Pools out of Trophy, but show signs of progress

LAST week Colin Cooper sat and spoke of how the same footballers who prove so bad they get their manager sacked can suddenly play with a spurt under the command of a new employer.

At the time he didn’t perhaps expect his Hartlepool United squad would be doing the same.

So flat and insipid against Carlisle, a 3-0 thumping that brought Cooper’s instant resignation, Pools were bright and lively against Sheffield United tonight.

The outcome might have been the same, another home defeat, but at least there was some promise. Where there was no hope on Saturday evening, at least there was a spark tonight.

Stand-in boss Sam Collins is the club’s temporary manager, and a couple of hopefuls were watching on with intent.

Graham Kavanagh and Mark Venus were in the crowd, so too Kevin Ball and Craig Hignett, although the latter pair are likely to have been more interested in watching the loan players Pools have from Sunderland and Middlesbrough respectively.

They will all have been impressed.

Booed and jeered off the pitch on Saturday, Pools were applauded off it tonight.

What a difference a couple of days make.

“Colin leaving hit me, he has been great with me from day one,’’ reflected Collins. “But I can’t do anything about what has happened. I want the best for this club and if the chairman wants me to look after things for however long I will get as much as I possibly can.

“I’m still registered as a player, I’m not playing forever and management is something to think about. My focus now is for Exeter. Hopefully we climb the table by winning games quickly.

“Let’s be professional and hard to beat. If it’s me, somebody else or whoever, we need to get out of this situation and fast.’’

Fast was the watchword, as Pools played with a quick tempo.

With teenagers Dan Jones and Keiran Green given their first starts, there was a youthful zest about their game.

Michael Woods, playing in an advanced midfield role, sent a looping header over the bar as Pools started well.

Green missed the ball when a connection from Ryan Brobbel’s corner would have brought a goal.

But Pools fell behind, a familiar feeling this season, when the impressive and suave Jose Baxter found space on the edge of the area to finish past Scott Flinders.

It didn’t take long for the equaliser to come after the restart.

Michael Duckworth, Pool’s stand-out performer at the weekend, got forward. He’s not done it enough this season and his attacking impetus has been missing.

But tonight he got his first goal for the club. His shot from distance may have been deflected, but he’s claiming it – and his celebrations proved how much he enjoyed it.

Flinders made a fine close range block to deny Louis Reed and, as the ball came to Chris Porter eight yards out, his miss was a shocker. It was easier to score than screw as wayward as he did.

Charlie Wyke sent a header away from goal when he could have scored, while Lewis Hawkins, who really grew into the game and can take great confidence from this showing after failing to make a big breakthrough in recent years, chipped wide.

Jamie Murphy’s overhead kick came back off the post, before the Blades cut through the Pools defence to win it through Jamal Campbell-Ryce and his low finish across Flinders.

Collins, proud of his charges afterwards, added: “When we spoke before the game and said that what I’ve learned at this club is that the fans expect energy, tackles and fight. I thought we got that tonight.

“The crowd clapped the players off. I didn’t want to lose obviously, but I know the way the fans think and how they want their team to be.

“The young players I know because I’ve worked with them for a long time, I was desperate to play them and when I was asked by the chairman on Saturday night by the chairman to look after things, I knew what I wanted to do.

“Keiran Green wasn’t going to shy away and when I told him he was going to play he gave me a hug and said thankyou.

“He wants to play all the time and train all the time and sometimes he needs to be told he needs to rest! He even gave me a hug after the game. He’s desperate to be a footballer and wants to do well.’’

Collins left Victoria Park feeling satisfied after his first taste of front-line management. How long he is in charge for remains to be seen.

He admitted: “I like this club and town. It’s a working-class town, the same as my background. I want to be a manager and I want players who work hard.

“Let’s see what happens. Results could dictate that. I can accept losing and players making mistakes, but I can’t accept anyone giving less than 100 per cent. There’s a way to lose and if we are going to lose then lose in this manner.’’