Pools go down at home.... again

HARTLEPOOL UNITED lost again – their 22nd League Two reverse of the campaign, going down meekly to Burton Albion at Victoria Park.

After victory over Wimbledon last week, Pools were supposed to be making a fight of their relegation battle.

Instead, they have lost their next two games, and are eight points from safety with hope fast fading.

One goal separated the teams in a desperately poor game.

Signed last week on loan from Sheffield United, Florent Cuvelier was only on the Victoria Park pitch for six minutes – but it was enough to make a difference.

From a Pools’ set-piece flung into the area, Brewers goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin punched clear.

Striker Stuart Beavon took possession and turned towards goal, catching defender Neil Austin wrong-footed as he turned across him with ease.

With Cuvelier overlapping, the ball was played into the Belgian who cooly rolled his finish across Scott Flinders.

Chances at both ends were a rare event in a game affected by a gale force wind.

On 12 minutes, Tom Naylor exchanged passes with Lucas Akins and fired at keeper Scott Flinders with a dipping volley.

Pools offered nothing up front, Marlon Harewood and Ryan Bird lacking any direct threat on goal.

Boss Ronnie Moore said: “I’m massively disappointed, it was a hallow game spoiled by the wind with hardly any football played.

“We didn’t do enough to win it, but didn’t deserve to lose it.

“Not another defeat – we have to see games out, winning or losing. Sometimes that one point might make all the difference. Yes, we needed three but got nothing and a point keeps you ticking on.’’

“A free-kick late on, Jonesy overcooked it and the keeper punches it 70 yards away from our goal and they score from it.

 “We are naive in goals we concede they’ve not had to work for it and it went in too easy they way they bypassed us.’’

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Austin, Harrison, Mirfin, D Jones; J Jones, Featherstone, Tshibola, Compton (Franks 62); Harewood (Smith 62), Bird (Morgan 80). Subs: Maxted (gk), Walker, Richards, Duckworth.

BURTON: McLaughlin; Edwards, Candsell-Sherriff, Mousinho, McCrory; Akins, Weir, Naylor, Palmer (Cuvelier 84), Beavon, Antoine-Curier (El Khayati 74). Subs: Taft, Phillips, Slade, Harness, Shearer (gk)

Referee: Darren Bond (Burscough)

Bookings: Akins (diving 3); Tshibola (57, foul)

Attendance: 3,289