JIM PROVETT has suffered the same fate on his two appearances since he was recalled to the Hartlepool United side.

After four months on the sidelines, the Pool keeper has been beaten by a single goal against both Hull and Tranmere - each strike coming after last season's player of the year made a block.

He said: "We can't buy a win at the minute and that's what happens at times.

"I made the save and then the ball drops to the lad's feet.

"All the luck and good fortune isn't going our way at the moment.

"I was pleased with the save, but it doesn't mean a lot because he put the chance away.

"What can we do to get out of it? It's never happened to me before since I came to the club - last season we only lost back-to-back games once and now we have lost four in a row.

"I think the performance was good and it was the same at Hull last week.

"We have worked hard in both games, maybe we didn't work as hard in the other two games against Stockport and Wrexham.

"But we have proved at Hull and against Tranmere that sometimes you can work as hard as you can, but if things don't go in your favour it counts for nothing.''

Victorious Tranmere boss Brian Little couldn't have been happier at taking three points off one of their play-off rivals.

Little said: "I think the result was the most important thing for me.

"I'm not sure what sort of a game it was, we defended well.

"But I'm so pleased to win - we had to work very hard for it.

"I had to make three changes and it worked out for us. Everything has gone OK for us -at 1-0, most people would expect Hartlepool to score.

"We had a couple of lads off the pace and we couldn't match them at times - but we upped it a bit. We have worked hard and they might feel a little unlucky - I accept that.''

* Cooper is hoping to have Hugh Robertson, Mark Tinkler and Chris Westwood back for Saturday's trip to Bradford.

The three - along with on trial former Newcastle defender Steve Howey - will play in a full-scale practice match tomorrow.

* Tickets for the trip to Blackpool on Easter Monday are on sale to season ticket holders from this morning.

Read more about Hartlepool here.