Pools flop in front of famous fan Jeff

Even Hartlepool United’s best-known fan couldn’t save his favourite team from a hammering as Oldham took full revenge for their heavy defeat at the Vic on New Year’s Day. Sky Sports star Jeff Stelling must have wished he’d not bothered taking in the match at Boundary Park – at times it looked as if the team hadn’t.

Oldham won as they liked, the Pools defence breached easily from start to finish and the attack never looking capable of posing even a minor threat.
They have not lost all seven games since that January 1 victory, and at Oldham they looked as if they had nothing to prevent them extending that miserable run.
Mick Wadsworth told the Northern Echo: “I thought at one-nil we were in the game. Their first venture in our box in the first-half ended in a goal, same in the second half.
“We went to pieces a bit defensively which is disappointing. We made mistakes and we know it. We didn't deal with things and it's cost us.”
It only took Oldham seven minutes to beat Scott Flinders on his return from injury, Aidan White scoring after the keeper had stopped a shot from Oumare Tounkara, on loan from Sunderland.
White hit the post with a similar chance near half-time, and either side of the break Sam Collins threatened with headers – one wide, one saved.
But when Pools failed to clear Chris Taylor hit a second, Cedric Evina a third and Reuben Reid headed the fourth in added time.
Wadsworth told the club website: “We still have lots of games left, tough games as well – but we’ll get back and prepare for Saturday because that’s all we can do.”
Pools are at home to Colchester on Saturday – a result isn’t just important, it’s absolutely vital.
The New Year started well for Pools, but it's since degenerated into a nightmare and it's now a real test of Wadsworth's ability and the desire and spirit of his players.