Punchless Pools in crisis of confidence

Now this Hartlepool United situation at Victoria Park is getting beyond a joke ... losing one or two home games on the bounce is bad enough, losing three or four is worse, but going to five and now a record-equalling six, well that's just pathetic.

It wouldn’t be so hard to take if the teams winning at the Vic were good, but the latest to leave with all three points, are struggling Yeovil, stuck in the relegation zone and without an away win in eight long months.

Mick Wadsworth is agonising over the problem and the players say they are mystified.

Well, we’ve got news for you Pools ... the fans aren’t.

The simple fact is that in away games, Pools have the pace and invention so score goals that win matches, cashing in while the home team throws men forward looking for a win.

But at the Vic, when it’s their turn to attack, Pools lack a finish and are constantly being caught out by mug goals.

The Yeovil game was typical – Pools hit the woodwork twice, early on through Andy Monkhouse and late on through Nathan Luscombe, but in between they lacked ideas, which is a real black mark for a team boasting a former Peru international who built his career on creative football.

But Nobby Solano was as bad as the rest as Yeovil won with so much ease that even they must have been surprised, defender Bondz N’Gala heading in a corner in the first half and then defending well to keep Pools out.

Wadsworth told the club website: “I can’t really fault the endeavour because it was terrific, but we still have a problem we need to solve.

We have got to retain our confidence and have the strength of character to do the simple things well. It’s not about pretty football, it’s about belief and doing the fundamentals.

“We have to keep fighting to get out of this situation.”

The next chance to put it right comes on Tuesday night when Phil Brown’s out-of-form Preston are the visitors – six home defeats on the trot has equalled a club record.

Surely Pools aren’t going to create a new one?