NEALE Cooper revealed a number of his players have spent the Christmas period feeling under the weather.

Hartlepool moved into fourth place in League One yesterday with a win over Oldham at Victoria Park.

And Cooper, who takes his side to Bristol City this afternoon for tomorrow's game, revealed: "A few of the boys have been feeling under the weather.

"One or two of them have been suffering from a cold. Jack Ross, Adam Boyd, Hugh Robertson, Ben Clarke still isn't right, a few of them have a sniffle.

"We'll have a look at them tomorrow and see how they are.''

Oldham have already beat Pool twice this season, in the league and the LDV Vans Trophy and Cooper said: "It was a hard game, a massive result for us.

"We knew they are a good side - we've played them twice this season - and have a few lads on loan from Premiership clubs who have done well.

"We like to get the ball down and play football and it was a bit difficult at times because of the conditions.

"They had a wee bit of possession from the off, but then we got a couple of penalties and Adam put them away really well.

"Sweeney said he got tripped up from behind and, for the second, it was a great ball up and Nelson - who I thought was excellent today - headed on.

"Westwood had his shirt pulled and it was a penalty.''

Following their third League One win in a row, Cooper added: "We got the two goals and had a good advantage.

"For their goal, I didn't think it was a free-kick, but we could have defended the ball better.

"That gave them a lift and at the end they were coming at us a wee bit.

"We were a little bit nervous towards the end and I think the crowd was as well. But it wasn't easy in those conditions, with the swirling wind.

"People were panicking a little bit and lashing at balls, rather than making proper clearances.

"But it's a good three points and it's nice to be in such a good position.''

Beaten boss Brian Talbot said: "I was amazed when the first penalty was given but for the second, Kevin Betsy admitted he was caught shirt-pulling."

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