Pools embarrassed by impressive Owls
By Charlie Summerbell
August 28 2010
If you're going to lose your unbeaten League One record in front of your own fans, you might as well do it properly - and Hartlepool United certainly achieved that as leaders Sheffield Wednesday steam-rollered their way to a 5-0 win that was even easier than the scoreline suggests.
Caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth says he and his players won't give in after the setback, which is a start, and while the defeat wasn't quite as bad as last season's similar scoreline at home to MK Dons, it was close to it.
Pools started badly and managed to gradually get worse after Paul Murray's early own goal, Giles Coke and Neil Mellor making it three at half-time before a Marcus Tudgay penalty and a last-minute fifth from sub Clinton Morrison wrapped it up.
Pools looked weak in defence, short of ideas in midfield and punchless up front in as comprehensive a defeat as they are likely to suffer all season.
Wednesday are top of the table and promotion favourites, but they are not the only good side in League One and Pools can't afford this sort of result to become a habit.
They need to recover their pose against Northampton in the JP trophy on Tuesday night and, more importantly, away to MK Dons next weekend.
Fortunately, several other teams have had a far worse start to the season and at least this hammering has happened in plenty of time to turn things round.
There's a long way to go yet, but Pools need to put this result and performance behind them quick.
They could also do with sorting out the manager situation quick.
It's all very well KH saying there's no rush, but this performance suggests there is.
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We'll just have to put this behind us and concentrate on the next game.
KH's programme notes were interesting. He had a go at Jeff Stelling's comments on Soccer Saturday relating to the exits of Turner & Green. Sadly no mention on the Paul Ince rumours (not that I would expect him to comment).
On a sad note there has been talk of someone being seriously hurt possibly killed at an incident near the train station involving both sets of fans. I hope this is just a wild rumour that has got out of hand. Football hooliganism is still with us but these days it is mainly quashed quickly before it gets out of hand. This doesn't seem to be the case today although the full facts are not yet known. If there has been a fatality then today's result is academic.
You're right ... we can do without this sort of thing.
I was going to come on and have a moan about the team, but with this happening it all seems pointless.
I thought those days were behind us, but it appears they aren't.
Makes me feel like giving up footy and doing something else with my time.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:29:10:34:21 by Rift House.