HARTLEPOOL United's players will discover what it feels like to be a supporter as they undergo 90 minutes of torture.

Boss Chris Turner will make his players watch the video of Saturday's woeful home defeat to Oxford as he strives to discover why his players gave such an inept display.

And if nothing else, at least it should make the players know how flat the fans felt after watching 90 turgid minutes at Victoria Park.

Make no mistake, this was the worst display Pools have put in this season.

A single goal was enough for Oxford - one of the teams below Pool in Division Three before Saturday - to take the points home. And only a single threatening shot from the visitors was enough; Pool created little and as Turner admitted afterwards they could have played until the cows come home and still not scored.

It's even more galling when it comes on the back of Tuesday's win at Macclesfield, a victory that gave Pool a real chance of climbing up the table and getting away from the messy depths of the division.

Instead, performances and results like this leave you thinking it could be a messy season at Victoria Park.

But you won't find Turner put under any undue pressure from anyone within Victoria Park.

Some fans, so easy to be heard among 100 who travelled to Torquay seven days earlier, might be quick to express their frustration, but with attendances holding up over the 3,000 mark this season the support from the terraces is there.

And perhaps the crowd deserve credit because although they were left downcast during this non-display, their backing never wavered and there was no sign of them turning on their side.

They have certainly criticised louder and with more voice during games when it's been better to watch than this.

"I don't think we would have scored if we had gone on until midnight,'' said Turner.

"We should be drawing these games if we are not looking like we are going to win them. I don't think they deserved to beat us, but we didn't deserve to win either.

"This was the worst performance of the season, it was the least number of chances we created. This results cancels out Tuesday's win and it looks like it could be a long, hard season if they don't start to get their fingers out.

"I'll make the players watch the video. I've said some things to them in the dressing room and I can see how disappointed enough they are.

"We were lacking flair, they had no tempo but it's up to us to take the game to the. We like to pass the ball and make the game tick over but this was the game where we didn't pass it enough.

"There wasn't enough movement or responsibility on the ball and if Colin West or I don't shout to certain players they don't react. It's unexplainable really how many times had the ball and gave it away; they had the chance to express themselves and didn't.

"There was nothing to take from the game, it was the first time in a long time we have lacked belief - it's a backs to the wall job for us again.''

Most games this season, Turner has been left to rue his side's inability to turn chances into goals. On this occasion it was their inability to create chances that caused concern.

On Saturday Kevin Henderson sent a flick header against the bar and a long-range Mark Robinson drive from a short free-kick was well held by Ian McCaldon.

Micky Barron went off after 20 minutes with sickness after 20 minutes and maybe his affliction had also spread to his teammates.

Tommy Widdrington moved back to sweeper and on came Paul Stephenson, but even Pool's playmaker couldn't shake off the bug that seemed to affect every blue shirt.

Possession was given away too often and better teams than Oxford - Plymouth and Hull are next - will punish such crimes.

They were made to pay for losing possession on 48 minutes. A short lay-off on the edge of the Oxford penalty area went astray and Jamie Books broke away. By the time he reached the other end of the pitch three defenders surrounded him, but the ball came off Graeme Lee, fell to Paul Moody and he struck home a low drive into the corner of Anthony Williams' net.

From then on, Oxford got bodies behind the ball to preserve their lead and Pool still couldn't find the drive or pace to claw their way back.

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