Cooper made the most of a chance to bond (From The Northern Echo)

Cooper made the most of a chance to bond

8:00am Monday 16th January 2012 in Hartlepool United Match Reports By Nick Loughlin

NEALE Cooper got part of what he wanted from the weekend trip to Exeter, something to take home, if not everything.

Hartlepool United may not have won at St James Park, three points instead of one would naturally have suited more, but they kept a second successive clean sheet and showed signs of Cooper stamping his mark on the team.

The game won't live long in memory bank, but the point goes all towards the total and keeps the solid away form ticking over.

More importantly, for the bigger picture, it gave the boss a chance to get to know his players better - an opportunity to bond with them.

Cooper wanted to use the 16 hours on the team bus and overnight stop in the south west to see his players in and around other environments.

Since his return, Cooper has been with them at Victoria Park and on the training ground. This time the settings were a bit different.

"It's been a good trip for us,'' he said. "We went on a jog on Friday, and on Saturday morning a walk prior to lunch mid-morning, and it gave me the chance to talk to the boys one to one.

"It's a good bunch. We had chances, but they had one or two, end-to-end kind of stuff. It's been a good chance to see the boys in a different environment, when they are all together.

"Every day, I promise you, I enjoy it more and more. Every day I go in I get to know them better, the staff are so helpful and I want everyone in the club and team to do well.

"They are a good bunch of boys and I want a winning bunch.''

To add to the camaraderie, the three new teenagers - also making their first overnight stop with the squad - had to impress their elder team-mates.

"We have a right good laugh and had that on the way down here,'' said Cooper. "Friday night the new young boys had to sing their initiation song - Callum (Hassan) was the best, a rapper! Different class and he was looking straight down the camera, it was like a music video.

"Me? Some of the boys asked where mine was, but I think I sung before.

"It's all part of the process isn't it. The young boys have come in and done so well and got on with the game.''

It wasn't the best game of the season by a long stretch. The first half was pretty much incident free, but Pools in the last couple of seasons have become adept at stifling games and keeping the opposition quiet.

And their record in the south west isn't bad at all. In their last five games down the M5, they have taken three wins and two draws.

They never looked like losing this one, equally so scarxcely appeared like winning it.

Antony Sweeney had their best chance, neat work from James Brown and Luke James pushing him into the penalty box only for keeper Artur Krysiak to charge off his line and smother instantly.

At the opposite end, Scott Flinders was hardly troubled, a late save from Troy Archibald-Henley header was straight at him. And the Pools' keeper again showed enough signs to indicate he is over his recent dip and getting back towards the keeper he was at the start of the season.

Defensively, Pools were sound. Offensively, they left Cooper seeking a bit more.

"It (a draw) makes it only 345 miles home now - a point has knocked about ten off! It wasn't the best display, but a fighting one,'' said Cooper ahead of his trek home.

"They are not a bad side, but I'm quite happy with the result if not with the overall performance.

"We could have been better in possession and could have done more with the ball. We worked a lot on possession in recent weeks and didn't take it on.

"One or two of them didn't have their best games, but it happens. Young boys come in and start and then, I've done it myself as a player, you get bedded in the team - in and out - and get used to it.

"Luke has done so well in the last few weeks, but knows himself he could do better.

"He had another big lad up against him, but he could have held the ball up a bit better and he has been doing that.

"He has been excellent and I'm not coming in to be negative, but he has set his standard in recent weeks.''

MATCHFACTS

Bookings: None

Referee: Mark Haywood (Leeds): Kept cards in his pocket, but was let down by some weak assistants 6

Attendance: 4,016

Entertainment: 1/5

EXETER CITY (4-4-2): Krysiak 6, Tully 6, Archibald-Henville 6, Duffy 6, Golbourne 5; Sercombe 5 (Taylor 16, 5), NOBLE 7, Dunne 5, Nardiello 6; Bauza 5 (Coles 87), Logan 3 (O'Flynn 61, 6). Subs: (not used): Pidgley (gk), Bennett.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-5-1)

6 Flinders: Never touched the ball in the first-half, bit busier second period and kept a welcome second successive clean sheet;

6 Austin: Three times was left short when taking a pass from a team-mate in the second-half. A typically

determined away performance

7 Collins: Stood out in the second-half with some committed defending

when needed

6 Hartley: Simple and effective defending did the job once again and always made himself available for the ball

6 Horwood: Once again seemed more comfortable with his defensive duties as he switched on. Given the chance

to press ahead down the flank;

6 Sweeney: Started on the right, moved left and ended in a more central role. Made inroads forward and denied by

a good save

5 Liddle: Covered plenty of ground and won his share of second balls without being a stand-out performer

5 Baldwin: Tired a bit in possession in the second period and replaced as Pools

looked to tighten up later on

7 Murray: Solid in the middle of the park in a busy, energetic performance as he closed down and stopped Exeter

7 Brown: Moved on a step from his previous performances this season. Hopefully over his injury difficulties;

6 James: Tough role against a big centre-half. Never stopped running and chasing even if things didn't come off for him as much this time.

Subs:

Haslam (for Baldwin 69): Asked to sit in and keep Pools ticking over 6

Hassan (for Brown 79)

(not used): Rafferty (gk), Humphreys, Monkhouse.

MAN OF THE MATCH

PAUL Murray - shielded the back four all day in a typical performance