Charlton Athletic 2 Hartlepool United 1

CHRIS TURNER felt his Hartlepool United side restored some much-needed pride last night.

Pools may have lost at Charlton Athletic, but the performance was a world apart from the 5-0 humiliation by MK Dons.

And, after a solid and organised display, it was a wonder goal that condemned them, to defeat.

“We played well at times and showed the spirit we didn’t have on Saturday,’’ said Turner. “We showed some character and restored some pride.

“Saturday was the worst I have felt as a manager, player or coach. When you have just got beat 5-0 at home last time out, you want to be tighter and organised.

“(Denis) Behan was strong all night and we had some very good performances out there.

“As a team and as a staff we feel a lot better than we did on Saturday.

“We are coming to a side not beaten at home and I thought they restored some pride which was lost on Saturday.

“We were inches away from a point tonight. When we saw how poorly we played on Saturday we needed a reaction.’’ Pools, from the off and throughout with a 4-5-1 set-up, had the desire and determination previously lacking.

Twice in quick succession, home defender Miguel Llera had to clear a dangerous position in the opening quarter.

That was more defending than the MK Dons back four were asked to manage in 90 minutes.

Llera cut an uneasy figure and Pools were quick to ask questions of the languid central defender.

At the other end, Sam Collins, back in the side after a bout of flu and an Achilles problem, was dominant along with his defenders.

Charlton were becoming frustrated with their inability to press the visitors. They created their first chance on 25 minutes, Lloyd Sam, so dangerous at Victoria Park in August, clipped a high cross for Jonjo Shelvey to head over from eight yards.

Then Andy Monkhouse, drifting inside with intent, tried his luck from 20 yards and keeper Rob Elliott held on.

The opening goal came on 30 minutes, Shelvey crossed from deep and when he found David Mooney, he made no mistake to plant his header in from close range.

There was almost an instant response, Joe Gamble’s low ball found Ritchie Humphreys but his shot didn’t test keeper Elliott.

Gamble roamed midfield with intent all night and passed the ball simply and effectively.

Pools were rewarded for their efforts five minutes after the restart. The energetic Antony Sweeney was tripped by Llera in the area as he shaped to shoot. Behan, the focal point of Pools’ game, smashed them level with a penalty down the middle.

Shelvey almost turned the score back in the Addicks’ favour, curling a shot against the outside of the post.

Then Jose Semedo squirmed a shot wide and, with 30 minutes to go, Pools were set for a test of character.

But while on Saturday they were beaten by a distance, this time they were beaten from distance.

Scott Wagstaff had been on the field for four minutes, when he rifled in from 30 yards. Flinders had little chance of saving.

■ Pools youth team last night lost 2-0 to Watford at Victoria Park in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Matchfacts

Goals: Mooney (30, 1-0); Behan (50, 1-1); Wagstaff (80, 2-1)
Bookings: Behan (45, foul); Collins (68, foul); Dickson (81, unsporting behaviour), Gamble (88, foul)
Referee: Steve Tanner (Bristol) 6
Attendance: 14,636
Entertainment: ✰✰✰

CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Elliott 6; Richardson 7, Dailly 6, Llera 4, Basey 7; Sam 6 (Wagstaff 76), Bailey 7, Semedo 6, Shelvey 6 (McKenzie 70, 5); Burton 6, Mooney 6 (Dickson 76). Subs (not used): Randolph, Spring, Solly, Moususi.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-5-1): Flinders 6; Austin 6, Collins 7, Liddle 6, Haslam 6; Larkin 5, Gamble 7, Humphreys 6 (Jones 82), Sweeney 6, Monkhouse 6; BEHAN 7 (Boyd 77). Subs (not used): Cook (gk), Clark, McSweeney, Bjornsson, Fredriksen.

MAN OF THE MATCH
DENIS Behan – a strong return to action