AFTER four dropped points following leads chucked away against Blackpool and Peterborough of late, Neale Cooper accused his Hartlepool United side of lacking bottle for the promotion fight.

Tuesday's 2-0 half-time advantage over Peterborough was wiped out by two second half goals and Easter Monday's 2-1 lead at Blackpool ended in a draw.

Those four points keep Pool in the play-off zone, in sixth place. Realistically there are four teams pushing for three places and Cooper is demanding more in the final five games of the season, starting at Colchester on Saturday.

"I was really disappointed with the players and they knew it,'' he fumed. "I praised them to the hilt after beating Swindon, I praised them at half-time against Peterborough but warned them not to get complacent.

"Yet they wanted it more. To be a good side you need to have a bit of character about yourself.

"The crowd got nervous and agitated after the first goal, but you have to handle that.

"We were well in control, then they started winning balls and winning challenges and we have to deal with that.

"We have to be much physically and mentally stronger. I have never said the team is tired or feeling things after a long season - and I never will. We have a fit side who have never struggled with that side of the game.

"Players have to take responsibility at times. Even when Steven Istead came on in the second half, players were missing and he had no-one to pass the ball to.

"You need a bit of bottle in situations like that.''

Cooper could make changes for the game at Layer Road. Micky Barron, Gavin Strachan and Hugh Robertson all sat out yesterday's reserve draw with Wigan. Steve Howey and Eifion Williams both played the full game.

Pool fielded a young side and their goal came from Jon Daly, who headed home a Steven Turnbull cross from close range to cancel out Wigan's first-half opener. Williams missed a good chance in the closing stages, sending his shot against the keeper from close range.

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