SIMON WALTON played 44 times for Hartlepool United at Victoria Park; his positive influence on those games was negligible.

In two games since leaving and turning out for opposition sides, his imprint has been far greater than what he managed in a blue and white shirt.

Last season he held Stevenage together, dominating the midfield as his side won. On Saturday he netted a penalty to give Crawley the advantage as Pools had Scott Harrison sent off.

Penalty aside, apart from his usual pointing and gesticulating, the command of the man in the mould of Jan Molby wasn’t up to that much, but no-one should be surprised he had the last laugh.

Pools were poor and Walton and Jimmy Jones didn’t have to be on top of their games to win the midfield battle.

Ronnie Moore stuck with the same starting XI for the third game in a row. After such an insipid performance, the Pools boss admitted: “It was powder puff – I put that team out. We played two games in a week and we aren’t gifted in a squad to make seven changes. We stand by one or two players and I found out answers about certain people.

“Not one of them can say I’ve not been loyal – I’ve been too loyal to some of them.

“I won’t fall into that trap again. I could have took anyone off at half-time, Oastesy excepted who showed effort.’’

Tellingly, he pointed out one of his midfielders, who has started three games in a week and not made the most of rare chances: "People tell me about Brad Walker and how good he is and what he has given.

"He is a young kid and still learning the game. I think one or two of the crowd have had a pop, he has to be bigger and accept it.

"I thought I was doing him a favour in taking him off. If he had stayed on he would have got worse because of it.’’

But it wasn’t just Walker - it’s hard to comprehend how Pools could play so poor in the opening half. If the visitors were up to much, they could have ran riot like Bristol Rovers did the other week.

Trevor Carson made two good first-half stops, and Shamir Fenelon somehow rolled a low finish across goal.

Their first 45 minutes defied belief – three points would have made it seven from nine in a week, a period to ease their situation and lift them into mid-table.

"Strong words were said at half-time but the players knew,’’ added Moore. “They weren't said in a screaming or shouting way.

"But the players knew they had been a disgrace in the way they had performed and they were very lucky to get away with it first-half, they knew that.

"Trevor has made too many saves for the home keeper.’’

Two changes at the break, and Pools were marginally improved. Then came the key moment as Scott Harrison was sent-off.

Worryingly, he was beaten again to a routine ball played in and over him. Rhys Murphy was denied by Carson, and the follow up was drilled at goal by Gwion Edwards.

Harrison, covering on the line, could not get out of the way of the shot and he turned away from it when the ball struck him high on the arm. Intent? Hardly.

Referee Mark Haywood couldn’t get his red card out quick enough and Walton sent Carson the wrong way.

“I don’t understand how he can give it – Scotty turns his back and it hits the top of his shoulder, but we shouldn’t be put in that position,’’ reflected Moore. “We work hard with the back four and get caught sloppily, not knowing they were in on us.

“The referee was very quick to give it and having seen it, it’s debateable if it was a penalty. Very harsh and it’s changed the game.’’

It’s a concern for Moore that Harrison can be caught on the turn so easily and so often. The whole incident – red card or not – stemmed from his defensive failings.

Pools switched by putting Nicky Featherstone to right-back and Luke Hendrie in the middle, with Billy Paynter dropping deeper and Pools relying on Rakish Bingham’s pace up top alone.

When Murphy tapped in a second goal, there was a big exit from Victoria Park. Supporters have seen it all before, too often for anyone’s liking.

But Paynter lost marker Walton, headed in firmly from a Jason Banton corner and, with ten minutes to go, they had half a chance.

Bingham harassed the defence into mistakes and was tackled by keeper Daryl Flahavan in the area.

Magnus Okuonghae headed wide in injury time when he really should have scored.