HARTLEPOOL United are top of Division Three and have been for a long time. But on this performance it was hard to tell.

As both a team and as individuals, Pool were second best at Rochdale on Saturday - and by a long way at that as their early effort and promise were swept away on a tide of defensive and goalkeeping uncertainty.

Goalkeeper Anthony Williams and defender Jon Bass were the main culprits as Pool gifted goals to a Rochdale team who last won a league game in September, taking a pitiful three points from 27.

When you are top of the league you are there to be shot at and Pool, if they didn't realise it, should now.

Mike Newell - after both previous League wins under his command - admitted he wasn't satisfied with his team's performances against Orient and Kidderminster.

Well they were a damn sight better than this one. The spirit, fight and class shown in abundance at Orient and on so many occasions away from home this season was missing and the three-man defence which Pool have been able to adapt to so easily in recent times appeared alien.

Without Micky Barron, Darrell Clarke and Paul Smith, Pool certainly missed their influence. Graeme Lee and Chris Westwood never looked happy in defence without Barron's usual assurance, while Smith's ability to create chances from nothing and Clarke's ever-willing workrate were conspicuous by their absence.

All three, Smith's fitness permitting, should be welcomed back with open arms on Saturday. "I've told the lads after the game not to be down about the result,'' said Newell.

"At half-time I told them they could get back into the game, they had to believe in themselves and have a little bit of confidence out there - but then we conceded another soft goal.

"They have shot themselves in the foot by giving away soft goals, but if you look at the whole game we weren't deserving of a 4-0 scoreline.

"If you concede goals like we did you are always up against it and you cannot afford to give them away like that.

"We played a different formation, but for 20 minutes it didn't seem to have any affect on us whatsoever. We looked comfortable.

"We've been without Micky Barron who is our captain and has been playing particularly well of late, Paul Smith who gives us a good option on the left side and Darrell Clarke.

"Smudger's absence was forced upon us and we felt that Ritchie Humphreys has been playing well in the middle of midfield so we didn't want to make another change by pushing him out wide.

"But it's not about formations or changes or whatever, if you give goals away then it's tough.''

Newell added: "The lads will be down a little bit after this one because four-nil was a result we didn't deserve. We weren't four goals worse than Rochdale and now we have to make sure we eradicate the mistakes.

"We are still top of the league, so the lads won't need any lifting. They just need to believe in themselves more. We have a home game next week and we are still top of the league.''

Martin Hollund was the last Pool keeper to suffer a nightmare before Christmas, doing his best to play Santa Claus as he allowed four Southend shots to slip by his grasp in 1998.

This time it was the turn of Williams. The keeper is in danger of becoming Pool's version of Jerzy Dudek - capable of both the brilliant and the ridiculous in equal measure.

Williams is a good enough goalkeeper, he's saved Pool on plenty of occasions this year and last, but too many stupid errors are leading to too many stupid goals.

Twice on Saturday he dropped high balls in the penalty area, saved once by the intervention of the referee's whistle, the other by the boot of a Pool defender.

It was a sad sight on Saturday as he scrambled about on his knees while Clive Platt got the final touch to a ball which should have been cleared long before it fell to the big man.

But if that was sad, the second goal was an embarrassment. Westwood's poor back pass led to a moment of hesitation from the keeper. He lost control then tried to pick it up when a big lump into the stands should have followed. Lee McEvilly took note, took possession and took the chance to skirt beyond the keeper before tapping into an empty net.

Bass appeared to be making the most of his rare start before giving away the third goal. Early on he flung his body in the way of a goalbound McEvilly shot to keep the scoreline blank and - early on at least - hardly looked troubled as part of a three-man back line.

But he was caught ball watching when a cross was fired in from the right and Paul Connor was able to take a touch and fire beyond Williams.

When Bass watched McEvilly to head in the fourth it was only minutes before his game was over as Newell ended his misery.

Maybe after achieving so much on their travels this season, this was a defeat waiting to happen. Remember it's only two defeats away from home since March, so the odd defeat can be excused.

Ironically, Pool's last 4-0 defeat was at Hull on February 23 1999, four League games before Chris Turner took over. This one comes three League games after his departure.

Of course Pool have conceded four goals on occasions since, but they have been rare events, quickly followed up with more solid results.

Last season they were trounced 3-0 at Mansfield - Bass's last start - but that game was swiftly forgotton about as the play-offs were reached.

The Christmas period is normally a good one for Pool. With expectations high, this one could make their season.

Result: Rochdale 4 Hartlepool United 0.

Read more about Hartlepool here.