Nottingham Forest 2, Hartlepool United 1.

"Even when they lost 2-0 at Leeds I heard that a lot of people who were at the game could not believe that Hartlepool didn't not get something from the match,'' wrote Nottingham Forest boss Colin Calderwood in Saturday's match programme.

For 2-0 read 2-1 and for Leeds read Nottingham Forest and there you have a pretty realistic summary of Hartlepool United's latest away game.

Domination at the City Ground may not have been on the same scale as Leeds - or even Luton on the opening day of the season - but this was another away game Pools lost which they could quite conceivably have won.

Manager Danny Wilson has said this season that playing away from home suits his side. At ease in possession and swift to attack in numbers and at pace, Pools play an entertaining brand of football.

But sometimes entertainment perhaps needs to be sacrificed in favour of a bit of solidity.

The defence which kept a record number of clean sheets last season is not as secure this time around. Fourteen goals conceded in ten games isn't something Micky Nelson and Co are pleased with and the skipper's partnership with Godwin Antwi remains work in progress.

Behind the back four, Jan Budtz is gaining more confidence in his own game by the week.

At 1-1, after Richard Barker's header, Pools were favourites to win it. But they couldn't convert their chances as keeper Paul Smith made two key saves from Gary Liddle and Ian Moore.

But, with seven minutes remaining, Junior Agogo knocked in the loose ball after Budtz saved from Kris Commons to deflate the Pools players and 1,200 followers.

"It was like Leeds all over again, wasn't it?'' said Moore. "Maybe we've got to learn how to take a draw away from home instead of pushing on and going on for a win.

"I think that's what has probably been the difference. We are confident in the way we play the game and we look for three points - but it's killed us in the end.

"It's nice to be able to go to places like Elland Road and the City Ground and set out our game to go for the win, it's a measure of what we are all about.

"That's the way we play - we are confident of winning at most grounds in our division. To go to Forest and play like we did proves that and if we had stuck our chances away we would have won the game quite comfortably.

"By the end, we've lost and they have the three points. It's a bit frustrating.''

He added: "We were drawing and pushing on for a win. To lose is so disappointing really, at 1-1 maybe we should think about getting everyone behind the ball and sitting in to settle for a draw.

"Instead, every week we push on and go to win the game. This time it hasn't worked out for us.

"Maybe we are a bit too cavalier at times and that's our problem. We need to calm down and take a point when it's on offer.

"We look at the league table and we know we should be higher with more points in the bag. We've had a few home games when our displays haven't been very good. We've got to try and get back to winning again.''

The opening goal came when Julian Bennett swung over a deep cross, Agogo easily headed it down ahead of Antwi and Commons nipped in from the wing to finish unmarked from close range.

There was a bit of an inquest within the defence in the immediate aftermath - the cross should have been dealt with.

Forest had started better and were quick to chase and stop Pools from playing. But the visitors, courtesy of a switch when James Brown and Moore changed roles, drew level.

Moore, now on the right wing, crossed invitingly for Barker to nip in between man mountain central defender Wes Morgan and Kelvin Wilson to head in his second goal from open play in a week.

Right on half-time came Pools' clearest chance. Brown played Gary Liddle in on goal after he surged from midfield. One on one with keeper Paul Smith, Liddle put his shot too close to Smith who blocked with his legs.

When Forest were presented with a similar chance in the closing minutes, after some neat and tidy Commons footwork, the ball fell kindly for Agogo to net. That's how it goes away from home for Pools right now.

Moore thought he'd put Pools in front in the second half when he collected Brown's flick, went through two defenders and saw his low shot kept out of the bottom corner by Smith.

"I had a chance, hit it well and I was away - I thought it was in, I really did,'' admitted Moore. "But the keeper made a very good save to keep it out.

"The gaffer gave me the call to push out wide and change around with Browny.

"My first touch when I was out there was to whip the ball in for Richard Barker to score, so I can do both, I can play through the middle or out on the wing.

"I played a lot of times out there for Leeds and wherever I've been I've done it. I don't mind one bit and throughout my career I've played 80 or 90 games out there so it's nothing new to me.

"Right on half-time was possibly the turning point. If we scored at that time it puts them on the back foot a bit.

"But it didn't happen and we came off the pitch very disappointed.'