Pools turn victory into defeat

It WOULD be Matty Robson wouldn't it? The former Hartlepool United man scored the late goal that sent Pools to a disappointing home defeat, and left boss Neale Cooper and the fans wondering why so much has gone wrong so early in the season.

Pools looked the better team for much of the game, but paid the price for failing to kill the game off when they were in front.

The game left Pools fans asking how the team managed to lose, but if they think about it the answer is fairly clear … Pools don’t have a killer touch and collapse too easily when the chips are down.

Robson scored the winner five minutes from the end of a second half that was a disaster for Pools. New loan signing Craig Lynch, sent on as a late sub, could hardly be expected to change the game on his debut after switching from Sunderland.

James Poole had given them a deserved lead just before the break, but when Steve Howard hit the Carlisle bar midway through the second half, the writing was on the wall.

Danny Cadamarteri levelled after Scott Flinders palmed a Robson free-kick away, Neil Austin was sent off for two bookings within five minutes of each other and all that remained was for Robson to apply the killer blow.

Cooper said it was difficult to criticise the players after what he described as “a mad few minutes” at the end of a game they should have won.

But how many times have Pools bosses claimed their side should have won games they lost?

Cooper was hoping his team had got out of the home rut they fell into last season, when losing at home became a habit.

Well, Neale … current evidence suggests they haven’t.

Pools will play Bradford City at home in the second round of the Johnstone’s Paints Trophy.