HARTLEPOOL manager Craig Hignett made it abundantly clear what he thought of his players’ performances as they slipped to a limp 2-0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.

After wins over Cheltenham Town and Accrington Stanley, either side of a last-gasp defeat to title-chasing Doncaster, Hignett would have travelled to Buckinghamshire with confidence on the rise.

But there were few positives to shout about on the trip back up as goals in each half from Scott Kashket saw the play-off chasing Chairboys pick up an untroubled three points.

Padraig Amond and Michael Woods did have chances but the hosts were never made to sweat for their lead – something which left Hignett plenty frustrated.

“I thought it was too easy for them if I’m being honest,” he said. “Wycombe didn’t do anything we didn’t think they’d do as they’re direct, they get bodies in and around, they work hard and they put us under pressure.

“We didn’t cope with it at all and we were poor with the ball and didn’t move it quick enough.

“We weren’t positive all afternoon and looked a bit leggy, I know we’ve played a few games lately but that’s no excuse.

“It was disappointing and the lads are disappointed in there because we came here to put a show on and give them a game, but we didn’t and we just coasted along.”

Hignett had opted for an unchanged starting eleven following the midweek win over Accrington, continuing with three at the back.

And it was the visitors who almost opened the scoring after only 47 seconds but Lewis Alessandra couldn’t apply the finishing touch following a cross from James Martin.

Martin was then involved six minutes later as he lost the ball in his area but his blushes were spared when Kashket could only hit the side netting.

Pools captain Nicky Featherstone tried an audacious 35-yard free-kick with Jamal Blackman backtracking to stop the ball from creeping under his crossbar.

And Alessandra was to go close again on 20 minutes as his 18-yard effort forced Blackman into a sharp reflex save.

The hosts got the breakthrough on 23 minutes though with Kashket collecting Luke O’Nien’s pass in the area before unleashing a low effort beyond Trevor Carson.

Amond wasted a glorious chance to restore parity ten minutes before the break only to head wide from Martin’s cross while Kashket almost doubled his tally with a low effort.

Hartlepool were quick to threaten after the break as they went in search of an equaliser with Alessandra’s low drive wide of Blackman’s far post.

Wycombe hit back immediately though with striker Paul Hayes seeing his dipping 20-yard volley go over the crossbar, before Matt Bloomfield’s low drive was blocked by Matthew Bates.

Adebayo Akinfenwa would then go close as he got on the end of Joe Jacobson’s free-kick but he headed over.

Hignett introduced Billy Paynter on 67 minutes and the change almost had the desired effect as he met Scott Harrison’s cross but there was no support in the area.

The Chairboys nearly put the game out of sight with 15 minutes left as Akinfenwa’s low effort hit the post with Carson scrambling across his line.

Chances were few for Hartlepool and substitute Woods wasted a golden opportunity as he burst into the area before screwing his effort wide.

Wycombe then sealed the points ten minutes from time as Kashket finished low past Carson and the goal stood despite Hartlepool defenders appealing for offside.

The result sees Hartlepool sit 18th in the table with an FA Cup second round clash with Port Vale to come next Sunday.

And Hignett was in no doubt as to where improvements needed to be made.

“We let things happen and we were too passive in what we do,” he added. “They closed us down and got their foot in to win the ball, and we closed them down and jog along with them and don’t put a tackle in. We can be too nice at times.

“There were times when if our passing was better we were in. I’ve seen it every day in training and when you get to a game it is so frustrating.

“We had two or three really good chances and we’ve over hit some passes when players have a had a chance to be played in. On the whole the quality was disappointing.

“We’ve given them two sloppy goals away – I think the second one was offside. The first one, especially with three at the back, shouldn’t happen.”

Goals: Kashket (23, 1-0), (80, 2-0)

Bookings: Harrison (90, foul)

Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire) 6

Attendance: 3,288

Entertainment: 3/5

WYCOMBE (4-3-3): Blackman 7, Harriman 6, Stewart 6, Pierre 6, Jacobson 7, Bloomfield 7 (Bean 81, 5), Gape 6, O’Nien 6, Kashket 8, Hayes 6 (Wood 72, 5), Akinfenwa 7 (Thompson 81 5).

Subs (not used): Richardson, Jombati, De Havilland, Freeman.

Goals: Kashket 23, 80

HARTLEPOOL: (3-5-2): Carson 6, Harrison 6, Bates 6, Nsiala 6, Hawkins 6 (Woods 63, 5), Featherstone 6, Laurent 7, Deverdics 5 (Paynter 67, 6), Martin 7, Amond 6, Alessandra 7 (Oates 85 5).

Subs not used: Bartlett, Carroll, Jones, Richards.

MAN OF THE MATCH

SCOTT Kashket– Took both his goals well but was also a lively presence, keeping the Hartlepool defence on their toes throughout