TWELVE months ago yesterday Colin Cooper walked away from Hartlepool United. A lot has changed since then, a lot has stayed the same.

Pools lost by three goals to Carlisle to see off their former manager. They lost by three goals on Saturday too.

One of Cooper’s main beliefs was that League Two football is all about what happens in both penalty areas, teams must be effective in both key defensive and attacking areas.

In defeat to Luton at Victoria Park, Pools’ second hefty home reverse of the week, it was all about exactly that.

Pools were too soft in both boxes – weak at the back, while profligacy ruled in front of goal.

Luton, big spending and backed by Ronnie Moore to win the league, showed how it should be done – at least going forward even if they were a bit open at the back themselves.

They had seven chances on goal to Pools 17. They scored four times, Pools once. If Rakish Bingham had some composure in front of goal it’s no exaggeration to say that Sergio Aguero would not be the only player in English football to score five times on Saturday.

Bingham has one goal to his name this season, on the opening day. He should by now easily be in double figures.

Time and time again his intelligent movement and bright pace gets him in good positions. Time and time again his finishing lets him down.

Earlier in the season he was snatching at chances, then taking an extra touch which affected his radar, this time he was shooting early, but unable to beat Mark Tyler.

The Hatters’ keeper was his nemesis, but Bingham’s habit of putting his shots too close to the goalkeeper did make it more straight forward than it should have been.

Bingham doesn’t aim for the corners, he tends to try and go through or under the keeper.

It’s to his credit he keeps going back for more, never shying away from the game like lesser footballers would.

"I have played up top and know what it is like,’’ reflected Moore. "I had two and a half years at Cardiff and scored six goals in 56 games.

"Then I moved to Rotherham and got 50-odd goals in two seasons doing nothing different - sooner or later it will happen, it is how long you wait.

"That is the thing, as a manager, you have to decide when it is right. If you do it too early we lose the player.

"We need the crowd to stay with him because his pace is a constant threat in this division and his finishing will come.

"His finishing in training on Friday was top drawer.

"It is frustrating for him, me as a manager, the players and the fans. We can't have that many chances and only score one goal.

"The way we are defending we have to score two goals to win it.’’

And so to the other end of the pitch.

Pools have conceded seven goals in two home games in a matter of days. Basic mistakes are happening and they need to be eradicated.

Scott Harrison hasn’t found his true form yet, he needs an experienced head alongside him to keep him focused.

With the game finely poised at 1-1, at half-time the talk inside and outside the dressing room was of Pools going onto win the game.

They then conceded twice in four minutes.

A long header from the Luton defence caught out Harrison, substitute Jack Marriott got in behind and he pushed a low finish under the advancing Adam Bartlett.

Then Bradley Halliday, a reliable loan signing to date, missed the ball when he should have dealt with it and a low cross was touched in by Marriott.

Moore added: "I know the game is 90 minutes but the first 45 minutes was so positive and bright, I was looking forward to the second half.

"We said all the right things and then one ball over the top shouldn’t end up in the back of our net.

"I can't keep making excuses.

"We have two on loan, you don’t really want four on loan who aren't your players playing at the back but how long do we wait for the centre backs to get it right?

"After every game I am looking at another position. A midfielder, a winger, a centre-half, a right-back.

"You have to be careful and this current squad have to roll their sleeves up and fight.

"If they stop the sloppiness, then you are off and running. If you don't stop that you will be in big trouble again."