WHEN the record gets stuck, you hear the same line time and time again. Hartlepool United are like that broken record – not record-breakers, just a broken record.

After their seventh successive defeat away from home, this time at Norwich, the story and outcome struck a familiar chord.

Pools were neat and tidy in possession, had their chances, conceded a couple of goals that should have been prevented, missed chances and ended up losing.

And that’s why Pools are looking at a nervous and uneasy end to the season, yet again.

“People keep saying take the positives out of the game but it’s getting more and more difficult,’’ reflected Antony Sweeney. “There are positives, but at the end of the day we keep losing.’’ Manager Chris Turner said: “If we had taken our chances in the last four games we would have drawn at Charlton, beaten Bristol Rovers, beaten Gillingham and had at least a draw at Norwich – promotion form. We are so close, it’s about keeping the focus and remaining positive.’’ The last time Pools were relegated, in 2006, there was plenty of talk of “taking the positives”.

In reality it means nothing.

Now it’s time to turn talk into action.

It’s not as if the next few games are any easier – against Leeds, Huddersfield and Millwall.

Pools enter March with an easier programme in the last few weeks of the season. But they may be playing catch-up by then. Fourth bottom Oldham are five points behind Pools with four games in hand.

Two wins from 13 games isn’t good enough and the solid away form displayed at the start of the season has gone, with a return to the problems of the last couple of seasons. In front of a 25,000 crowd, Pools gave more than as good as they got against the League One leaders.

But after taking the lead, there is no excuse for conceding an equaliser within a minute.

“I think a lot of people expected us to come here and get beaten easily – 25,000 people here expecting a small town club like Hartlepool to turn up and see the goals bang in,’’ said Turner.

“We played well, were positive and created good chances throughout. We took the lead, let them straight back into it and it’s naivety again.

“Everything is there apart from the goals and that’s the difference. We have been the better team in most games, created chances and not put them away. We want a Gordon Watson character, one chance and he puts it away “We scored to go ahead and straight after scoring you make sure you are tight and keep the ball away from the penalty box.

“A full back made the first goal and a full back scored the second goal – for which Scott (Flinders) has apologised, he knows he made a mistake.

“At 2-1 we had a one-on-one with the keeper, some you score, some you miss, some are saved. When it doesn’t go in, you know it might not be your day.”

The chance came when Andy Monkhouse, playing in a free role behind the front two, and Ritchie Humphreys opened up the home side for Denis Behan.

After taking a touch, he should have been composed enough to finish past Fraser Forster, but instead the onloan Newcastle goalkeeper was able to block.

In the first half, Colin Larkin squandered two clear chances, putting his finish wide after being played in, before diverting the ball away from goal when it dropped to him in the six-yard area.

And Gary Liddle screwed a left-footed volley wide from eight yards.

Neil Austin put Pools ahead, in identical fashion to his goal against Gillingham last Tuesday, shooting in low, left-footed from 20 yards.

But they gifted the Canaries an instant leveller, as Russell Martin was allowed to pick his pass and Cody McDonald leaped in ahead of Sam Collins and Austin to score.

The winning goal came on the counter attack, the ball swept in from debutant Michael Rose, the left back Pools were close to signing in the summer from Stockport.

Turner said: “If you are playing rubbish then there are problems. We have a good squad of players and are showing that against the best in the league – Charlton, Norwich and the likes. We can compete and it’s a very thin dividing line.

“We kept the fans quiet.

After ten minutes you sensed they were thinking ‘hang on, they aren’t bad’. They were relieved at the final whistle. I cannot ask any more.’’ But now he needs more – more goals, more points, more faith from outside and more belief from the terraces.

A malaise is setting in around Hartlepool United and it’s time to shake it off.

Match facts

Goals: 0-1: Austin (26, fired in low, leftfooted strike from 20 yards) 1-1:

McDonald (27, jumped above two defenders to head high into the net)

2-1: Rose (32, cross-shot from the left side of the area across goal to the far side of the net)

Bookings: Boyd (80, foul); Liddle (90, foul)

Referee: Paul Taylor (Cheshunt): Tried to let the game go without unnecessary interference 7

Attendance: 25,506

Entertainment: ✰✰✰✰✰Norw.

NORWICH CITY (4-3-1-2): Forster 6; MARTIN 7, Nelson 6, Doherty 6, Rose 7, Smith 5, Russell 5, Lappin 6; Hoolahan 6; Mc- Donald 6 (Johnson 70, 6), Martin 6. Subs (not used): Rudd (gk), Gill, Hughes, McNamee, Kelly, Whitbread

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-1-2):

4 Flinders: Will be disappointed to be beaten for the winning goal

7 Austin: Two goals in two games for the right back who gave little away

6 Collins: Solid at the heart of defence but didn’t challenge for the leveller

6 Liddle: Back to form but pulled a chance wide when scoreline was blank

5 Hartley: Combative and busy, however, slack pass led to their second

6 Sweeney: Filled in on the right of three-man midfield and did his share of work

6 Gamble: Always available and always looking to prompt Pools’ play

7 HUMPHREYS: Used ball intelligently, and Pools’ most involved individual

6 Monkhouse: Got better as the game went on in role behind front two

4 Behan: Did his share of graft but should have put Pools level when 2-1 down

4 Larkin: Two glorious chances to open scoring, but squandered both

Subs:

Boyd (for Behan 70, tried to get involved instantly and saw enough of the ball) 6 Jones (for Humphreys 70, introduced to add some drive from midfield late on) 5 (not used): Cook (gk), Haslam, Bjornsson, Fredriksen, Clark MAN OF THE MATCH

RITCHIE Humphreys – always tried to create openings and got stuck into the midfield battle