RONNIE MOORE isn’t one to mince his words; he’s a manager who tells it like it is. Yet in calling last night’s Hartlepool United performance a shambles, he was still being on the generous side. 
When it looked like Pools had put their recent run of poor results behind them with a win at Yeovil, they managed to turn in their worst performance of the season, and by some distance.
It was so inept it was arguably as woeful as any of the dross served up during last season’s problems. 
Moore said he was ashamed: “We were a shambles, as bad as we have been since I came to the club. Lethargic, no energy, no enthusiasm – we cannot have that.
“We spoke about not being in the same position as last season and got new players in. I never say it coming to be honest – I never saw it coming from a side of mine.’’
Bristol Rovers, managed by former Pools midfielder Darrell Clarke – who was given a generous reception both before and after by the Victoria Park faithful – were winless in five. But last night they were rampant.
In spells it was reminiscent of the game five weeks earlier when Bournemouth visited Victoria Park, controlled the game from start to finish and eased to victory.
Bournemouth, however, are a Premier League side. Rovers were in the Conference last season.
Moore, whose side meet Luton on Saturday, has promised changes – not only to his team but the squad. He is actively seeking some new signings for the weekend. 
“We keep trying to get signings in, if not Saturday, then after that,’’ he said. “We know right now one or two are having a bad time without ready-made replacements for them.
“They should be ashamed of themselves playing like that as professional footballers. The supporters here deserve better. We want a decent season, moving in the right direction and if those who are playing don’t want to them we will go and get others in.
“It was shambolic – I picked the team and not one of them have done the job asked of them.’’
Rovers travelled to the North-East yesterday morning, the five-hour trip didn’t affect them. They should have been ahead on five minutes, Billy Bodin tricked his way into the area and fired wide. 
Depsite Saturday’s win, nerves were evident throughout the Pools side from the off. 
Keeper Adam Bartlett, normally a safe pair of hands, dropped a free-kick, and was lucky a defender put it away for a corner intead of a Rovers playing tapping in.
Brad Walker hopes for a run in the side, but all he contributed on his recall was Pools’ first shot on 27 minutes, a free-kick drawing the only save from keeper Lee Nicholls. 
Matthew Bates made a vital tackle in the area when it looked like Matty Taylor was about to score, but the ball wasn’t cleared with any authority. 
When it was instantly returned Taylor netted at the third attempt from six yards. 
Jake Carroll blocked an quick second, before Lee Mansell planted a free-header wide from six yards. 
At half-time Pools sole comfort was that they were only trailing by one – and surely it couldn’t get much worse. It could and it did.
To be fair they did respond positively and, if Scott Fenwick had scored instead of heading wide from six yards when Rhys Oates crossed, they would have been level. 
But two minutes later Pools trailed by two. Rovers choice of keeping two players up front at all times to catch Pools on the break was rewarded. 
A long pass from defence sailed over the head of embarrassed defender Andrew Boyce and Bodin was in behind the static centre-half to finish.
If that was bad, the third goal was even worse.
Kudos Oyenuga, on as a substitute, had the ball at his feet in the penalty area. He could have cleared it, he could have dribbled away, he could have done anything with it apart from play a pitiful backpass to Bartlett. 
He merely rolled the ball into the path of Jermaine Easter, formerly of Pools, to latch onto and score. 
“We’ve conceded three goals and they’ve not had to work hard for them,’’ concluded Moore.
“At one-down we missed a header and we want it to go in – supporters come to see us win and push on, instead we have been dragged into a mess again.  We have to make sure we don’t get into the mess of last season again and if we have to change players again we will.’’