Gloom deepens at Victoria Park

Hartlepool United have won just three times in the League in front of their own fans, drawn six and lost five.

From a possible 42 points, Martin Scott's side has taken only 15, scoring just 16 times.

Next up at home is Blackpool a week on Saturday, one of the five teams currently below Pool in the table, an achievable and must-win game if ever there was one at home this season.

Mind you, they probably said the same about this one or the ones with Swindon or Rotherham.

On Saturday as two committed, but often limited, teams scrapped it out for a goalless draw that, if anything, did Tranmere more favours than Pool, there was little to cheer.

Pool dropped a place to 19th, four points off the drop zone and four ahead of Blackpool. Tranmere, nowt flash, made it six games without defeat and they are now in 14th spot.

Shots on target totalled seven - although how many of those were asking big questions of the goalkeeper is open to debate - while sections of the crowd were quick to point the finger of blame at Scott, calling for his head.

The Pool boss refused to comment on the cat calls.

The days when it was a case of how many Pool would score at home are gone and now it's more about if they will find the net and the frustrations are now coming to the fore.

During their current seven-game winless run only four goals have been netted.

Worringly, for all their effort and sweat, they rarely looked like breaking that duck on Saturday.

Scott is staying positive, his players showed they are more than willing to get involved in the scrap and fight that the boss referred to seven days previous when surrendering somewhat tamely at Yeovil.

And while the attendance remained relatively steady at over 4,000, how many of them have faith and belief in this season is questionable.

One spectator was thrown out after waving a banner from the edge of the Press box and having a pointless go at the club's press officer and defender Matty Robson, seated alongside.

As he was escorted out, most fans missed Micky Nelson go close with a header as they were too busy watching off-field events.

Yet those who let their feelings against the manager known in the second half were often drowned out and shouted down by more who were backing the team 100 per cent.

It was a mixture of frustrated boos and appreciation for the players' efforts that followed the final whistle.

Scott said: "The first 30 minutes, our tempo was good. I cannot fault the effort and commitment the players gave me again. But, after 30 minutes, we stopped believing for some reason.

"We didn't get our rewards or punish the opposition and you have to keep believing when it's like that.

"Second-half we did that and we were organised and strong. The sending off didn't affect the game as much as it could have.

"We could have gone under, but we were a threat with ten men.

"We could have scraped a goal, but you take a point when you are down to ten men.

"You would love to win and get three points at home, but sometimes you have to fight and scrap and we did that.

"The players have got standards and they showed that.''

And he added: "Spirit here is first class and that's not just the lads in the team, it's the whole squad.

"Within 30 seconds of the game finishing, everyone was in the dressing room encouraging. There's the lads in the 16 on duty and the others lads who are injured or whatever, in there patting them on the back.

"Every player at the club has given everything for me and the club and you can ask for no more.''

Last season these teams battled it out in the play-offs.

There's about as much chance of that happening come May as there is of Sven Goran Eriksson welcoming an Arab sheikh into Soho Square this morning.

Chris Llewellyn had Pool's best chance, breaking into the area after collecting Gavin Strachan's exquisite pass.

But, with confidence in as short supply as goals, he wanted a touch too many and was crowded out as he primed to shoot.

Llewellyn was red-carded for a nasty two-footed lunge on defender Michael Jackson.

The dismissal galvanised Pool and, with new loan signing Jon-Paul Pittman lively up front, they tried to create chances for the goal they craved.

Fellow debutant Gerard Nash gave a comfortbale and assured display at the back.

The Ipswich defender was happy with the ball at his feet and, one wayyward defensive header aside, sailed through the game.

Pool's third debutant James Walker tried to link up with Jon Daly, who had one of his better games.

Daly won his fair share of headers and Walker tried to form a partnership.

Most of Daly's game was played with his back to goal and it was up others to try and get in behind the defence.

Tony Sweeney did just that towards the end, bursting forward and he went past three defenders.

His downfall was the final ball, which was supposed to be played towards Pittman, but was intercepted.

Rovers went closest when Dimi Konstantopoulos lost the ball outside his area in the closnig stages and Gareth Roberts' shot, with the keeper chasing back, was headed off the line by Ritchie Humphreys.

Perhaps it wasn't a surprise that the game ended blank. It means three of the last five encounters between the sides have been goalless.

Result: Hartlepool United 0, Tranmere Rovers 0.

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