FORGET having a great time in Britain's premier seaside resort, Hartlepool United's trips to Blackpool are about as enjoyable as a weekend in Afghanistan.

In the land of the endless chip shops and tacky souvenir emporiums, Pool never fail to disappoint.

Plenty of the travelling fans visited the town to also take in the illuminations after nightfall; they had already seen their team give a show from the dark ages.

Their last visit to Bloomfield Road was just as big of a let-down, the first-leg of a miserable play-off campaign in 2001.

At least on that hot May day they had the antics of H'Angus the Monkey to talk about after his on pitch appearance with a blow up doll.

This time there was no solace. Other, perhaps, than the thought of a trip to struggling Chesterfield tomorrow night when it gives them the chance to put this misery to history.

This was Pool's most ineffective display of the season - by a long shot - the faces of the players as they moped, ashen-faced from the 25-minute dressing room lock in said it all. Their appearance was as muted as their performance.

Neale Cooper emerged with his voice crackling, further evidence he had rightly tore a strip off his great underperformers.

He was angry after last Tuesday's LDV Vans Trophy defeat at Oldham, warning his players they have to start games away from home better. So on Saturday they went a goal down after four minutes, two after 20.

Even in losing last week, they went down in style, playing their passing game which has been a joy to watch. All season they have maintained their style. On Saturday you could count on one hand their tally of flowing moves - and still have room to hold a stick of rock.

They were so ineffective they never managed to find out if Blackpool's Chris Clarke is from the same school of defending as his twin brother.

"That was an embarrassment,'' Cooper fumed. "It was a major disappointment for me. We were second to every ball and it's the most disappointing day since I came here.

"The boys have done really, really well for me at times but this time they were battered, second best every time.

"We said so much about starting the game well and then what happens?

"We gift them a goal and we are on he back foot. I'll tell you what happened - Darrell Clarke goes in for a challenge and doesn't go in hard enough, the ball breaks to them and it sets the tempo of the game. You have to win the battle and then play football.

"We never tackled anyone, we never won a battle, we got bullied and never won a thing in any department.

"Their strikers bullied our centre halfs, they were far better in midfield, their defenders never let our strikers play - it was every department.

"For me the only good thing to come out of it was the performance of young Brackstone - but the fact that a young lad comes on at the break and is our only decent player sums it up for me.

"That sort of performance had better be a one-off, I won't tolerate it, especially when we have a support behind us like we did. I can only apologise to them.''

The start Pool dreaded came on four minutes when winger Jonathon Douglas strolled into the penalty box and was given time to fire under Jim Provett.

One down and top scorer Paul Robinson limped off after being floored by a heavy challenge to be replaced by Adam Boyd. He suffered a hip injury and is unlikely to play tomorrow.

Murphy sent a header wide from close range, but when the normally so reliable Ritchie Humphreys gave the ball away Douglas crossed for Taylor.

Striker Murphy saw the ball roll across the six-yard box and Provett got down low to block.

That, however, was merely a temporary respite. All-action midfielder Neil Danns ran unchecked into the penalty area, Provett pushed out his shot and Taylor lashed in.

Three down after 45 minutes and Pool had yet to create a chance. A weak Clarke shot on the half-volley was all Pool could muster at the start of he second half.

Richie Wellens and Danny Coid both tried identical efforts, curling shots from the right as they attacked at will.

Micky Nelson slid in on Coid inside the penalty area, referee Mike Pike gave a spot-kick and then booked the defender after protesting too much. Taylor sent Provett the wrong way.

That was the cue for the majority of the 1,500 travelling fans to head to the sea front.

Pleasure Beach? Golden Mile? Forget it. Give me Seaton Carew any time.

Result: Blackpool 4 Hartlepool United 0.

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