Another loss leaves Cooper on brink

NEALE COOPER today stands on the brink of leaving Hartlepool United after defeat at Bury last night left Pools bottom of League One.

While stopping short of standing down in the immediate aftermath, Cooper left Gigg Lane a broken and beaten man.

His return to the club he led so passionately and effectively from 2003-2005 has not worked out as planned and the Scot will decide on his future this morning.

However, his exit now looks inevitable after a run of just one win this season.

“I have to look at myself, it’s a hard place,’’ he admitted.

“A journey home tonight and I look at things tomorrow.

It’s not a nice place to be right now. I’ve always had a good affection for Hartlepool people and that’s not there right now.

“We had a long chat afterwards in the dressing room, but it’s not good enough and whatever happens here they have to fight their way out of it. They have to stick together.’’ He added: “I’ll see what happens with myself, that’s all we can do. It’s not been good enough.

“It’s not pleasant, it’s not my nature to be down. I’ll see what happens.

“It’s not about being confident to get out of this position, it’s not been good enough and it’s not been nice for me – they know how much I love the club.

“I totally understand the frustration of supporters and I’m getting it both barrels.

It’s hard, not pleasant.

“It will be hard to get out of this position, but they have to stick together.’’ Cooper had described losing this one as “not an option”.

Pools were beaten by a team without a win to their name this season.

But should they have to fall two-down to the division’s bottom side before they start playing?

By the end they had missed a penalty, Neil Austin cracking against the crossbar and saw another late strike cannon off the woodwork.

It’s not happening for Pools. Where they go from here is open to debate, but the way it’s going League Two would be a good guess.

“The last half hour was better, but the damage was done by then,’’ added Cooper.

“We got back to 2-1, but it’s difficult and not good enough.

“We should have had a penalty when Ryan (Noble) went through. It wasn’t to be and we had a late surge.

“Neil stepped up and missed, it would have been 2-2. When things are how they are it’s hard and it wasn’t to be.’’ Bury were out to make the most of Pools’ shortage of confidence and the visitors needed Scott Flinders to again save them early. He made his first save after a minute, quickly off his line to deny David Worrall.

Austin curled a low freekick at goal which Trevor Carson bundled away.

Flinders saved again, this time on 36 minutes, as Worrall got in behind the back four.

A minute later, he was beaten by a scruffy goal.

Winger Dominic Poleon was nippy, but it was from a weak cross that the ball fell for Tom Hopper, who scuffed his finish across Flinders.

This was now a character test for Pools. Even more so when they fell two-down on 55 minutes. Worrall’s touch in the area killed the ball dead and he teed up a firm finish across Flinders.

Pools reacted instantly.

With his back to goal 30 yards out, Noble turned to ship a stunning volley high over Carson.

The two goals defied the previous level of quality on display. Until then there was plenty of honesty, but little class.

Noble was reborn and skipped through three defenders before being pushed over in the box. Somehow referee Steve Rushton played on.

The on-loan Sunderland striker had been a disappointment, but not this time.

Another charge into the box and he was again bundled over. Referee Rushton this time awarded a spot kick to make up for his past error.

Austin took it and drilled against the bar – Pools’ fifth penalty miss this season (including a shoot-out in the JPT).

They hit the bar again, Nathan Luscome crashing a volley against the frame of the goal.

Too little, too late.