when I say it to my players I mean it. If you are fearful then you don’t give yourself the opportunity to express yourself – as a defender, midfielder or forward. 
“Sometimes the words are easier than actions, but you inhibit yourself by playing with fear and you don’t allow yourself to express yourself with it.
“Having been a player and in situations when it’s hard to cross the white line I understand it. But all you try and do is get belief and confidence – if the worst-case scenario happens then it’s on my shoulders as a manager and not yours as a player. 
“No-one wants to make mistakes, or miss a chance, or do anything wrong. But a lack of confidence shrinks you as a person; we all say play without fear. 
“Sometimes the action is harder than words, but we can give them the confidence to try and lift them.’’