TWO goals down at Peterborough last season and it turned into the stuff of legends; two goals down at Peterborough this season and it was the stuff of nightmares.

The oh-so dramatic 4-3 win at London Road on the opening day of the season in August 2003 has gone down in Hartlepool United folklore, but it is to be hoped this pitiful defeat doesn't linger around.

Away defeat number seven of this season was probably the worst of the lot because at least in the other games Pool have either played good football in spells and created chances, or lost to a half-decent side.

At Milton Keynes and Luton they dominated the first-half before crumbling, at Brentford last Tuesday they controlled the game for long periods only to concede a last-gasp goal.

It's hard to pull anything positive out of this defeat.

Peterborough, under Barry Fry, are a poor side; an average one at very best and, worryingly, they didn't even have to play well to get one over on the visitors.

If a team is to win at Victoria Park this season - and few have looked likely to do it - chances are they are going to have to play damn well to do so, because some of the football played by Neale Cooper's side in front of their own fans has been sincillating.

Away from home, it's different and Posh didn't have to be posh to manage a win on Saturday.

Failing to pick up any points on the road just heaps more pressure on home games.

After two away defeats in five days, Pool have to beat Port Vale at Victoria Park on Saturday.

At least there's back to back home games to come, which should lift Pool back into the top ten.

Pool started steadily enough on Saturday, there was certainly no sign of what was to come.

Then two goals in a few minutes gave the home side a flattering advantage and Pool's day was all but over long before Andy Legg thumped home a 30-yard drive.

Cooper, whose Pool career started with that 4-3 win on what seemed like the hottest day ever, admitted a change in system and the way his side plays away from home could be on the cards.

He said: "It hurts because teams aren't having to play well to beat us away from home. We were comfortable, then suddenly we are two goals down.

"At two goals up they got a boost from it. But they were no threat for us. We gave away a stupid free-kick on the edge of the box and then don't defend properly.

"Players have to look at the way they are defending because again a ball has come across our six yard box - the same happened at Brentford the other night.''

He added: "I'm totally fed up because I am saying the same things every week after an away game.

"I really thought this was going to be the game when we ended the run, but we totally under-performed at the back.

"We have to defend better against big lads because it always causes a problem for us.

"We gave away a daft free-kick on the edge of the box - there was no need for it - and it was hit into the top corner.

"The second goal comes over from a cross. You have to try and stop the cross from coming in, but it never happened.

"From then, it's hard to come back. We need a lot more from certain players than we got out there.

"At Milton Keynes and Luton we conceded goals in quick succession and it has to stop. We have to get back to the way we played away last season.

"Players have to defend a lot better than they have been. There was certain areas where we were bullied about a bit.

"It was poor defending for the second goal - even after the cross has come in, they have the chance to knock it in.

"Last year, our defence and goalkeeper was a big thing for us. Sometimes they have to defend better than they have been.''

Last week saw Tony Sweeney celebrating a hat-trick, but on this occasion he started out on the left wing and never settled in an unfamiliar role.

With wide man Martin Woods back at Leeds, Cooper pushed Sweeney to the flank and put Gavin Strachan in the middle. But the system didn't work, as Sweeney found it hard in front of Matty Robson.

Minutes after Peter Kennedy's free-kick put Pool one-down, Danny Sonner fired over a dangerous cross and Callum Willock headed home between Chris Westwood and Micky Barron.

It was another goal, and there have been too many, which came from a ball played into the six yard area and Pool's back line and goalkeeper have to start defending the area better.

The third came from the sort of strike Micky Nelson hammered home at London Road last season.

Legg picked up a loose ball and wellied it in from 30 yards. The midfielder was set to sign for Oldham on Friday, but the move never happened.

How Pool must have wished it had.

If this is Nelson's last game for the club, and if he gets his way his transfer request will be granted, it's a sad way go to.

Chances are, though, that this one could run and run.

Result: Peterborough United 3 Hartlepool United 0.

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