Pools need a lift after throwing away three leads

Just when things looked as if they might be going well for Hartlepool United with five games undefeated in League One, it’s all gone pear-shaped as Pools have now lost their last three games, turning a lead into a defeat in every one of them. That has happened five times this season, and it’s time they learned how to hold a lead.

And to make matters even worse, James Brown could be out for up to six weeks – he is having more problems with his knee cartilage and was due to have another operation on Wednesday.
The 3-2 defeat at Carlisle was typical of so many games this season, with Pools playing well in parts – but not well enough.
They started well with big Iceland international Armann Bjornsson celebrating a rare start by giving them the lead in three minutes.
But it didn’t last and after levelling in the first half, Carlisle took a 3-1 lead, their third a bizarre own goal from Scott Flinders as a deep cross from Matty Robson – it had to be him – hit the far post and rebounded into the net of the luckelsss keeper’s back.
Then Pools finished well as Andy Monkhouse narrowed the gap in the last minute, and they even had time for strong penalty appeals to be turned down when Hartlepool-born Evan Horwood appeared to handle in the area in added time.
Boss Chris Turner says the little things are not going Pools’ way and he told the Northern Echo: We started well, the start we wanted – on top and looking like we could step on.
“The torrential rain, wind and snow was at us and they scrambled one back.
“At one-one we fancied our chances, with the conditions in our favour, but the machine was turned off at half-time and it all stopped.
“We didn't perform well in the second-half, they got a freak third goal and then we had a blatant penalty shout go against us. Things are going against us right now.''
That was illustrated by the fact that Pools played into atrocious weather in the first half, but when it was Carlisle’s turn after the break the conditions eased and made life a lot easier for them.
But an old football saying is generally correct – you make your own luck, and it's time Pools lived up to that.
A team that manages give away a lead in three games on the trot, losing them all, has to have question marks against it.
Pools have made progress and they are better than last season, but the bedding-in process for all the new players should be complete now and they are managing to turn promise and potential into sheer frustration for themselves, the boss and the fans.
Life in League One isn’t going to get any easier for them between now and the end of the year, either, with Millwall at the Vic on Saturday followed by Southend away, Yeovil at home, Leeds away on Boxing Day and Oldham at home.
With Brown out and others not at their best, Turner and his squad are facing a big test.