FIVE visits to Stevenage, five different Hartlepool United managers, none have won; none have fared as badly at Craig Hignett.

Mick Wadsworth managed a 2-2 draw in 2011 and since then John Hughes, Colin Cooper and Ronnie Moore have all tried and failed.

Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Sam Allardcye or Jurgen Klopp couldn’t have helped Pools on Saturday. Shambolic is being too kind.

Pools went through a phase of heavy defeats around five years ago. Concede one, concede five. Those days were supposedly gone. Instead this was as bad as it gets.

Never mind the great escape of 2015, this was the great capitulation.

After taking the lead on four minutes, and passing the opposition to bits as they kept the ball for fun, they contrived to crumble and roll over in the weakest possible manner, both mentally and physically.

It was bewildering that they were actually trailing 2-1 at half-time such was their early dominance. By the end, the only thing perplexing minds was that how Pools only shipped six.

Every time Boro attacked in the second-half they looked like they could score. Defenders were all over the place, protection non-existent. Dealing with set-pieces was the stuff of nightmares.

Boro were basic in their outlook. Get the ball forward, turn the defenders, run the channels in between and behind. With willing runners and hard workers it was somewhat simple, but very effective.

Tyler Walker, on loan from Nottingham Forest, was always on the go. His dad may have scored once in his long career for Forest and England amongst others, but Walker junior certainly knows where the goal is.

With help and assistance from an unfamiliar Pools defensive unit it was an easy afternoon for him.

Goalkeeper Trevor Carson is away on international duty with Northern Ireland. Before leaving he quipped he would be happy for Pools to win 15-14. He was almost right on one front at least.

Adam Bartlett, to be fair, was left utterly exposed and made saves to prevent it being more than just the six.

Matthew Bates (shin) and Rob Jones (back) were both missing from central defence. How their leadership, experience and knowledge were missed. Liam Donnelly is away captaining the Northern Ireland Under-21s, although he’s hardly had chance to make any impression at Pools so far. Toto Nsiala was suspended after his red card the week before.

Scott Harrison’s last start ended in a 4-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers. Since then he’s been injured, released and resigned by Pools. He started well, looking confident and switched on.

From his lovely crossfield ball, Jordan Richards swung over from the right and Nathan Thomas bundled Pools ahead on three minutes and 45 seconds.

It was downhill all the way from there for everyone.

Carl Magnay, fit after a rib injury, started alongside Harrison. It wasn’t long before Curtis Fleming was telling his centre-halves to get closer together and work as a pair. They looked like two individuals with little understanding between them and so it proved.

Boro picked them off, picked off the gaps between them and the full-backs and attacked.

“Three goals come from straight balls over the top, that should never happen,’’ reflected a dejected Hignett.

“We had four centre-halves missing, but you have to get on with that. I’ve players chomping a the bit to play – it’s one thing chomping at the bit and another going out there and playing your way into a team.

“Some had a right chance today and failed miserably.

“I’ve had injuries with the back four but they will be OK for next week. Some players have played their way out of the team.

“Others have played their way in.’’

After taking the lead, Pools were in control. They moved the ball around well and positively, as Boro fruitlessly chased them.

Pools started with Hignett’s preferred 4-3-3 formation, and left Billy Paynter on the bench. His presence and ability to pin centre-halves down was missed.

There was no outlet ball, and Pools relied on the willing running of Padraig Amond without ever finding him.

Jake Carroll had already been caught out once in possession, before he was again napping, lost the ball and Boro attacked the space in behind him. A low ball into the area and it was 1-1.

But even before then Pools had a couple of defensive scares, but they appeared initially to be nothing but the sort of pressure teams have to deal with away from home.

For the second goal a corner went deep and Harrison’s skewed header was spectacularly turned in by Walker.

Even at 2-1 down, the game was still there for Pools. Find the football they played in the opening 15 minutes and they would have been fine.

Nathan Thomas raced through the middle, should have passed to Amond in space, but instead scuffed his shot wide.

That was the last chance Pools had before crumbling.

Another corner caused basic difficulties and the blue and white shirts stood and watched as Dean Wells netted from close range.

After three weak tackles were missed in the Boro half, the home side broke down the right, and picked out unmarked Tyler to sweep in.

Magnay conceded a penalty for the fifth, before another routine long ball was left for a simple sixth.

Hignett, who accepted players and management deserved the stick flung their way, added: “The manner of the goals and lack of effort was hard to take. The attitude of certain individuals, looking after themselves wasn’t right. It’s a team, we are a team and that’s the message.

“It always has been the case. Today, six or seven individuals were looking after themselves and that’s not acceptable.

“We scored and should have gone on, we didn’t. The first goal we conceded was criminal – poor judgement. It gave them something when we were comfortable in the game.

“First-half we were alright, scored and knocked the ball about. The first two goals were embarrassing. Second-half it was there for us, knock it about show a bit of enthusiasm and you will be alright.

“We did the opposite and you can’t defend like that. Three set-pieces, two balls over the top and a mistake. Put your foot through the ball as a defender, but decisions cost us.

“We have to draw a line through it, no other way. It’s no good me battering them for weeks on end because that won’t do us any good at all.

“We will change it next week, a full week training with no day off and see where we go.’’