Can Pools win one more?

CHRIS TURNER has set his side a straight-forward target for the remainder of the season.

On this showing, however, even winning one more game might prove too complicated a task for Hartlepool United.

Pools chucked away more points and yet more goals as they gifted Scunthorpe two goals in losing 3-2, leaving them five points clear of the drop zone with three to come.

“I think we need three or four points from the remaining games. Other results have gone for us today but we have to win at least one of our games,’’ insisted the manager.

With trips to Yeovil and Bristol Rovers and a home game with Leeds to come, Pools yesterday squandered a decent chance to get within sniffing distance of safety.

“The frustrating part about it is that Scunthorpe are top eight, we are bottom eight and there’s no difference between the sides apart from gifting them goals,’’ he reflected.

“We compete and play well and we give them goals. Of late it’s been players who have been regulars and great servants who have made individual errors.

“We got level at 2-2 and the mentality of our players, not a bad thing in some respects, is to go and win it 3-2. That was the 11th game we have conceded within five minutes of conceding – the players can’t make out they don’t know about it.’’

He added: “One game less to go and we are in the same position. But if we won today we would have been right out of it.

“Teams who concede two goals a game are going to be relegated – we have scored two and got nothing from the game.

“We are too loose and have players who don’t think defending is part and parcel of the game. Yet I am talking about players who supporters would put down as the first names on the team sheet.’’

If it’s goals you want to see, visit Victoria Park. Pools have scored 45 times and conceded 39 in League One. Add in the cup games and with ten scored and seven conceded there’s been a whopping 101 goals in 27 games – 3.74 goals per game.

When Pools fell behind for the first time yesterday it was entirely of their own doing.

They also conceded a soft second with a goal of a similar nature.

First up and goalkeeper Jan Budtz looked for a quick throw to release Andy Monkhouse, but only rolled the ball straight to Henri Lansbury.

Joe Scarz had to bring him down to stop the midfielder motoring on and the free-kick was curled, via a deflection off the defensive wall, into the unguarded side of the net.

Pools levelled thanks to a double act from their defenders at the other end.

Monkhouse’s free-kick curled into the area was nodded on by Sam Collins and Micky Nelson, who Scunthorpe were adamant was offside, got behind the back line to angle an header into the net.

His passionate celebration showed how much his sixth goal of the season meant in the context of a relegation fight.

The leveller added more than just a goal to the game, it brought plenty of fight and attitude from both sides in a full-throttle encounter.

Budtz made a vital reaction stop to maintain the balance on 48 minutes. A low Martyn Woolford shot was stopped and spilled by the keeper, but as Gary Hooper followed up to net, Budtz spread himself to diligently block.

Soon after and Pools were behind after another slip in defence. Nelson headed aimlessly backwards into his own area into the path of the alert Hooper. He cut the ball back and Paul Hayes turned in.

It was a blow which Pools took time to recover. For 22 minutes they were badly affected, until they conjured up a leveller.

Ritchie Jones crossed from the right, the ball lifted up off McCann, Sweeney stretched for it and Daniel Nardiello, only on the pitch for 13 minutes after Joel Porter hobbled off with a knee injury, took a touch and drilled home.

But Pools can’t hold onto a point or any sort of parity and the scores were level for all of three minutes as the back line opened up again. Hooper was played in behind the defence, and when his shot hit the post Hayes followed up to knock into the empty net.

More points wasted and it ensured thoughts of visits from Accrington, Morecambe and Burton for next season won’t go away.

Match facts

Goals: McCann (7mins, 0-1); Nelson (18mins, 1-1), Hayes (55mins, 1-2); Nardiello (77mins, 2-2); Hayes (80mins, 2-3)

Booking: Byrne (45mins, foul)

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Stockport) 6

Attendance: 3,998

Entertainment: ✰✰✰✰✰

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):

Budtz 6; Liddle 5, Nelson 4, Collins 6, SCARZ 6; Jones 6 (Mackay 86), Clark 6, Sweeney 6, Monkhouse 5; Porter 5 (Nardiello 64mins, 6), Parker 4 (Robson 75mins). Subs (not used): Lee-Barrett, Humphreys.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED (4-4-2):

Murphy 6; Wright 6, BYRNE 8, Mirfin 7, Mills 6; Woolford 6 (Trotter 83mins), McCann 6, Togwell 7, Lansbury 6 (Sparrow 61mins, 6); Hayes 7, Hooper 7 (May 86). Subs (not used): Lillis, Pearce.

MAN OF THE MATCH

CLIFF Byrne – solid and very committed defending from start to finish.