DAVE CHALLINOR thinks there was always a chance Dimi Konstantopoulos would be a little rusty after watching Hartlepool United exit the FA Trophy at the first round stage.

The recently-turned 41-year-old goalkeeper had a topsy-turvy second debut for Pools in which he went from hero to zero over the course of the 90 minutes at Harrogate.

Konstantopoulos has been offered a deal at Victoria Park and was allowed to play while he mulled over the deal.

On his first appearance since playing for Middlesbrough in the FA Cup in February, the Greek shot-stopper saved a penalty and was guilty of mistakes that led to Harrogate winning 3-2 at the CNG Stadium.

But Challinor was more concerned with questioning his players’ mentality than Konstantopoulos’ performance after they surrendered a two-goal lead to allow their hosts to score three times in the closing 13 minutes.

“It’s a tough one and I’m not going to sit here and defend the indefensible. We spoke about it half-time; there has been an issue at this football club for a long time around self-destructing and once again we have,” Challinor told the club website.

“People will point the finger at different people but there needs to be a mentality change but unfortunately a mentality change is difficult without a personnel change and that won’t happen overnight.

“Maybe there is a little more heartache before things improve but today is still as bad as it comes and I won’t try and take any positives because there are absolutely none to take. We have tried to coast through the game in the second half and got the rude awakening.”

Challinor, who took off midfielder Josh Hawkes at half-time after some tightness, must have thought everything was going perfectly when debutant Tyler Hamilton’s opener was followed by Ryan Donaldson’s strike before the break.

Konstantopoulos made a penalty save during that initial period too when things were going well.

But when Peter Kioso sliced into his own net the stage was set for a comeback.

Connor Hall levelled things up with four minutes left when the keeper didn’t deal with a cross properly. The Konstantopoulos couldn’t stop Fraser Kerr’s attempted clearance from slipping through his fingers and Brandon Kieran tapped in.

Challinor said: “Dimi has been training and we made the decision to start him. There was always going to be a concern around games even though he’s an experienced goalkeeper whose played at a top level.

“Everyone makes mistakes and maybe it’s answered a few questions but I’m not going to point the finger at him because he’s saved a penalty.

“Gamewise he felt he was in a good condition and able to do a job at this level. I suppose that’s easy to say when you’ve been out of the limelight and not really played any real games over the last three years because it can catch up with you.”

Harrogate: Cracknell, Fallowfield (Brown 46), Thomson (Muldoon 71), Kiernan, Bradley, Stead, Kerry, Hall, W Smith, Diamond (Emmett 46), Hancox. Subs (not used): Belshaw, G Smith, Falkingham.

Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Richardson, Kioso, Kerr, Kitching, Featherstone, Mafuta, Donaldson, Hamilton, Hawkes (Toure 46), Kabamba (Crichlow-Noble 68). Subs (not used): Beeney, Kennedy, Shelton.