Murray shines as Pools run is extended (From The Northern Echo)

Murray shines as Pools run is extended

8:00am Monday 13th February 2012 in Hartlepool United Match Reports By Nick Loughlin

PAUL MURRAY'S verdict on Hartlepool United's display was as crisp and concise as his own performance.

The draw with Bournemouth at Victoria Park wasn't exactly inspiring, but it keeps Pools unbeaten in five and, on the back of a woeful run of home form from mid-September to early January, it was another step forward.

"It was disappointing but you can build from a clean sheet,'' he said. "That puts us unbeaten in five now, and a month or two ago we would have lost that.''

And they would have done as well. Pools were beaten at home by far worse sides than the Cherries during their nine-game losing streak. But the confidence and belief instilled in the squad by Neale Cooper is there to see.

Cooper doesn't dwell on the negatives, he praises the positive aspects of the game.

And, while Pools rarely looked like winning this one, they equally didn't look like losing it.

That was down in no small part to Murray's man of the match outing.

He admits he struggled to meet his standards in the early part of the season, but showed on Saturday there's plenty of life in the old dog yet.

The 35-year-old said last season that this campaign could be his last. More displays like this one and he will still be an integral part of Pools' next campaign.

His role was key on Saturday, breaking up the visitors' play, shielding Pools' back four and prompting his side with simple passing.

A favourite of Mick Wadsworth - the former boss has signed Murray five times over the years - he was left out for Cooper's first game in charge, as Pools lost to Scunthorpe.

Since then, he's more than proved his value and Cooper, once a similar style of player himself, knows his worth.

"The gaffer has come in and we're a bit more resolute now,'' said Murray. "On the pitch I'm feeling confident we'll keep a clean sheet.

"I was disappointed I did not get more of the ball but you've got to do the dogged stuff, and that's what I've been doing of late.

"I enjoyed it and I still enjoy it, all the running about. I've got to take some credit myself for the clean sheets because I'm part of that back six.''

He added: "I've always got on well with most managers - people will talk about Mick and the six clubs we were at, but he liked what I did.

"I've won the gaffer over here because his first game against Scunthorpe I wasn't involved. Whether that was a sign of things to come I'm not sure, but I got my opportunity again and took it.

"The gaffer pats the lads on the back all the time and he deserves that pat on the back as well.

"I said to him the other day that we're looking more confident in training, we're looking more relaxed and we're obviously playing for him.

"It was difficult coming in with the circumstances Mick left in and it's some shoes to fill. But he's come in and done well.

"Who knows what can happen before the end of the season if we pick up another couple of good results?''

Pools are tenth in League One, not a bad position at all given how many soft points have been dropped at home. They are at Preston tomorrow night and Murray is confident of being involved. His ability to play back-to-back games in swift succession has been a concern.

He expects to play at Deepdale and wants to carry on in the same manner under Cooper, who quipped: "I get some honesty from them. Can Paul Murray play again on Tuesday? We will find out. Ask me after half an hour on the night and I'll know then!''

Murray and Co appreciate the light-hearted side of the new boss.

"He's a relaxed guy and he's got a good bit of banter,'' said Murray. "I said to Neale how well he has done.

"You have seen a lot of players have picked up their game.

"Whether they weren't doing it for the old manager or not I don't know? But whatever way he has done it people are playing better, even myself.

"Hopefully it's all looking up.

"You can't be all doom and gloom all the time and you've got to have that chilled-out time. You can't take things to heart as much at times and that's what it's like with Neale.''

Cooper's style is at the opposite end of the man management spectrum to Wadsworth and Pools are a happier unit for it.

Determined to the end, Pools made the Cherries' £800,000 front man Matt Tubbs very quiet. His strike partner Wes Thomas had their best chance, but shot over from ten yards.

Antony Sweeney and Peter Hartley had openings for Pools, but didn't take them and the unspectacular draw keeps Pools ticking over nicely - a bit like Murray.

Bookings: Brown (18, foul), Austin (51, foul), James (64, foul), Liddle (87, foul)

Referee: Craig Pawson (Sheffield): Four bookings, but few grumbles with his performance 7

Attendance: 4,548

Entertainment: 1/5

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

7 Flinders: Very competent and assured in his area for another clean sheet, Pools fourth in five

7 Austin: After a dip in form, the right back is back to his determined and solid best

5 Collins: Firm defensively, but a couple of slack passes caused a scare for Pools

6 Hartley: Never let up, a consistent 90-minute performance and had a

chance to win it at the end

6 Horwood: Solid, wasn't troubled out wide and is enjoying his football under

Cooper;

5 Liddle: Very positive start, but faded even if his commitment and application never wavered

8 MURRAY: Kept Pools ticking over, broke up Bournemouth's play and showed there's plenty of mileage left in him yet

5 Sweeney: Late chance was put over the bar and didn't have the impact on the front foot he has had lately;

7 Brown: Powerful and tricky in possession, showed he is over his fitness concerns and back on form

5 James: A quiet performance this time, well shackled by the centre-halves. Can't be expected to win games like he

has been doing every week

5 Monkhouse: Popped up all over the pitch seeking possession and was efficient

without being spectacular and

standing out

Subs:

Nish (for James 70): Didn't have much impact, like the rest of his team-mates on the attacking front 5

(not used): Rafferty (gk), Humphreys, Haslam, Baldwin.

BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-2): Flahavan 6; Francis 6, Zubar 7, Cook 7, Daniels 5; Malone 6 (McDermott 62, 6), Gregory 6, MacDonald 6 (Arter 62, 5), Pugh 7; Tubbs 4, W Thomas 5 (Fletcher 83). Subs (not used): Thomas, Purches.

MAN OF THE MATCH

PAUL Murray - proved his worth once again with a typically tenacious midfield battling performance