NEALE Cooper must fear he is back to square one. Hartlepool United went down to their fifth away defeat of the season on Friday night, losing 3-0 at Luton.

And the Pool boss cut an angry and frustrated figure at the final whistle.

Cooper is without three first-team players - Jack Ross, Darrell Clarke and Hugh Robertson - through injury and they are all likely to be out for at least another month.

Friday was also the final game of the loan spell of midfielder Alan Pouton, who has returned to Gillingham and Martin Woods will return to Leeds after he has completed his international duty with Scotland's under-19 side.

So Cooper was forced to field three teenagers on his substitutes bench at Kenilworth Road and admitted none of his subs were capable of changing the game.

Cooper has been trying to sign Sunderland's Ben Clark, but that move has stalled, with the defender still at the Stadium of Light three weeks after Cooper admitted his interest.

He said: "Luton had quality players in the team and quality players on the bench as well - these kind of things, I just haven't got it.

"They have a lot of quality and are strong all over. To bring people like (Gary) McSheffrey off the bench is a different level.

"Our three main injuries are all long-term, three senior players are missing from a very small squad. They won't be back for three or four weeks and it's a blow.''

He added: "Eifion (Williams) and Joel (Porter) linked up well with Boydy (Adam Boyd) and there was good movement.

"I had boys on the bench and would they change the game?

"Jack Wilkinson were there because I didn't have any strikers. He's been out for four months and just come back from Bishop Auckland.

"I needed a striker on the bench, but is he going to do better than the others?

"Young Steven Maidens has broke through into the reserve team and is there as a midfielder.

"Look at the difference in benches - there's a big gap.''

"But we need bodies into the club - it's a fact. I can't have kids on the bench and try and compete at Luton for a result.''

Cooper is calling on his front men to be more ruthless after Friday's blank. Pool had 18 shots at goal, but failed to beat goalkeeper Dino Seremet and Cooper admitted: "We dominated the game for long periods, but we weren't good enough in front of goal.

"There was a lot of good stuff played in the first-half, but it was different in the second half.

"We cannot create as many chances as we did in the first-half and not take them and expect to get away with it.

"It was a long day for us, we set off at eight in the morning to try and have a break, but that's no excuse.

"We could have been four-one up, but didn't take the chances.

"And then, of course, they came back into it.

"Luton are flying high and are solid, but we never tested the goalkeeper enough.

"Strikers at least have to hit the target and then you might get something back - look at their second goal. It's a good save and then they react to put the second ball in.''

Luton boss Mike Newell was satisfied at getting one over his former club and admitted: "In the first-half, Hartlepool were the better team and we had to ride our luck a bit.

"They passed it around better and were quicker to the loose balls, but in the second half we got on top. The game wasn't over until the third goal went in and it was only then when I could relax.

"I left Hartlepool 18 months ago and this was just another game for me, but maybe it tastes a little bit sweeter to win.''

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