Hignett rues a lack of cutting edge as Pools lose at Oxford

With improved performances, results and fortunes came the opportunity to weigh up his options and learn a lot more than he already knew about the squad and the players at his disposal.

While vowing the season would not peter out after such an impressive stretch of form throughout March, Pools have been presented with four games at the end of the season against teams with promotion ambitions.

After Accrington last Tuesday, so came Oxford on Saturday. The outcome was the same on both occasions, two defeats.

But Hignett learned different things about his squad from the games.

On Tuesday it was clear some of the squad players he offered an opportunity to weren’t up to it.

On Saturday he felt all his team lacked was a bit of extra quality in the final third, the sort of player who can turn a tight game around in their favour.

Oxford stayed third thanks to the win, a point and a place behind Accrington. The scoreline, however, flattered Michael Appleton’s side.

A goal in the early stages, after a promising Pools start, and a second in injury time after the Us had spent as much time as they could keeping the ball in the corners to kill time off.

Pools spent the final stages of the game with four players up front, Hignett opting for a 4-2-4 set-up to put pressure on the home defence.

It worked, and they pressed forward and always looked capable of nabbing a leveller. That it didn’t arrive summed up Hignett’s thoughts.

The Pools boss did indeed cut a disappointed figure as he reflected on the game. Proud of how his side played, happy how they controlled possession and moved the ball around, he was concerned with the attacking output.

Nathan Thomas, wide left, has been majestic of late, causing problems galore away from home. But on Saturday he was a little subdued, crowded out when he had possession and given little support from his teammates.

Luke James toiled away in the manner everyone has become accustomed to, but with little support from deeper he was a bit isolated.

Jake Gray, wide right, seems happier attacking from deep in a midfield three rather than from a more advanced position. It’s his longest stretch of proper football this season for the loan signing from Crystal Palace and, like Aaron Tshibola last season, has showed signs of fatigue as the season has worn on.

“First-half we played some good football and had control without having a cutting edge. With that we would have been two or three up,’’ mused Hignett.

“I thought the front men worked for them and the problems they caused us, we didn’t do it to them.

“Did we miss Billy Paynter? We will always miss him as he’s something different to the rest and what we have.

“Our midfielders in the first half were great, they have a really good understanding together and, looking to next season, I’m really pleased with what I have got. We know where we need to add.

“Back four, midfield three – they will get us promoted in this league.

“The same back four, if I have the same next season I will be delighted – I might not have it, but it’s forward-thinking players who win you games and they cost the most money.’’

One of the strikers on the pitch, Oxford’s Danny Hylton scored the winner at Victoria Park last November. Pools had a bid accepted for him in January, but he wasn’t interested in moving to the North-East.

He worked the defenders well, without being the focal point Pools’ top scorer Billy Paynter is.

Matthew Bates, the centre-half, went closest to scoring for Pools. He connected with a Thomas’ free-kick at the near post, but flashed his header wide across goal and then had a close-range effort knocked off the line.

It was the closest Pools came to scoring.

Oxford were organised and looked like a team who had been together and at the top all season. In 12 months’ time Hignett, who has already put his stamp on the team, hopes to be in the same position.

“We played good football, we more than matched them first half especially. But we have to keep that going and we have been focusing a lot on what we are doing with the ball lately and maybe left alone the defensive side of the game,’’ added the manager.

“Maybe we’ve gone away from what got us the four clean sheets and what got us eight games without defeat – but I know that and I’m doing it for a reason.

“I don’t do things off the cuff, it’s all planned.

“I’m disappointed, really disappointed. We’ve come here, played like we did first half and anyone watching would wonder who was top and who was 16th? Then analyse it properly and the difference is down to the front men.’’