ON THEIR last two cup visits to Vale Park, Hartlepool United have conceded six goals.

On Sunday they were thankful they didn’t top that mark.

They were thumped 4-0 by Port Vale, offering only an embarrassing performance as they were humbled, second best from start to finish, from front to back.

Manager Craig Hignett, sent to the stands in the first half by the referee, emerged from an hour-long inquest to slate his players’ performance: “Spineless, embarrassing, men against boys, take your pick.’’

He could have said a lot more – and probably did in the confines of the dressing room.

Pools’ season, once of promise and life, is slowly unravelling.

They won at Grimsby at the start of October and all was well. Since then, however, there’s only been three wins (one against the part-timers of Stamford) in 12 games.

Yesterday they shipped – once again – two goals in a minute. They also offered absolutely nothing going forward, were outbattled and outplayed in midfield, while being ripped open at the back time and time again.

In 1994 in this competition they were thumped 6-0, in 2014 in the League Cup they again conceded six, but at least managed two themselves. They were fortunate not to concede more than six.

Make no mistake, this was as poor as it gets.

Hignett said: “There was a lack of fire in us, they wanted it more which is the disappointing thing. They did what they wanted.

“We did nothing and made it easy for them, they don’t get put under ant pressure and we job about and masqueraded as footballers today – it’s not acceptable.

“Watching it was a joke and I’m upset to say the least.

“It has to come from them, I’ve had my say and see how they react. It’s up to them. They have to learn and learn quick and it’s no good just doing it in training.

“I’ve stuck with the players and maybe it’s a blind belief. I can’t have training ground players, I need matchday players and at the minute I don’t know what I’m going to get.’’

And there lies the problem: Do you get the Pools who play neat, incisive football and rip teams apart, or the dire and unorganised rabble of yesterday?

Hignett played Toto Nsiala at right-back and the decision didn’t work. He may have played there on plenty of occasions for Grimsby, but it certainly didn’t look that way.

Vale had dangerous players out wide, and both Nsiala and Jake Carroll on the opposite flank couldn’t cope.

Nsiala was caught drifting into the middle of the pitch rather than holding his position.

The Valiants crossed from where he should have been and Rigino Cicilia met the ball ahead of Matthew Bates, who went to ground too easily six yards out and the striker turned to fire in.

That unhappy habit Pools have of shipping a soft second soon after conceding came to the fore.

Again Nsiala gifted the home side space wide, Sam Kelly crossed and, at the far post, Carroll got a touch to turn the ball into his own net.

And in response, all they did was swing over a Nicky Deverdics corner which was headed away inside the six yard box.

The third goal was as simple and routine as the other two.

Rob Jones lost the ball on halfway and was then guilty of ball watching, standing static as it was played around him after he drifted wide.

Jones got in before Carroll, brushing him aside to finish low.

Vale were organised and strong, giving nothing away at the back with a fully-committed display. The same could not be said about Pools.

Michael Woods was fouled and then stamped on by left-back Kiko. Right in front of both the referee and an assistant, the incident went unpunished.

Hignett wasn’t impressed and asked the assistant how he missed it. Not happy, Bob Roberts called the referee over and Hignett was banished from the dug out.

“Woodsy was stamped on, a nasty one,’’ said Hignett. “It was 100 per clear and how the linesman can’t see it … he said he wasn’t looking at it - there’s an incident so look at it.

“I exchanged words with him and then the player. The linesman said it (swearing) was to him when it was directed at the player.

“How he says I can say it to him in a threatening manner when I wasn’t even looking at him or him at me….’’

Hignett may not have sworn at the officials, but he has already served one touchline ban this season and referees and assistants have him down as a marked man.

The fourth came from the spot, Jones making a slow and turgid tackle in the area to concede a penalty.

The centre-half was soon stretchered off, amid fears of a serious knee injury, going down in the area after being exposed defensively by a wayward and woeful Nsiala pass.