Cooper: It's as if I've never been away

If they start winning at home, scoring plenty along the way the transition will be seamless.

After leaving in 2005, Cooper returned four weeks ago and since then he has already had an impact.

In winning at Victoria Park three weeks ago in their last home game, Pools ended a rotten nine-game losing streak in front of their own fans.

They went to Exeter and Sheffield Wednesdy and returned from both games unscathed, with Antony Sweeney earning a 2-2 draw at Hillsborough with a spectacular late leveller.

If they can build on the last three unbeaten games, against Carlisle at Victoria Park this afternoon, spirits and confidence will again be on the rise.

Pools won at Brunton Park in September, as part of their healthy start of the season, but standards slipped and it's only now they are returning.

"We won at home last time out and built on it with a couple of away draws,'' he said. "To get that win at home gives you a wee lift. I heard all about the run at home and knew what the affects were when it goes on and on.

"It can take everyone down, but we ended it and followed up with a reaction at Exeter and then Sheffield - can we go to the next level now and press on, try and create a bit more as well?''

He added: "Any spare time I've had I've been away watching games, so I've not spent much time in the town as I would have liked yet.

"But from day one, every day, I meet people and everyone has been so nice. At times it doesn't feel like I've been away.

"They all want to see a team that works hard and we are trying to improve the squad.''

Season ticket sales reached almost 6,000 in July, but numbers attending games have tailed off in recent months as home form fell apart.

Today, with Carlisle expected to bring a healthy contingent across the A66 this afternoon and some real positivity around the place, Cooper is hoping the lapsed ticket holders will return.

"Our fans have been tremendous and were the same last weekend,'' he said. "We want them to come back again on Saturday. They will have gone home last Saturday from Hillsborough happy and the same from the last home game.

"We played well last weekend and conceded two goals to individual mistakes.

"We could have crumbled, but it was a character-building day. Even after Sweens late goal, we had to defend well.

"At home, we will have a go at Carlisle and I'm sure they will do the same.

"They are a good footballing side, but I am one who lets them worry about us. We will set our stall out, we are at home, let's see how they handle it.

"At the back the defence has done well on the whole in the last few games. A solid base allows the boys in front the chance to take the game to them.''

Cooper is hoping to add to his attacking ranks, but has so far drawn a blank in his search.

But he has been impressed with the effort and application of his players of late and is content for the current squad to be given a chance to prove their value.

"I thought Sweeney was excellent last week in the system we played, Andy Monkhouse is working away and there's more to come,'' he said. "Colin Nish played for the reserves, he is coming back.

"We played well on the counter attack last week, Luke James pace to get in behind and can Sweens get more goals on the back of last week?

"He has fantastic energy levels and Gary Liddle was a bit of an unsung hero.''

Former Pools left back Hugh Robertson will be the pre-match guest in the club's centenary lounge from 1pm today to meet supporters.