Bristol Rovers 4 Hartlepool United 1

FOR weeks Chris Turner had been saying he expected the outcome of the season to go down to the final game. What he couldn’t have envisaged, however, was just how abysmal it would prove.

Hartlepool United stayed in League One and avoided relegation, but more by default than ability; more luck than judgement.

They crumbled and rolled over at Bristol Rovers, conceding two goals in the opening four minutes, on a day when other results conspired in their favour to keep them up.

Northampton were always up against it at Leeds and perhaps that was on the players’ minds, they knew they had that safety net to fall back on.

If anyone was in any doubt that this squad of players needs dismantling and rebuilding, here was your answer.

Turner has already signed Adam Boyd, a fee of £80,000 is believed to have lured him back to his former club from Orient, and he is a perfect replacement for Joel Porter.

He is also likely to get goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos back from Coventry City on a season-long loan in the next few days.

And they are just the start of the incomings of a busy summer.

Of Saturday’s 16 on duty, question marks can be put against ten of them being at the club next season.

The rebuilding job that should have happened 12 months ago will now take place.

“The new season started weeks ago and I’m hoping to sign another player in the coming days,’’ he admitted.

“We need better players in, we have to or we will get relegated next season.

“You cannot go on like this.

It’s an opportunity to change the squad because a lot are out of contract. Certain players we would like to keep, certain players will be leaving.

“I’ve spoken to the chairman and owners, but not spoke about my situation yet.

“Adam coming back is a good deal for us all – we tried in January and now we have him. We need someone else up front as well, but my priority is at the back.’’ Conceding 79 goals this season in League One is pathetic.

And that’s exactly what the start to the game was.

Pools had the chance to clear before a shot from Charlie Reece was pushed by Jan Budtz straight into the path of Jo Kuffour eight yards from goal.

Then Darryl Duffy cut in from the left wing, walked across the defence and finished with ease.

Carlisle had to turn around a six-goal deficit on Pools to overtake them – by 3.07pm, they were already halfway there after taking the lead over Millwall.

When Pools did settle down and stopped panicking, they got on top of the opposition.

Daniel Nardiello’s third goal in four games, a tenacious affair after he saw two initial shots kept out, brought them back into the game and brought some much-needed spirit and belief.

But if their start to the firsthalf was bad enough, the start to the second-half was worse.

Rickie Lambert went into the game with 28 goals. So you would think leaving him unmarked to take a routine pass from Duffy 12 yards from goal wouldn’t happen.

He passed the ball home and then full-back Aaron Lescott was given the chance to do the same within seconds.

From then on, with Carlisle two-up and Northampton onedown, the relegation places were as good as sealed.

“It was a cringeworthy game, which typified the season,’’ reflected Turner. “Five minutes in the first half, five minutes in the second half and we have conceded four goals.

“I tried to strengthen in those areas to stop the problems, but we just, just done enough to stay up and that was the target.

“I always felt this was going to be a tough season and when I took over, especially after losing to Crewe 4-1 when I first took over.

“The players have given me everything they have got in training and games, but without a doubt we are good enough as a squad at the moment to be anywhere other than where we are.

“Last season we finished 15th and two teams were relegated with points deductions, so that helped us out. This season it’s the same squad of players and we nearly got relegated – there has to be a lot of work and changes and we have to strengthen.’’ It’s victory at Yeovil two weeks previous that kept Pools up, those three points keeping them out of the bottom four and proving their final return of the season.

“It’s strange because we trained before the Yeovil game two weeks ago and I wasn’t happy with it,’’ revealed Turner. “Then they went out and performed like they did at Yeovil.

“On Friday we trained after arriving down here and they were fantastic – but I didn’t want to say because you think they are up for it and ready for the game.

“It’s difficult, but it was going to be massively unlucky for us to get relegated.

“But within three minutes we are two goals down. Then within two minutes of the restart we are three and four down. Comedy goals, comedy goals again.”

Matchfacts

Goals: 1-0: Kuffour (2mins, turned in from close range) 2-0: Duffy (4, allowed to run across defence before low finish) 2-1: Nardiello (28, scored at the third attempt after hitting the bar and seeing his second shot saved) 3-1: Lambert (46mins, allowed time and space to net) 4-1: Lescott (48mins, wasn’t picked up and easy finish)
Booking: Jones (29mins, foul)
Referee: Grant Hegley (Bishops Stortford): Only one booking as he let the game and season end without fuss 7
Attendance: 7,363
Entertainment: ✰

BRISTOL ROVERS (4-4-2): Phillips 6; Pipe 7 (Disley 58mins, 5), Elliott 6, Anthony 6, Lescott 6, Reece 7 (Rigg 76), Campbell 6, Lines 6, Duffy 7, KUFFOUR 8 (Hunt 68), Lambert 8. Subs (not used): St Louis-Hamilton (gk), Kite.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):
5 Budtz: Pushed shot straight to striker for opening goal, but regularly left exposed
4 Liddle: Showed he’s no full back – caught out positionally all too often
4 Nelson: Gave away too many slack passes, but game affected by a flu bug
3 Collins: Shaky throughout; season end couldn’t come quick enough
5 Scarz: Tried to use the ball well on his last loan appearance for the club
4 Jones: Needs to be back in central midfield as he is found wanting out wide
6 Sweeney: Showed he cared as he tried to rouse his failing team-mates
4 Clark: Lumbered in central midfield as he was left chasing around the pitch
5 Robson: Saw his share of the ball when Pools were on top and looked lively
5 Monkhouse: Played up front; not his game but always trying to get involved
6 Nardiello: Played with an attitude and deserved his goal for his efforts

Subs:
HUMPHREYS (for Nelson 68mins): Sat in central midfield and prompted the team in his 22 minutes more than anyone else did all day 7
Foley (for Jones 76mins) (not used): Lee-Barrett, McCunnie, Mackay.

MAN OF THE MATCH
JO Kuffour – Sharp and too lively for the Pools rearguard