TWO home games, two points. It could easily have been six for Hartlepool United.

Pegged back by Sutton on Saturday, they suffered the same fate last night against Tranmere; oh for a second goal to finish the opposition off.

Four points dropped? It sure is, but it’s only one defeat in 11 for Pools now.

However, they remain entrenched in mid-table – sitting 14th looking at the play-offs from outside when they should be right in the mix.

“I think you have to look at it, over the 60-65 minutes, it’s two dropped. It’s as good as we played for a long time, lots of pressure, corners, their keeper makes saves,’’ reflected boss Craig Harrison.

“But once they scored we took our foot off the pedal a bit. You automatically drop off and until they scored there was only one team in it.

“The chances we created we should be two or three up.’’

Only 25 seconds had gone when Steve McNulty – another big unit of a National League centre-half – was yellow carded for a body check on Devante Rodney

Woods lost possession, trying to pass to Deverdics, and Dylan Mottley-Henry led a three on one attack. Thankfully for Pools, keeper Scott Loach – as ever – was sharp enough to block.

Pools instantly responded.

Rhys Oates had a shot well saved by Scott Davies, and when Deverdics was teed up on the edge of the box for a left-footed shot, he screwed it well wide. A better finish was expected by all.

But the chances sparked a quiet game into life, Pools starting to get on the front foot.

Visiting keeper Davies did well to push over a testing, in-swinging Deverdics corner, and from the second he then kept out a shot from Jonathan Franks.

Deverdics had the wind knocked out of his sails when McNulty collided into him as he blocked a cross.

A sweeping move, as Pools kept possession switching the ball from left to right – despite some joker booing as they moved it around – saw Lewis Hawkins miss the chance to turn the ball home as he missed his kick.

Rovers, who went into the game with 12 goals scored and 12 conceded in the National League this season, were very organised defensively.

They allowed Pools possession in front of their back eight, and behind them Davies was on fine form.

Deverdics picked his spot from 20 yards, and curled an effort towards the top corner. The keeper dived high to his right to push it out.

Seconds later, he made an even better stop.

Carl Magnay’s right-sided cross was met firmly by Rhys Oates, who was a certain scorer from eight yards. But Davies reacted brilliantly to keep it out one-handed.

Pools started the second-half brightly. Davies could do nothing to stop them taking the lead.

A free-kick was awarded 30 yards out for a shirt pull on Oates. Deverdics stepped up. He drilled an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net, the side the keeper was supposedly covering.

When Pools and Rovers battled it out as two of the best sides in League One in 2005, Pools had free-kick expert Hugh Robertson in their ranks. Deverdics is proving every bit as good as the Scot when it comes to dead balls.

“Nicky’s scored a fantastic goal,’’ added Harrison. “I see it in training and see his quality. I didn’t think he was going to shoot, was going to cross it, but it’s as sweet as you like. Smashed into the top corner.

“His set-plays again were very good. What a goal and it should have been good enough to win the game.’’

“We pushed him further forward the last 15 minutes to get him in and around their area and ask questions. But we lost momentum there and we looked a bit tired because of the effort we put in.’’

The lead didn’t last long, Rovers level from a set-piece of their own, substitute Jay McEveley thumping a near post header in from a left-sided corner.

Deverdics was pushed forward for the last 15 minutes, after Blair Adams replaced Woods.

Another superb dead ball caused carnage in the visiting area, keeper Davies fumbled, recovered and pushed the ball into the bar before it was put wide.

But Pools seemed to be more disjointed as the game closed out after they made three substitutions.

Rovers went close to winning it on 87 minutes, as a deflection knocked the ball out of the way of the lunging James Norwood.

They went even closer in injury time, as Ollie Norburn found space on the right in the area and blazed over the bar from an angle.