MANY will see it as a measure of Sunderland's decline that Mick McCarthy regards an edgy FA Cup victory over Hartlepool as a potential "catalyst'' for the Black Cats' redemption.

Sunderland, seeking an immediate return to the Premiership, were certainly clinging on grimly to their fragile lead against Second Division Pool, who gave them a third-round fright at the Stadium of Light.

McCarthy's reasoning, however, is based on a conversation he had last week with Wolves counterpart Dave Jones.

The Molineux manager, who had his own scare on Saturday when his side scraped a draw at Kidderminster, offered words of encouragement to McCarthy as they discussed winger Kevin Cooper's loan move to Wearside.

McCarthy, whose side finished bottom of the Premiership last season with a record points low, said: "Dave and I are good mates and while I was on to him about Kevin Cooper, I asked him what you do to get promoted.

"He said they were tenth with something like 36 points at Christmas last season and ended up in the Premier League. At Christmas then they looked as much like being in the Premier League as we did!

"But he said one of the catalysts for the great run they had was their great cup victory over Newcastle.

"I thought that was interesting, and I made that point to the players before this game. I said it could be a catalyst to kick on and do well, but if we get beaten by Hartlepool, we're going to have our noses rubbed in it all the time.

"Winning in the cup can only bring a positive feeling, as opposed to a real downer had we lost.''

Another by the name of Cooper, Pool boss Neale, was intent on inflicting the latter mood on McCarthy and his men.

Backed by an ebullient band of over 9,000 fans, the largest away following in Hartlepool's history and the biggest travelling support seen at the Stadium of Light, Cooper's side more than matched Sunderland for energy and endeavour, as well as menace.

But, despite being severely depleted by injuries, illness and suspension, the Black Cats' greater all-round quality - crystalised by Julio Arca's neatly-taken 53rd-minute goal - ultimately told.

McCarthy has been forced to mix and match of late, and the withdrawal of ailing club skipper Jason McAteer meant that 20-year-old centre-back Ben Clark was recalled and pressed into midfield duties.

The Shotley Bridge-born former Manchester United trainee didn't let McCarthy down and the manager said: "Whoever has come in this season has done a job; Phil Babb and Jocky Bjorklund were available for transfers and no-one seemed to want them.

"They got a bit of grief, but they've been excellent. Young Clark came in and played in the centre of midfield, and Julio is a left-back playing on the left wing. I'm full of admiration for them.

"Hartlepool gave a good account of themselves and were in with a shout, but I think we shaded it and deserved the win. The difference between the teams was that bit of class from Julio.

"The atmosphere was excellent and I'd like to borrow the 10,000 who came up the road for next week's game.''

Without question, the Pool fans made the day and Cooper admitted: "In all my life as a footballer, and short time as a manager, I've never experienced an away support like we had here.

"It was quite emotional. To take around 10,000 fans for a cup match in the early rounds is phenomenal. It was a great boost to the players and they would like to thank the fans, because they've never seen anything like that from a Hartlepool fanbase.''

Cooper, one of Sir Alex Ferguson's disciples in his days with Aberdeen, has steered Pool into the top half of Division Two and believes his side have confounded the sceptics.

He said: "I think we're in a position that people thought we'd never be in. When I arrived, everyone had tipped us for relegation.

"I think we deserved a replay here. They hit the post a couple of times in the first half, but I thought the difference was their goalkeeper. Mart Poom was different class and as well as his saves, he produced a massive kick for their goal.

"We have to learn from this. We're not the finished article by a long way. We have a great spirit, work hard and we're organised, and if you've got those things and can add one or two quality players, who knows what you can achieve?''

Pool denied Sunderland space in the opening half and Black Cats fan Paul Robinson, who when he faced his home-town club while with Newcastle admitted it would "hurt'' to score, forced a fine save from Poom.

The keeper was extended further as he palmed away Eifion Williams' curling effort. But Sunderland had two attempts which deserved better than to have rebounded back off the woodwork.

Pool keeper Jim Provett, released by Sunderland as a schoolboy, saw Marcus Stewart's shot strike his right-hand post after only seven minutes, and Arca hit the same upright with a thunderous 30-yarder late in the half.

Poom needed all of his 6ft 4in frame to tip over Williams' shot early in the second period and also faced down a renewed threat from Robinson after Bjorklund was beaten by the Pool striker.

But it was Poom, with his huge clearance, who unsettled the Pool defence with fatal consequences for the visitors.

Matty Robson's attempted clearance ricocheted to Arca, whose cool left-footed finish crept inside the far post.

Stewart should have added a second six minutes later when he met Arca's centre at the far poost but headed straight into Provett's hands from point-blank range.

Sunderland, however, had to survive two more late close calls when substitute Steven Istead was foiled by a near-post block, and Babb cleared off the line from Williams.

This was only the second occasion on which the sides had met at competitive level. The first time, nearly 16 years ago, an inswinging corner from Brian Honour caught in the swirling wind at Roker Park and ended Sunderland's Sherpa Van Trophy ambitions.

But this time, there was no such luck for Pool.