CHRIS Turner is taking a leaf from the Arsene Wenger manual of football management.

No, the Hartlepool United boss isn't turning a conveient blind eye or adopting a "I did not see it" stance when it comes to controversy.

Instead, with his side sitting in the upper echelons of the table, Turner is still waiting for his team to start playing football the way he knows they can.

Because although Pool are sitting in second spot this morning, they are there without really playing well this season - or at least not as good as we know they are capable of.

Arsenal, according to Wenger, are in the same situation.

"We've gone to Swansea and it shows how we are when we went away disappointed to only draw,'' reflected Turner. "But we will play a lot better than this away from home this season and lose.

"I know there is still more to come from us over the coming year. Arsene Wenger said it will take 10 or 12 games before this team start to play the way he wants and that is how I feel.

"But we have got off to a good start without playing at our best and it is a good sign and a bonus because we will still get better.''

Pool beat Swansea 7-1 at Victoria Park towards the end of last season, at a time when Turner's side were really on top of their game.

And supporters left the Vetch Field knowing if their side had been playing anything like they were in April then three points would have been in the bag.

But the draw means Pool have yet to lose on the road in four games this season and who wouldn't have taken 14 points from 7 games - especially given Pool's old habit of starting a new season slowly.

Pool, who seem have to clocked up more miles than Eddie Stobart this season, will be glad to be back home this week.

Because after treks to Torquay, Oxford and Swansea on successive Saturdays, Pool finally have some games on home soil.

First up is Tranmere in the Worthington Cup on Tuesday night, before the big one when Darlington arrive on Saturday, with Lincoln following three days later.

"We've had three tough away trips and come away with points,'' he said. "We created more chances than the home team and we scored two excellent goals. It was the first time we have been behind in an away game for a long time, but we soon came back.

"We've a difficult game again next week and Darlington is a game for the fans. But it will be nice to play at home after so many away games.''

Turner claimed the referee was Pool's toughest opponent and after Phil Crossley failed to give Pool a penalty when Gordon Watson was used as a climbing frame inside the Swansea penalty area, it's hard to disagree.

Pool also had cause to dispute Swansea's two goals, claiming a couple of pushes handed the advantage to the home side.

Mark Tinkler's third of the season put Pool in front, volleying in from the edge of the penalty area and, who knows, there may of been thoughts of 7-1 creeping into thoughts at that time.

But a right-wing corner landed at the far far post and player-boss Nick Cusack headed in. Pool claimed a foul on Chris Westwood, but referee Crossley was having none of it.

Then, for the first time since going down at Kidderminster in March, Pool found themselves trailing in an away game.

Another right-wing corner found a route in the penalty area and Tinkler's outstretched arm connected with the ball. Tinkler was booked after protesting his claim that he was fouled, but Jamie Wood tapped the penalty in.

But Pool don't like being behind for long and Paul Arnison's cross from the right was turned in by Pool predator Gordon Watson.

Watson almost made it two when his close-range header was kept out by Roger Freestone and a Ritchie Humphreys low cross from the left that hacked over his own bar by defender David Theobald just yards from goal.

Swansea introduced striker John Williams on 61 minutes and the former Darlington striker quickly made his presence felt, soon harrassing Graeme Lee and Micky Barron into unforced errors and sending in a number of crosses from the left side which caused problems in the penalty area, one which led to David Moss looping a header over Anthony Williams and onto a post.