Former players pile woe on boss Wilson

THERE’S been plenty of changes to the Hartlepool United side since Danny Wilson left the club last December.

Chris Turner has certainly stamped his own mark on the squad, signing a rack of new players in a summer of change.

But it was four players Wilson has seen plenty of in the past who were so instrumental in earning Pools’ third away win of the season at their former manager’s expense.

Wilson knew enough about Adam Boyd to accept £500,000 for his services not long after taking charge of Pools in 2006, he signed Sam Collins and Andy Monkhouse and gave James Brown the chance to shine.

All four – among others – were outstanding in victory at Swindon. Pools could have been out of sight by half-time such was their dominance.

Swindon had not lost since the opening day of the season; on this display it may be another 11 games before they win again, although in mitigation they badly missed the influence of suspended former Leeds midfielder Jonathon Douglas.

Pools, the team that can win away but not at home, dominated.

They today lie 13th in League. And that’s despite taking just five points from a possible 18 at home this season.

It’s a good job they can perform well on the road. But who knows where they could be with a decent home record.

“We are getting more points away from home right now, but it will soon turn,’’ insisted Turner. “Away from home we have played really well and this was another example.

The fans who come away from home get behind the team.

“The crowd got behind us against Walsall and look at the outcome – we won 3-0.

“There are going to be games like against Brentford when it’s frustrating for everyone, but we didn’t get beat last Friday did we?

“We have to get to 50 points plus as soon as we can and that was another point on the road there.

“We all want to see Brazil, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but I’ve said before this is a whole new squad of players and they are as frustrated as anyone at home.

“Just one or two think it’s a bit of a laugh to criticise players and management. I said last week in the press conference, let’s see where we are at the end of the season.

“If we play like we can here against a team who haven’t lost since the first day of the season, and we have given them hell for 45 minutes, then we can do it against anyone.’’ If the Pools from Swindon, Stockport (second-half), Gillingham and Oldham can turn up at home, then Turner’s immediate target of hitting the 50 point barrier will be achieved much sooner than later.

Right from the off they took the game to Swindon, with Boyd and Brown prominent.

The pair played with a swagger throughout and combined on just three minutes for the first goal.

Boyd dropped a few yards deeper, as he did so well all day, and had the time and space to chip into the area to pick out Brown, who headed past the stranded David Lucas.

They had four other chances before the break to score more, but one extra was enough as Brown and Boyd combined again to create a second.

Boyd’s beautifully weighted pass wasn’t the first time left back Callum Kennedy was chasing shadows – he spent the first-half running after Brown.

Brown eased past him again, and cut the ball across goal for Monkhouse to drill in low. It was the second time in three games he’d scored at his former club and meant Pools had won at the County Ground for the third time in a row.

There was no second-half onslaught from Swindon, the Pools penalty area was more a picture of calm.

With Sam Collins repelling all and his defence having supreme confidence in goalkeeper Scott Flinders, Pools were never bothered.

The relationship between defence and goalkeeper is a world away from the last couple of seasons and gives Pools a solid platform, no longer one built on sand.

In midfield the doggedness and energy of Ritchie Humphreys and Ritchie Jones offered protection.

Jones has been out of the picture for a month, but returned in style with a performance full of graft.

“Was there a weak link out there? No it was an all-round good performance, attacking wise in the first-half especially,’’ reflected Turner.

“In the second half Swindon had possession and put us under a bit of pressure, but that was all – they only had one half chance because we were very disciplined.’’

Match facts

Goals:

0-1: Brown (3, headed in from the middle of the area after Boyd’s cross)

0-2: Monkhouse (30, low first-time finish from Brown’s cut-back)

Bookings: Jones (23, foul) Liddle (28, foul), Monkhouse (30, over celebrating)

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland): Never ceases to cause frustration to all players and fans alike 4

Attendance: 7,069

Entertainment: ✰✰✰

SWINDON TOWN (4-4-2): Lucas 5; Amankwaah 6, Cuthbert 5, Greer 6, Kennedy 4, (Jean-Francois 46, 5); MCNAMEE 7, McGovern 6, Ferry 4, Obadeyi 7; Hutchinson 5 (Paynter 67, 5), Revell 6 (Peacock 50, 5).

Subs (not used): Smith (gk), Timlin, Easton, Morrison.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):

7 Flinders: Typically safe and sound. Never looked in any danger all afternoon with his positive decision making;

7 Austin: A good, rugged display from a real out and out right back

8 Collins: Utterly dominant throughout as he never offered an ounce of encouragement

8 Liddle: Reading of the game was again impeccable in a solid defensive display

7 Hartley: May have come unstuck against a bright opponent in McNamee, but stuck to his task and emerged the winner;

8 BROWN: When he plays well, Pools play well and he set the first-half display up

7 Humphreys: Doing a vital and under-rated role in the middle of midfield as he holds the side together

8 Jones: An impressive and hard-working return to the side after a spell on the sidelines

8 Monkhouse: Loves nothing more than playing – and scoring – at Swindon. Full of confidence and self-belief;

6 Behan: Never hid, but perhaps he isn’t yet through his dip in form

8 Boyd: Dropped deep for possession to draw holes and openings in the home defence

Subs:

Bjornsson (for Boyd 70): Game was as good as over by the time he arrived, but did what was asked 6 Larkin (for Behan 70): Showed his pace and could have scored 6 McSweeney (for Brown 77) (not used): Cook (gk), Fredriksen, Sweeney, Haslam.

MAN OF THE MATCH

JAMES Brown – showed plenty of signs of his best form.