Pools enjoy comfort of life in League One

FOUR games in and Hartlepool United have nine points to their credit while sitting in the top three of League One.

The league table counts for very little right now, but third isn't a bad place to be especially when the team is, according to boss Danny Wilson, playing well within themselves.

In the embryonic stages of the season there's still more to come from every team in the land, but Pools have enjoyed a very encouraging start to the campaign on the back of last season's promotion.

Just like last time they started life in a higher division they have taken to it well. Perhaps the surprise factor which accompanied them into this division in 2003 isn't there this time around. The neat football and good team play, however, certainly is.

Pools brushed aside Oldham - play-off semi finalists last season and expected to be up there again this time around - with some ease and with at least a couple of extra gears to move into.

It was the same against Port Vale the previous week. Pools won while keeping plenty back in the locker for as and when they needed it.

If there was any disappointment at finishing last season in second place, there has been no signs of it.

And while Pools impress, the team who finished top of the pile last season, Walsall, havestruggled, a single point to their name.

"I think we were always in control and it was a bit of a blow to go behind, with a rare mistake,'' admitted Wilson. "But overall we were very much in charge and I always felt there was a second gear for us. And again, like I said last week, I think it's a great thing to have in the locker.

"We scored four great goals and it's fantastic to keep the run going. They are not a bad team by the way, people may look at the result and think otherwise, but maybe all they are lacking is a bit of confidence.'' And responding to a suggestion Pools have been largely untroubled during the opening games, he responded: "I don't think it's been comfortable this season, you might think so but I don't. It's a tough league and we have had a decent start.

"You have to be tough and you have to be durable. You need those characteristics and we have them. You need the results and the right outcome to really endorse what you are trying to tell the lads before the game and in the build up.

"Now they have the results so far they can start to think they have a chance to get a good run going. We are in a good position, but it's only four games, crikey.

They have been four good games, we know that much and we have done OK, nothing more.'' When they start doing more than OK, they should be a decent proposition.

Godwin Antwi's trait of allowing the ball to drop before making his move proved costly as Oldham took the lead.

He misjudged a long ball and Craig Hughes got in behind the back four and tapped past Jan Budtz. But Pools weren't behind for long, as Ian Moore's second goal in as many games put them level.

Andy Monkhouse's delivery from the right was begging to be turned in and Moore's dart to the front post saw him get there first to clip into the net.

James Brown made it two, latching onto Antony Sweeney's delicate pass over the top and holding off his marker to push the ball beyond Mark Crossley.

The former Middlesbrough keeper has a reputation for saving penalties, but he couldn't stop Richard Barker netting his third spot kick of the season.

It was warded when Sean Gregan's considerable frame bundled over Monkhouse - and Barker sent Crossley the wrong way.

The second half was controlled by Pools as they played keep ball while stretching their opponents right across the park.

At 3-1 up at home, most managers would be keen to shut up shop and see the game out. Not Wilson.

Changes were made and Pools ended with a four-man front line of Moore, Barker, Joel Porter and David Foley.

The latter's shot was blocked by Crossley and Porter waited for Crossley to commit himself before lifting his shot into the net.

Oldham were out of sorts, but Wilson is expecting better things of the team managed by his former Sheffield Wednesday teammate, John Sheridan.

"They will be a tough side to play against,'' said the Pools boss.

"It looks emphatic, but that's credit to our lads for creating chances or making them make mistakes.

"If we can win games and put a show on, then great, but we got four goals and won the game which is the most important thing.

"We scored four good goals all from different strikers. It's always nice to get goals like that and even more so to spread them out a bit.

"We are third in the table, but it means nothing at this stage.

All you want to do is keep the run going and keep the confidence levels up.

"Look at Walsall last year, they went the distance and they were off to a great start and you don't want to be scrapping and scraping about. That confidence was kept by them and we want to emulate that.

"Confidence is the same at whatever level, it comes with wins and we are playing against some difficult teams right now.''

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Budtz, McCunnie, Nelson, Antwi, Elliott, Brown, Liddle, Sweeney, Monkhouse, Barker, Moore. Subs: Clark, Humphreys, Porter, Foley, Lee-Barrett.

OLDHAM: Crossley, Eardley, Thompson, Gregan, Bertrand, Liddell, Kalala, McDonald, Taylor, Davies, Hughes. Subs: Pogliacomi, Pearson, Allott, Trotman, Lomax.

Referee: Rob Shoebridge (Derby)

Watch the match highlights from Monday, September 3