RONNIE MOORE isn’t the sort of manager to mince his words and, ten days into his tenure as Hartlepool United boss, a few home truths are going a long way.

And his players are responding to his vocabulary.

Pools, who ended the game with nine men, earned a draw at Mansfield, one which keeps them seven short of the cut-off point.

It’s two draws in as many games for the new boss, a win over Morecambe at Victoria Park tomorrow and Moore will have the four-point return he wanted for Christmas.

Marlon Harewood and Michael Woods were both sent off in the closing stages, coming after the Stags had Ryan Tafazolli dismissed in a frantic second half.

There was no signs of what was to come as Pools started tamely and never got going until the second-half, after a half-time blast from their boss.

“Second half was good, first half a disgrace,’’ he said. “We cannot go out showing fear, but second half after we got into them we went out and showed character.

“First half and it was all long ball and we don’t tell them to do that. It’s down to nerves and we brought a decent crowd here, who have paid good money.

“We gave them a goal start. Second half had a feeling and endeavour – we have to believe we can win games.

“For 11 lads to perform like they did first half was totally unacceptable and I’ve told them that.

“The supporters want to stay in the Football League – do the players after that first 45 minutes? I don’t think so.

“I couldn’t pick one of them to praise. Then second half we did well. Dan Jones was brilliant at the back with Batesy, good performances later on.

“We will win more games playing like we did second half.’’

However, many more displays as insipid as that in the first-half and they won’t have much of a chance.

They failed to put a tackle in, never passed the ball and never threatened on the front foot.

Ten minutes in and winger Junior Brown ran at the Pools defence, exchanged passes with Matt Rhead and, as the defenders stood off, he slotted low under Scott Flinders.

They conceded a similar goal at Burton in their previous away game. They’ve gifted far too many soft ones this season.

Pools should have had a penalty a minute before the goal, Duckworth tripped from behind as he shot at goal from 16 yards.

Then Dan Jones headed over the bar from a promising position, and Pools had another penalty shout knocked back when Harewood was bundled over from behind as he headed the ball under control.

Darren Holden, defensively sound when disciplined but suspect when he went forward, was well positioned to clear a Rhead header off the line.

Pools, on their first 45 minute performance, looked like the desperate team they have been too regularly this season.

Moore admitted: “We got into them at half-time because it wasn’t good enough. They had a tongue-lashing, then came out and showed spirit.

“Players who can play should go and express themselves.

“We defended really well as they are a massive side and we knew what we were up against. We had a bit of luck at times, but overall second 45 minutes was fine.

“At half time they looked like they were waiting to go out of the league. I don’t want that and I told them so.

“I said go and enjoy yourselves and do it right. Fair play they came out and did well.

“Everything I asked of them they did.’’

From the tamest of games, to the most frantic.

Duckworth, on the right wing, levelled, bouncing a shot in via a deflection.

Three minutes later he and Pools escaped. Rhead headed a corner at goal, Flinders seemed to push it over the line, Duckworth, stood behind the goalline, cleared.

Referee Scott Mathieson and his assistant didn’t think it had gone in. Mansfield were fuming and they had a point.

Tafazolli collected a second yellow card for a clear pull on Joe Ironside after the loanee held the ball up and got by the defender.

Angered by the decision, the home players did their best to put pressure on Mathieson to balance it out. Duckworth was booked after jumping shoulder to shoulder with Brown, who went down like he’d been poleaxed before rising to his feet after the Stag-enforced melee died off.

Harewood and Jamie McGuire both fell to ground from a long Pools throw. Harewood ended on top of the defender, McGuire shamelessly started holding his face. Mathieson was hardly interested until the assistant referee intervened from distance and the Pools striker was showed an instant red for violent conduct, much to his bewilderment.

Neil Austin could have won it for Pools, skying his shot high over from close range under pressure. Then Pools were two men down and they could have no arguments about this one. Woods needlessly committed a foul on the edge of the home penalty area and then got involved in a wrestling match.