IT'S only seven games and 16 weeks since Hartlepool United were last at Swindon. It might as well have been 700 games or 16 years such was the difference in both performance and emotions.

On May 8, Pool drew 1-1, securing a point which cemented their place in the end of season play-offs. The draw was enough for both teams to finish in the top six and the County Ground was a celebration zone for both red and blue alike.

On Saturday, there was hardly any danger of Pool making the trek home in good spirits.

Three down at the break, this was as bad as it gets for Neale Cooper's side.

A week after playing nemesis Blackpool at Victoria Park, Pool gave a performance reminiscent of their trip to Bloomfield Road last season.

Thankfully, that proved a rare event in a record-breaking season and it is to be hoped that this display follows suit.

The transfer window remains open for the Coca Cola League after it shuts tomorrow for the rest of Europe.

But, for Cooper at least, he's only been looking through the window from afar. He's only made one permanent signing and that was agreed in March.

With injuries taking their toll on a small squad after Pool sailed through last season without real trouble, it's time for the chairman to open the finances and allow Cooper to get some new blood in.

If ever there was a case for new faces, Saturday was it.

Swindon did to Pool exactly what Pool have done to plenty of sides at Victoria Park over the last few years - ruthlessly attack and finish them off before the opposition had even thought about it.

Last August Bank Holiday weekend, Pool were pummelled at Luton, as big striker Steve Howard tormented the defence.

This time out it was the turn of two battering rams up front - Sam Parkin and Darius Henderson - to enjoy their day.

And Swindon also enjoyed the benefits of a loan signing from Tottenham to help them. Mark Yeates is the second starlet from White Hart Lane to make the trip to Wiltshire and the clubs appear to enjoy a healthy relationship.

On the other hand, it's a real shame that one of Pool's illustrious neighbours sees fit to send a striker on loan to League One rivals Barnsley, after Pool spent plenty of time over the last month trying to get Michael Chopra to Victoria Park on a temporary basis from Newcastle United. Oh how the other half live.

"It was a bad, bad day for us,'' said Cooper. "We had to cut off the supply into the middle from out wide and we didn't do it.

"They were better than us all over the park and we were second to the ball. You must stop the source of the problem and they were allowed to put the ball into the danger area and when that happens you are asking for trouble.

"It was three crosses, three goals and we gifted them two of them. Nelse (Micky Nelson) heads past Jim (Provett) and Eifion (Williams) got a touch in the area and tried to bring it down, but said he didn't see it. Stop the crosses coming into the big men, simple as that.

Cooper added: "They came off at half-time with their heads down and looked a beaten side then. All we could do was try and take some pride from the performance, but we are better than that.

"They had two lads up front who worked their socks off and their two wide players looked very sharp. We are looking all the time for a big man, someone like Swindon's two strikers but what can I do because at the moment there is nothing to play with.''

Yeates showed just why new Spurs boss Jacques Santini rates him so highly as he tormented Pool from the right wing.

Cooper had ordered his players to cut off the supply from out wide, but the closest Hugh Robertson got to the winger was in the tunnel before the game.

As a result, Ritchie Humphreys spent more time backtracking than an Italian army division and a big slice of Pool's attacking output was lost.

Jack Ross was fit after a hamstring strain, but his clearance was directed into space for Yeates. He lifted a teasing cross into the six yard area and Henderson climbed up above Nelson to send header low past Provett.

If that was bad, the second and third goals were worse.

Yeates again delivered from the right, but it looked as if one of four blue shirts would clear. Instead, Williams took a touch and set up Sam Parkin to stab home.

Then, three minutes later, another cross from the right, this time from Andy Gurney, was met at the near post by Nelson and he diverted the ball past Provett.

The second-half was a non-event. Pool's first chance came when Adam Boyd hooked a volley over his shoulder and that was with an hour gone.

Boyd started with Joel Porter up front, but the Aussie was a disappointment and watched the second-half from the stands.

Surely Boyd will start with Williams against Colchester today.

"One or two boys might get a chance on Monday,'' said Cooper. "Tinks (Mark Tinkler) has been struggling with two injuries - his knee and Achilles and he might have to miss out.

"Jack Ross has been struggling with his hamstring, but came through the game OK.''