Hartlepool United 0 Leeds United 5

CHRIS TURNER will this week step up his search for reinforcements after seeing his Hartlepool United side taken apart by Leeds United.

The two teams have competed on an equal footing over the last three seasons, but as Leeds prepare for a season in the Championship after promotion from League One, the difference between the sides on Saturday was tangible.

Turner fielded three of his trialists in the loss, left-back Evan Horwood, attacking midfielder Fabiano Yantorno and central midfielder Paul Murray.

It is understood that Horwood has been offered terms by his home-town club and Turner will discuss the futures of the other two, who have been with the squad since day one of pre-season training, today.

“I have players to think about on trial and I will put my ideas to the owners and see what they come back with,’’ he said.

Turner is also considering a number of other targets, with former Preston and Barnsley forward Jon Macken believed to be among them.

With the squad intact from last season’s struggle against relegation, Pools need to strengthen.

Signing a left-back has long been a priority and Horwood, a regular with Carlisle last season, fits the bill.

But the Pools boss was concerned with the manner in which the goals arrived – one a long ball down the middle and the others from crosses from the flank.

“We gave them too much time and space and respect they punished us,’’ he reflected. “We didn’t go out and play like we can.

“We were playing a quality team who will do well in the Championship, they exploited us at times.

“There was no preparation for the game in terms of scouting or watching them for a friendly, but it didn’t happen for us.

“There was a misunderstanding at the back today and being criticial of them four out of five of them made mistakes that cost us goals.

“Players who played well last season didn’t do it today.

“But I would rather mistakes be made in a pre-season game and all is geared towards Rochdale on August 7."

He added: “We will look at the game on DVD and see where we went wrong and learn from it.

“We came up against a side who were beaten badly at Bury in midweek and they bounced back. Now we have to do it.’’

Rob Snodgrass scored after five minutes when the Pools defence failed to deal with a long ball.

Luciano Becchio made it two with an angled header from Lloyd Sam, and right on half-time another cross, this time from Jon Howson saw Bradley Johnson get above Neil Austin and Sam Collins to head in the third.

Sam cut the ball back for Howson to net and Becchio made it five with another header from a right wing cross.

Pools, who played with a fractured attacking formation, offered little threat and their only chance came when Gary Liddle headed against the bar.

Hartlepool: Flinders; Austin, Collins, Hartley (Liddle 56), Horwood; Murray; Brown (McSweeney 64), Gamble (Boyd 64), Sweeney, Monkhouse (Behan 77); Yantorno (Fredriksen 76). Subs (not used): Rafferty (gk), Haslam, Larkin, Greulich, Roberts. Leeds: Higgs; Connolly (Hughes 60), Bromby, Collins, White; Sam (Gradel 60), Kilkenny (Grella 68), Howson, Johnson, Snodgrass; Becchio. Subs (not used): Schmeichel (gk), Somma, Lees, Hatfield. Referee: David Webb (Stanley) Attendance: 2,691

It took just five minutes for the opener, Rob Snodgrass making the most of a defensive slip-up to tap in.

On 40 minutes Luciano Becchio made it two, nodding in Lloyd Sam's cross.

And on half-time, Bradley Johnson ran in to power in a header from eight yards.

Pools' first shot on target came shortly after the break, Andy Monkhouse firing low at keeper Shane Higgs.

But on 57 minutes, Leeds made it three.

A neat move down the left led to Jon Howson cracking in off Scott Flinders' right hand post.

Gary Liddle headed a Fabiano Yantorno corner against the bar, before Becchio completed the scoring on 67 minutes, confidenly glancing a second header home.