Pools get nothing for improved show

Just when they needed them, Hartlepool United have produced two encouraging performances in response to boss Neale Cooper's call for an improvement. Trouble is, they've got nowt for either of them.

They were unlucky to lose 2-1 at home to Sheffield United in midweek, and both the scoreline and the story were the same at Crewe on Saturday.

No wonder Cooper is wondering where he and his players have to turn to get a result.

And it's not much consolation for Cooper to know that they deserved more.

“That’s possibly the most chances we have created in a game, but unfortunately we’ve not taken them,” he told the club website.

“That’s so frustrating, but that’s two good performances in a week back to back and we haven’t had that much this season.” Cooper thanked the travelling Pools fans for their support and added: They saw the effort ee put in today and with that effort and the chances we created, we would have won numerous games.

“We have to fight our way out of it because when things are hard they can seem to get harder. But I’d be a lot more negative if we weren’t playing well.”

Crewe might have hammered Pools 5-0 in their League Cup-tie before the League One season started, but they are hardly world-beaters themselves and Pools proved that by taking a ninth-minute lead, Evan Horwood scoring a minute after going on for the injured Andy Monkhouse.

Crewe wasted a penalty just before the break when Mathias Pogba missed the target, but right on the whistle Chuks Aneke levelled with a good 20-yarder.

After the break Ryan Noble, on loan again after last season’s successful stint with Pools, had one effort well saved and a second blocked on the line before Mark Ellis tapped in to give the home team the lead.

Neil Austin hit the bar and Noble, James Poole, Craig Lynch and Steve Howard all missed to complete a frustrating afternoon.