THE same words had been echoed by previous Hartlepool United managers after similar thumpings.

As Craig Hignett spat out his words during his post-match assessment, it could just have easily been Neale Cooper, Mick Wadsworth or John Hughes sitting there.

He even repeated the same thought Ronnie Moore had about an alternative career for some: “I’ve said to them, if that’s what we get they may as well go and stack shelves as Asda because performances like that I win I won’t tolerate.’’

Ending the season wasn’t meant to be like this, backed by the astonishing sight of 521 away supporters who made the near 800-mile round trip dressed as Stormtroopers

The Force Awakens? More like The Force Slumbers.

Pools, safe from any danger weeks ago, have ended the season with four straight defeats. They started it with four successive wins.

In between they proved indifferent. From the woeful slump in performances which cost Moore his job, to the fluent style they adopted under Hignett it’s been a campaign of extremes.

This however, was from a galaxy far, far away.

The Pilgrims made seven changes to their side with a play-off against Portsmouth to come. Players with some enthusiasm and freshness came in, they were up against a team who didn't appear to be bothered.

Holiday mode? “I learned my players have been on holiday and they have for the last few weeks - we started well, conceded and then downed tools and a manager should never have to say that,’’ Hignett seethed. “I didn’t want an end of season jog about and that’s what it was.’’

Pools adopted a new set-up for this one, and Hignett was quite excited about it.

Box midfield was the key phrase, as he tried a different way to keeping possession across the pitch. Unfortunately, playing a tight midfield – Luke James and Michael Woods in front of Nicky Featherstone and Lewis Hawkins – relies on the full-backs to offer width.

Carl Magnay and Dan Jones didn’t manage the job asked of them. When they pressed they left holes behind for the Pilgrims to exploid. When they sat deep, Pools were too narrow.

Two key players for Pools were rather negated by the system. Nathan Thomas was too central, rarely drifting wide where he has caused problems galore of late, while Nicky Featherstone has been imperious in front of the back four in a deep-lying position, but this time he was in a role sitting wide left at the foot of the box.

The second goal came from Pools pushing up, Magnay joined the attack wide, but Pools were picked off after losing possession. A counter-attack left too many gaps and the ball was turned in from close range.

They were already one-down, a low shot from 25 yards bouncing it’s way into the far corner.

Two-down after 24 minutes, and that was that.

Hignett said: “I wanted to do something different and in the first-half, the opposition were arguing amongst themselves at times – wondering who was picking up who and where they all should be doing and we didn’t capitalise on it.

“We had a system to stick to but, but we were trying to do things we never do in training – long crossfield balls. At times it was difficult to watch.’’

Maybe such systems are fine for the more technically adept Premier League and Championship, but not for League Two footballers.

Pools had a couple of half-chances to get one back, but service into the forwards was poor, defending was weak and, while they had their share of possession, they didn’t go much with it.

At the back, the loss of Matthew Bates to injury was vital and how they missed his ability to read the game and keep a cool head under pressure.

The one Pools player to emerge with any sort of credit was Jake Gray. He came on at half-time and looked bright and lively in his final game after a thoroughly positive loan from Crystal Palace.

Hignett announced his retained list last week. It could now change and he added: “We missed key defenders, plugging holes all over and it’s about attitude, ambition and commitment – see that regardless of what is happening.

“We caused problems, we have players who look good in training but in a game you don’t see it.

“It’s changed my plans for the summer – I felt we needed three or four, now it’s seven or eight and it’s up to me to sort out.

“Do the players match my ambition? I hope so because if not they are at the wrong club.’’