Still hope as Pools unbeaten run ends

It had to end some time, but what a pity Hartlepool United's unbeaten start to the season should finish against Sheffield Wednesday, the side that so cruelly beat them in their famous promotion play-off final more than six years ago.

There was no controversy this time as Wednesday won their League One clash at a busy Victoria Park by the only goal, headed in by impressive defender Reda Johnson on 33 minutes.

Pools gave as good as they got for much of the game, dominating much of the second half. But they couldn’t get the equalizer they felt they deserved, though sub Andy Monkhouse hit the woodwork and a few other chances went almost as close.

It was one of those games that just got away from Pools, and boss Mick Wadsworth was quite rightly upbeat afterwards, despite his misgivings about the way his team gave away the goal.

He told the club website: “We are disappointed, but not downhearted.

“Our intensity wasn’t as high as it could have been.

“But I thought the second half performance was terrific – we were the better side and it was one-way traffic apart from the odd counter-attack.

“The run had to end sometime, but we’re still in a fantastic position in the League and we can’t let this get us down.”

He’s right there. Pools have slipped to seventh, but next weekend’s visit to eighth-placed Notts County is a big game – the sort that will surely have a major bearing on the rest of the season for both teams.

Pools have five more games in October, three of them at home finishing with a big match against leaders Charlton on Halloween weekend.