TWO years ago, Hartlepool United entered the National League season, albeit after the trauma of relegation, with a rack of new signings who offered hope and brought expectation and they lost their first game at home.

The opposition were big, strong, played in yellow and had a big and burly centre-half.

On Saturday, Pools started the National League season with a rack of new signings with hope and expectation on the rise and lost their first game at home.

The opposition were big, strong, played in yellow and had an big and burly centre-half.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

Pools in the first-half on Saturday were woeful. Sluggish off the ball, slow in possession and easy to play against. They didn’t deserve anything from the game on the back of that 45 minutes.

In the second-half they were much improved. They moved the ball better, were sharper in possession and tested the opposition more. That they didn’t get anything from the game was down to that opening half.

First game of the season, two goals down after 23 minutes. Pre-season optimism punctured.

Romoney Crichlow-Noble suffered a torrid opening half after moving on loan from Huddersfield. Welcome to the rough and tumble of the National League.

His role in the first two goals was questionable and by the time he was booked as half-time approached he had the body language of someone who had had enough.

He did, to his credit, improve after the break and showed more of his ability. It is to be hoped that opening introduction is one to learn from.

Craig Hignett said: “I see it all the time and it makes me laugh when young players say they can play National League. Under-23s is not real football and young players have to go out and learn and he will learn and get better.’’

Tom Bolarinwa was able to swing the ball over from the flank and Harry Beautyman got in front of Michael Raynes to send a looping header home.

Then Bolarinwa got the ball in the middle, and Beautyman held off Liam Noble to slot home.

Hignett admitted: “The first two goals were avoidable, the third was nothing, when we were pushing on. I would never want my centre-halves to go up there and leave us exposed and we spoke about that.

“The first two goals were exactly what we spoke about and worked on in training – they get it wide, in the box. Just block your men, but we didn’t go with runners or get across people. The first was a really poor goal.

“Second-half we came back, but we have to be scoring the first goal. It was slow and negative first-half, I’ll put it down to a few nervous ones.

“We set the tone how slowly we passed the ball, it was lethargic and it showed in how we conceded – slow motion in not doing jobs properly.’’

Sutton had spent the morning wondering how they would get to the game at one time given train delays at Kings Cross.

They were well drilled and their players picked up the right positions across the pitch to negate Pools.

Liam Noble and Jason Kennedy were too similar in style and output, neither made an impression. It’s unlikely they will both start tomorrow at Halifax.

Up front, the three appeared in a tangle, swatted away all too easily by the opposition.

Gime Toure scored, but showed his ability to frustrate and impress in equal measure.

“I’m not getting carried away by one defeat and won’t if we go on a run,’’ mused Hignett. “At times it’s looked like we were sapped of energy. Maybe the crowd here, the atmosphere and nerves kick in.

“A few looked like rabbits in the headlights. But we will make this a hard place. Teams will come here, sit in, make it hard and we need to break them down and we can do that with players and different ways of playing.’’

He added: “All the new lads looked a bit nervy. Gime flitted in and out and he’s exciting when he can turn, but he needs to do it in the right areas. He scored and got off the mark which is a good thing. The front three struggled and they were up against their defenders too much when they defended deep.

“I will change the team on Tuesday for sure. We looked at things and I can change it. Players can’t stay in if they get beat and play poorly. Don’t perform and you won’t be in. We struggled to get on the ball in midfield and when Nicky Featherstone came on we had someone to pass the ball.’’

When Pools swung balls over into the area, they were floated with little pace or direction. Too easy for the defence and keeper to clear.

Gone are the days when Pools had everyone back for a corner – they left four up front when Sutton had their first flag kick on 78 minutes.

The visitors sneaked a third at the end, catching Pools exposed on the break as players went forward in search of an equaliser.

The defeat had a familiar feel about it, similar to last season and it’s happened far, far too many times in recent years.

All that missing was Scott Loach clapping supporters at the end.