Collins happy that Pools learned a harsh lesson

AS he surveyed the wreckage of two points dropped, Hartlepool United's captain took the initiative.

Sam Collins wasn't having any more of it. He had saw his side turn a win into a draw at Stevenage last month, as they crumbled under second-half pressure.

The away dressing room at Broadhall Way was an angry and frustrated place. The players vowed it wouldn't happen again.

True to their word it hasn't. In two away games since, Pools have had two-goal advantages in both, leading 3-1 at Rochdale, 2-0 at Carlisle on Saturday.

And on both occasions they have saw the game out. Seven games unbeaten represents Pools longest stretch at the start of a season without defeat, beating a record of six that was set by Alan Murray's side in 1992/93.

"Stevenage was a game we should have closed out and gave each other a kick up the backside afterwards,'' he admitted. "There was a lot of strong words said in the dressing room.

"Last season we gave away goals too easy at times and the second half that day was so frustrating. There was a few home truths said and that it was the sort of game we had to win and see out if we were going to do anything this season.

"It should have been sewn up, no excuses. No way in a million of years should they have got back in it.''

And while Collins' denunciation has had a profound effect, his actions on the pitch on Saturday weren't too bad either.

Three games out with a hamstring strain, Collins returned to training on Thursday. There was no need to rush him straight back in, such was the form of the back four in victory over Exeter.

But with the Cumbrians liking nothing more than to swing a succession of balls into the area, Collins was needed.

In the second half he won header after header, made interceptions aplenty and cleared his lines with some authority.

That they had a platform to defend was thanks to Gary Liddle and Adam Boyd. The former with his second goal in as many games, the latter with his fourth in four away games this season.

Liddle's strike came after Antony Sweeney's cross was met by Nobby Solano at the far post, but his shot was knocked off the line and Liddle ran in to drill in low from 12 yards.

The second was the latest addition to Pools' goal of the season competition. In four games away from home, there's been three belters - two from James Poole at Rochdale, and this from Boyd.

Last season, Pools scored only 15 on the road in 23 games. They have nine already this campaign.

Again Carlisle didn't clear convincingly - not least in the manner Pools did time and time again. Boyd, loitering with intent on the edge of the area, took a touch to control before drifting his shot high past Adam Collin into the far corner.

Yet by the time Pools were in front, they could easily have been two down.

Tom Taiwo missed his connection at the far post for a third minute tap-in, while Scott Flinders produced a momentous save to keep out a close-range Francois Zoko effort.

In between the goals, Ritchie Humphreys positioning on the far post meant he was there to head away a Lubo Michalik header off the line.

Pools knew Carlisle would attack, hence the introduction of Collins.

"All during the first-half I was wanting to get on and I hate being on the bench, I just want to play,'' he said. "I was probably sulking a little bit this morning and on Friday and the gaffer knew it, but that's just the way I am and I wanted to be out there.

"I head things, I block things and that's what you want to do as a defender. I loved it out there, Peter Hartley, Wrighty, Aussie are all the same - as a defender you just want to stop the ball getting into your area and that's what we did.

"They got one back and it was similar to Stevenage when we caused our own problems and invited them back onto us.

"We were giving the ball away too much, wave after wave with a lot of crosses coming in. We probably sat too deep as a team and there's loads of things we can do better at - but the signs are good.

"Sometimes as a player you enjoy it more when you win without playing as well as you can."

MATCHFACTS

Goals: 0-1: Liddle (20, raced on to a bundled clearance to drill a low volley into the corner) 0-2: Boyd (41, composed lob high past keeper from edge of the area after taking a touch to control) 1-2: Loy pen (75, spot kick drilled low down the middle)
Booking: Miller (unsporting behaviour 44), Tavernier (foul, 31)
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Stoke): An effortless display from the official 8
Attendance: 4,765
Entertainment: ****

CARLISLE UNITED (4-3-1-2): Collin 6; Tavernier 7, MICHALIK 8, O’Halloran 5 (Curran 72), Robson 5; Thirlwell 6; Taiwo 7 (McGovern 64, 6), Noble 6; Zoko 5 (Welsh, 64, 6); Miller 6, Loy 5. Subs (not used): Livesey, Gillespie (gk)

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-1-3-2)

8 Flinders: Dominated his area and is playing with a new focus and determination this season;
7 Austin: Didn’t get much chance to gallop forward, but that’s not as important as the defensive job he did well
6 Wright: Under more pressure than on his debut. Moved to left back in the second half where he was tight and solid
6 Hartley: Collins dominated in the second half when he returned, but he didn’t do anything wrong again
6 Humphreys: Left exposed against the galloping Tavernier, but it was his intelligent pass which created Pools’ opener on his 600th career start;
5 Murray: Went to ground to give Carlisle a penalty lifeline and some of his passing fell short later when Pools needed to keep possession;
7 Solano: Won’t see as much of the ball away from home as at home, but put a shift in and showed his commitment. Again made some lovely passes for the forwards
7 Sweeney: Plenty of trademark runs ahead and won more than his share of defensive headers when Carlisle swung the ball over
7 Liddle: Threw his cracked mask off but made no difference to his all-action game. Scored one, rattled the bar from distance with a stunning strike;
6 Nish: A thankless second-half task up front for most of it as he ploughed a lone furrow while being shackled by Michalik. Ran himself into the ground.
7 Boyd: Four away games, four goals and this was another for his re-opened scrapbook.

Subs
Collins (for Humphreys 46): A dominant display, returning to the side as if he’s never been away after a three-game injury absence 8
Monkhouse (for Boyd 59): Again introduced to help keep it tight on the left and did the job asked of him dilligently 7
Luscombe (for Solano 63): Never got to the pace of the game this season and caught short in possession 4
Not used: Brown, Poole.

MAN OF THE MATCH
SAM Collins – only appeared for 45 minutes but his arrival was crucial in keeping the lead when Carlisle threw ball after ball into the penalty area.