It's a case of what might have been for Hartlepool United this morning because last night they bowed out of the Carling Cup in both dramatic and controversial circumstances.

Neale Cooper's side were in command - and well in command at that against First Division West Brom until defender Chris Westwood was sent off on the hour mark.

They ultimately lost 2-1, but had bossed a thoroughly entertaining game up to the turning point, which came in the form of a red card brandished by referee Phil Prosser.

Pool were playing great football until Westwood's red card and deserved the advantage given to them by Paul Robinson's penalty.

Pool have never progressed beyond the second round of the League Cup since way back in 1974 and they won't have a better chance to do so than for the hour they ran the game last night.

The flowing football they have played this season, Brentford on Saturday apart, returned with a vengeance as they caused all sorts of problems for an hour.

Baggies boss Gary Megson will doubtless claim his side triumphed after doing a professional job. Professional job they might have done but he will know they were second best for much of the encounter.

Bernt Haas could have put the visitors in front with just seconds on the clock but he shot wide after connecting with a low cross following a powerful run into the area. But Pool went closer after 13 minutes when a free-kick was retaken and moved forward following a bout of dissent.

Mark Tinkler smashed a shot at goal which Thomas Gaardsoe deflected on to the crossbar via his knee - when it came out Marco Gabbiadini looked certain to score with his head, but keeper Russell Hoult went full stretch and tipped it over the bar.

That double chance gave Pool the impetus and with the confidence flowing, two swift passing moves followed which lifted the Victoria Park crowd.

Darrell Clarke, back in midfield as Cooper opted for a 3-5-2 lineup, broke away and cut the ball back for Eifion Williams in the six yards box only for the striker to be crowded out by a pack of yellow and green shirts. Williams started at right wing back, but was soon inter-changing with Robinson, who regularly filled in when the Welshman bombed forward.

The Baggies' best opening came when Jason Koumas fired an ambitious and daring shot which dipped over Provett and trailed wide.

Yet the illustrious visitors were unsettled against a Pool team whose work rate and effort made it so hard for them to settle.

Lee Hughes broke away after Williams lost the ball out wide and only an expertly timed tackle from Micky Nelson halted the former £5m man in his tracks.

Humphreys had a good chance to give Pool the lead on 38 minutes, but shot over the bar as he screwed his effort from the edge of the area.

Koumas missed a free kick from 25 yards - and referee Prosser then handed him the chance to try again, as he booked Robinson for dissent. He faired no better the second time around and chipped over the bar. Yet right on half-time Pool had a most appetising set piece of their own - and Robinson sent Victoria Park wild.

Alassande N'Dour handled a bouncing ball, referee Prosser swiftly pointed to the spot and Robinson calmly netted goal number nine of the season.

It was a lead which no one in the ground could argue they did not deserve.

At the start of the second period it was hard to tell who were the First Division high-fliers, as Pool played keep ball and toyed with the visitors. But the tidy possession meant nothing after an hour when the Baggies levelled after Poolwere reduced to ten men.

Substitute Scott Dobie got goal-side of Westwood and the pair clumsily tumbled.

Referee Prosser looked at his assistant for guidance, but he was as decisive as Mr Bean and the official flashed a red card while awarding the Baggies a free-kick.

Neil Clement, who had only just arrived as a substitute, rifled the ball powerfully across the wall and into the corner of the net.

Re-organising after Westwood's dismissal Tinkler went to centre-half, although the change gave West Brom a lift and they forced two corners to put some pressure on the new-look defence.

Cooper then sacrificed a striker as Gabbiadini went off, replaced by midfield runner Ryan McCann, but Williams reverted to his preferred front line position. New defender Tinkler threw himself into the way of a strong Hulse drive, deflecting the ball away for another corner which came to nothing.

Nelson nodded down for Humphreys in the other penalty area and after creating a welcome yard of space the midfielder shot wide. The dismissal had created that extra space and as play swung quickly to the other end Dobie flicked a header just wide and out of reach of the onrushing Hulse.

The energetic James O'Connor skipped his way past passed a posse of challenges and as he looked certain to score in front of goal, Provett's positioning made the save look so natural.

But seconds later it was Hulse who finished naturally - and that was the final blow for Pool. Dobie, who livened up the visiting front line following his appearance, crossed from the right and Hulse ran in unchecked to tap in.

The goals and red cards had knocked the stuffing out of Pool but they had a chance late on, sub Ryan McCann attempted to flick home a Robinson cross as time ran out, but just like Pool's Cup hopes it was wide of the mark.