Pools let slip that dreaded two-goal lead

CHRIS Turner’s biggest bugbear in football came back to haunt Hartlepool United on Saturday.

The former boss often stated his dislike for a two-goal lead, insisting it was the hardest lead to have, much to the bewilderment of many.

For the second time this season (the first was with Turner in the dug-out on August 14) Pools let a two-goal advantage slip at Victoria Park. First it was against Swindon, now Bristol Rovers.

Turner’s proposed takeover of Sheffield Wednesday appears to be hitting the buffers, as a number of question marks were revealed over the weekend about the merits of the consortium who were believed to be keen on investing in Pools during the summer.

But he would doubtless have reacted to Pools’ result with a wry smile.

Two up with five minutes to go against a team who had not managed a shot on target, it was surely game over and a fourth win from six for Pools.

But just as at Orient the week before, when they looked like earning a solid away point only to concede in the 88th minute, a lack of organisation and concentration in the penalty area proved costly.

The Pirates had yet to warm Jake Keane’s hands when impact substitute John Akinde nodded across goal and Jo Kuffour directed his header into the net.

There were five minutes to go, but instead of a period of calm, it was the opposite.

And when Stuart Campbell fired a free-kick into the sixyard area, defender Byron Anthony was able to head in.

It was alarmingly similar to the goal conceded at Orient precisely seven days and two minutes previously.

“It’s disappointing as we did enough to win it,’’ reflected Mick Wadsworth.

“It’s part of our problem, defending well at home for a full game.

“Against Peterborough we did it well for 90 minutes, this time for 80 minutes. For the rest it was poorly done and that was in the penalty area, where games are decided.”

Cynics would also say it was also poorly done in the other penalty area.

For all their possession, chances and openings, Pools had to wait until the 78th minute for their second, a goal from Antony Sweeney that should have been more than enough for victory.

“We are playing well, creating chances and don’t have a natural goalscorer in the team, so we have to share goals out,’’ said Wadsworth.

“But two up with ten to play I expect to be able to see it out and it really hurts when it doesn’t happen.

“I take responsibility and all we can do is work hard, learn from mistakes and get better for it.

“We could have been more ruthless at times and we weren’t clinical enough.

“I don’t worry about the future – it’s getting the mentality that we don’t lose games at home and don’t throw leads away.

“That turns a reasonable team into a good one, and we have to do it.

“We want to get into the play-offs, it sounds stupid but that’s what I want.’’ Positionally, Pools are well off the play-offs, points-wise they are only four away. Realistically it’s a long shot as long as they fail to turn advantages and positive positions into good points.

Joe Gamble gave Pools the lead on 28 minutes. He met Leon McSweeney’s cross and headed across goal for his first of the season.

Andy Monkhouse had already seen his deflected shot scoop off the crossbar before the opener.

But then it was all Pools.

Colin Larkin has gone over a year since his last goal, and after being set up by Monkhouse he missed his finish when he should have scored.

Armann Bjornsson headed over a glorious chance from six yards, a free header from corner. Monkhouse and Gamble were both denied by flying saves from goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen.

Rovers had changed players and formation to get back into it. If Pools hadn’t gone on to earn that horrible two-goal lead, the points would have stayed at Victoria Park.

Match facts

Goals:

1-0: Gamble (28, angled header from a McSweeney cross on the right)

2-0: Sweeney (78, got in one-on-one with the keeper and had ample time to pick his spot)

2-1: Kuffour (85, headed in from close range)

2-2: Anthony (90, bundled the ball in after it dropped inside the six-yard area)

Bookings: None

Referee: Mark Haywood (Leeds): Didn’t want to book anyone, when others would have showed yellow 6

Attendance: 2,792

Entertainment: ✰✰✰

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3):

5 Kean: Had nothing to do other than watch the game for 85 minutes;

6 Austin: Was caused no problems defensively as he was on top of his game, always available as a secondary winger

6 Collins: Kept Will Hoskins easily in check, but the defence was tested more when the visitors changed it around

6 Hartley: Read the game well in the middle, but moved to his less favoured left-back spot after 65 minutes

6 Horwood: Forced off with a thigh strain after a steady show;

8 LIDDLE: Put in plenty of blocks and tackles, as he dovetailed well with Murray and Gamble across the middle

7 Murray: Always looking to dictate play and start passing Pools into attack from deep

6 Gamble: Scored one with a neat header, denied a second later on by a flying save;

7 McSweeney: Bright and confident on the right, saw plenty of the ball as Pools dominated

7 Larkin: Only had a couple of half chances to score, but workrate and effort created openings for others

7 Monkhouse: Unlucky not to get on the scoresheet and was able to play far up the park because of the home dominance.

Subs:

Bjornsson (for Horwood 65): Wasn’t really troubled defensively after his arrival at centre-half, but squandered a free header from six yards 5

Sweeney (for Gamble 76)

Poole (for Larkin 76)

(not used): Devlin (gk), Behan, Yantorno, Haslam.

BRISTOL ROVERS (4-4-2):

Andersen 7; Regan 6, Anthony 6, Coles 6, Sawyer 5; Reece 4 (Swallow 57, 5), Lines 5, Campbell 7, Hughes 5 (Akinde 57, 6); Hoskins 4 (Brown 90), Kuffour 6. Subs (not used): Green (gk), Tunnicliffe, Blizzard, Richards.

MAN OF THE MATCH

GARY Liddle – pushing back into midfield has rediscovered the form he displayed there when he first arrived at the club.