Wadsworth satisfied with Pools’ draw at Pirates

AFTER what Mick Wadsworth described as ‘the collywobbles’, Hartlepool United are back on the straight and narrow and back to normal.

Five successive wins was instantly followed by three defeats on the spin. Last night’s goalless draw at a Bristol Rovers side without a win in 11 games may not be cause for celebration, but no-one at Victoria Park will be grumbling this morning.

Pools were the better team, their only failing was their usual trait – the lack of a predatory scorer to turn their possession and territorial advantage into goals.

They were in control to the extent that home goalkeeper Luke Daniels was happy to take an eternity to line-up an injury time goalkick to ease the pressure on his side.

“All we just needed was that goal,’’ said Wadsworth. “Any critical point I may have was the last pass, we didn’t work the keeper too much. But I wont take anything from the players for a super performance.

“I was as happy with that as I was for some of our away wins. The performance really pleased me and I said that to the players afterwards.’’ Pools lost in a flat and disappointing manner to Dagenham at the weekend, but showed no signs of a hangover as they took the game to their hosts, now managed by ex-Darlington boss Dave Penney.

In eight previous games with Pools, he has only recorded one win and his bad run never looked like ending last night.

Six minutes in and Pools should have had a penalty when Dave McCracken handled, but their strong appeals were dismissed.

McCracken, a new loan signing, should have done more than head over the bar from close range when he got under a left-sided corner.

Evan Horwood flourished in the space he had on the left and he charged ahead to tee up a shot from distance which goalkeeper Luke Daniels spilled then smothered.

Pools fielded Andy Monkhouse up front, with Ritchie Humphreys on the left.

While the ball didn’t really stick to the front-man, he dropped deep to good use allowing Pools to dominate possession.

Play switched swiftly from one end to the other.

A corner was headed at goal by McCracken, but Kean blocked, and when the ball spun loose Humphreys charged on a counter attack.

Leon McSweeney took the ball on the right side, cut inside, but shot with his left foot at Daniels’ near post.

Horwood’s sweeping reverse pass changed the direction of play for Monkhouse to cross. Gary Liddle, full of midfield energy, met the ball but badly scuffed his shot wide from ten yards.

The Pirates’ best chance came when Jo Kuffour, with three goals against Pools in his last four games, got ahead of defender Armann Bjornsson in the area.

Bjornsson held him up, then almost knocked the ball into his own net before Kean recovered.

The second-half panned out in the same way as the first –with Pools on top and unable to convert possession into goals, or even good chances.

A short corner saw Horwood in space on the edge of the box, but his cross/shot was turned away for a corner.

Gamble was tight in midfield, using the short ball well.

With runners and plenty of options available, Pools’ grip on the game never eased.

Their only threat in the half came at the death, Kuffour latching onto Will Hoskins’ long ball. He came to life in the area and his goalbound shot was blocked by the wideawake Neil Austin.

“A goal for us was only going to come from a set play, but I never felt in any danger, second half especially,’’ added Wadsworth.

“They are a handful going forward and, for Armann, he was up against two quick and tricky players. I’ve seen him play at centre-back and he has played their and done well.

“I’m a performance coach, results for me come with performances and after the last few games that was a good response to get us back on track.

Paul Murray dropped out of the squad due to illness, with James Brown also suffering, Sam Collins was on the bench and is expected to be fit for the weekend.

MATCHFACTS

Bookings: Horwood (19, foul), Austin (33, foul); Sawyer (43, foul), Campbell (73, foul)
Referee: Darren Sheldrake (Surrey) 7
Attendance: 5,285
Entertainment: ✰✰✰

BRISTOL ROVERS (4-4-2): Daniels 5; Regan 5 (Reece 66, 5), Tunnicliffe 6, McCracken 6, Anthony 5; Sawyer 6, Campbell 6, Lines 5, SWALLOW 7 (Richards 88), Kuffour 6, Hoskins 6. Subs (not used): Green (gk), Brown, Blizzard, Bolger, Pell.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2): Kean 5; Austin 7, Bjornsson 7, Hartley 7, Horwood 7; McSweeney 6, GAMBLE 7, Sweeney 6, Liddle 6, Humphreys 7 (Behan 88), Monkhouse 5.

Subs: (not used): Flinders (gk), Collins, Boyd, Yantorno, Brown, Haslam.

MAN OF THE MATCH
JOE Gamble – busy, neat and tidy in central midfield