Daly's fitness is put to the test as finishing line nears

With Joel Porter turning an ankle in training on Friday, the big striker was given his second start since his £30,000 transfer in February and made the most of his chance.

A point at Colchester might not be a glamorous one, but it could be a vital return.

Importantly it meant Pool didn't lose any ground in the play-off chase and they actually moved up a spot to fifth place.

There's little doubt that the final game of the season at Bournemouth will be of huge importance, Friday's Victoria Park encounter with Sheffield Wednesday equally.

Porter will today undergo a scan to determine the extent of his ankle ligament damage.

His goals and link-up play with Adam Boyd in the forward line has been a major part of Pool's success this season, but Daly showed on Saturday that there is more to his game than using his 6ft 1in frame to win headers and flicks.

Pool, Neale Cooper now and Chris Turner before him, have long sought a battering ram up front. Whether Daly is that is open to much conjecture, but he showed at Layer Road there is more to his game than trying to be a physical frontman.

A goal for the reserves in midweek won't have done any harm in setting him up for this unexpected outing and now he has to carry it on if Porter is ruled out for any length of time.

Porter went over on an ankle on Friday as Pool prepared at Ipswich's training ground. Matty Robson had done the same in training on Thursday, then Micky Nelson managed to make it an unwanted hat-trick when he hobbled off at the start of the second period on Saturday.

Porter admits his injury feels a bad one and, with only four games of the normal season to go, a reappearance is in some doubt.

"It was a good point and we've had a nightmare with injuries,'' said Cooper. "Matty went down with an ankle injury, then Joel did the same on Friday.

"We were at Ipswich's training ground - I don't think we've ever trained on a surface like that - and it could be quite a bad one right out of nothing.

"That means one of our main strikers, who has been excellent for us is out. We had to wait and see if it improved overnight with treatment, but it was actually worse.

"He was a no-no, so we had to change things around yet again.

"Jon came in and he's a different type of player to what we have - and I think everyone has to realise that.

"We stressed it to the players before the game. Balls have to be played into him and he will hold it up, considering him and Adam (Boyd) haven't played together before, they did well up front.

"At times they were a wee bit apart in the first-half, but they got it right.''

And Cooper added: "I think physically he is a lot fitter now and he can see the benefits. I think when he came here he thought he had joined Hartlepool Harriers because of the running we do, but that's the way we work here.

"We are a fit side and to play in this side you have to be fit. We have seen a big difference in him and he will be an important player for us.''

Pool have lost once in six, to Huddersfield on Good Friday, and adding points like this to their tally has kept them in contention. Friday's opponents Wednesday have gone five without a win - Pool need to make it six - and all eyes will be on London tomorrow as Brentford meet Tranmere in one of their two games in hand.

Pool have not lost to Colchester since 1995 and the vital goal on Saturday mirrored the winning goal at Layer Road from last season. Then it was Steven Istead who floated a cross from right to left which sailed over the keeper into the net.

This time, Thomas Butler came in from the left and curled the ball right-footed into the danger area. Tony Sweeney ran towards it and his movement caught Aidan Davison flat-footed and he looked on as the ball rolled into the far corner.

Pool created plenty of chances after falling behind at a time when Nelson was off the field after receiving treatment for the injury that later forced him off.

A cross was nodded away towards Gavin Johnson inside the area and his shot was deflected beyond Dimi Konstantopoulos.

Daly tricked his way into space to feed Boyd, but his shot was at the legs of Davison.

Then, seconds after going a goal down, Daly knocked a long ball past the keeper on the edge of the area, but it was pushed off the line.

Steve Howey replaced Nelson and, when he adapted to the pace of the game and made some important interceptions, should have put Pool in front.

From Robertson's free-kick, the ex-Newcastle man headed at goal, but could only find the outside of the post.

Pool hit the other post - and bar in the same incident - just two minutes in. Butler earned a free-kick on the right and Hugh Robertson, as ever, thumped it over the wall.

While at Blackpool on Easter Monday his shot from similar distance was tipped over, this one crashed off the underside of the bar to the outside of the post and out.

Pool should have had a penalty when Liam Chilvers and Daly tussled for a long ball and the defender bundled it away with his arm.

Referee Mark Warren looked his his assistance for advice and, despite having a far better view, his flag stayed down.

Cooper's reaction - his head turned a shade of crimson and his veins weren't far from bursting out of his head - indicated he knew where he would like to have stuck the flag.

There was a couple of late scares for Pool. First Neil Danns - at Pool on loan from Blackburn 12 months ago - looked a certain scorer, but Chris Westwood read where he was picking his spot and intercepted.

With four games to go last year, Pool managed two wins and a draw. A similar return this year would go down nicely.

Result: Colchester United 1 Hartlepool United 1.

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