RONNIE Moore has often spoke of expectations creeping in and perhaps affecting his Hartlepool United side.

Last season’s relegation heroics, a summer of solid recruitment and a 100 per cent start to the season lifted the outlook around Victoria Park.

On Saturday came their first stumble: a game there for the taking against a fragile team without a win and Pools lost.

It wasn’t perhaps down to the raised levels of confidence or complacecy, more that they simply had a real off-day.

Pools conceded a soft opener and never got going until it was too late.

And, so when they could have been making it five wins from five this campaign, instead it was another game against Stevenage they failed to win.

It’s now five successive defeats in a total of eight winless games against them.

While the home side may have a new boss in Teddy Sheringham and a new outlook, the spectre of former boss Graham Westley and his methods linger.

They scored a goal from a set-piece, another from a long punt from the back, killed the game off at times in the second half when Pools were finally kicking into gear and were more than happy to forget Sheringham’s footballing ideals and lump the ball anywhere to hold on.

“I thought they might be a footballing side, but they turned our defenders and hit it high and long at times it was ridiculous and we didn’t deal with it,’’ reflected Moore.

“It’s been a good start to the season, but we have to come here and match them. There’s wasn’t anything in the game, but we didn’t get going.

“I don’t think they were better than us, 2-0 flatters them and we’ve been done by a corner on half time when we have to be on our toes.

“I know who slept and it can’t happen again and then we got done by an ale-house ball from the top, one long ball over the top and it’s in.’’

Since Pools went 2-0 up at Broadhall Way in August 2011 and were pegged back to 2-2 they have never looked like getting the better of them.

Bullied and subdued over the years, this time what disappointed was the manner of defeat.

Stevenage are struggling to find their feet under Sheringham and had been beaten 3-0 at Orient in midweek.

Confidence was fragile, but it wasn’t tested.

Pools lost Matthew Bates early on. After an uncomfortable start, he chased Charlie Lee to the byline, shadowed the ball out of play and went down.

He was replaced by Andrew Boyce, the centre-half signed on loan from Scunthorpe and, in the absence of Harry Worley, he will be part of the Pools side for the next couple of weeks. He will strike up a better understanding with Scott Harrison over the coming days and starts tomorrow’s Capital One Cup tie with Bournemouth.

Rakish Bingham had Pools’ first opening on 31 minutes, but fired into the hands of keeper Chris Day when he should have tested him more.

But after a couple more scares amid a flat half – the home side were content (and allowed) to pass the ball incessantly between their centre-halves at times – Pools trailed in injury time.

A corner curled into the six-yard area and defender Fraser Franks headed in too easily.

When Bingham’s flicked header put Oates in on goal, his first touch was too heavy and took him away from goal, allowing Day to scramble across and block.

Then Bingham sliced into the side netting from an angle. Pools pressed, but didn’t get any joy.

And then a long ball wasn’t dealt with by Boyce and Harrison, and Brett Williams clipped in.

Moore concluded: “I'm just disappointed in the manner, we weren't brilliant but 2-0 flatters them to me.

“We had a chance in the first half when Bings has put it down the keeper's throat when it looked easier to score.

“We had that 15 to 20 minutes towards the end when if we'd got one we'd have gone on to win it, they could have gone like a pack of cards, no doubt about it.

“We can't get done like that with a ball over the top, there was still time and it should have been longer than four minutes. At 1-0 we were still in the game, but at 2-0 it's very difficult to go and score two goals.

“We had one great chance with Rhys and Bings has gone for the far post when should really have put it across the goal.

“Our keeper's not had to make a save, there's been nothing between the teams to be honest.

“I just think we fell asleep and they took advantage. Do that at this level and you get punished.’’