Pools boss looks to next season

A run of 21 games without a win is a new club record for Hartlepool United, bringing back echoes of the bad old days in the late 20th century for those supporters with memories long enough to remember what it was like.

Losing 1-0 at MK Dons doesn’t look bad on the face of it, but it could –and the Dons says it should – have been a much bigger margin for the home team.

Pools were behind early on and one of the few positives in this latest setback is that they didn’t throw in the towel as they have done several times already this season … remember Chesterfield in the FA Cup?

Boss John Hughes was probably clutching at straws when he told the Northern Echo: “We could have stolen something from the match.

“I’m just pleased we had a go in the second half and went down fighting. At least we gave the supporters something to be happy about in the second half.’’

The Echo rightly pointed out that this Pools squad might now have the worst losing streak in more than 100 years to its name, but it is by no means the worst squad ever assembled at Victoria Park.

Memories don’t have to be too long to come up with teams containing players who don’t bear any comparison with the current bunch, but of course that’s no excuse.

This Pools team might not be the worst in the club’s history, but it is clearly the worst in League One this season, and that is what will earn relegation.

Hughes at first thought Ryan Lowe was offside when he scored the game’s only goal, but he admitted after seeing replays that he had been wrong.

The R-word is not being mentioned, apparently, but Hughes and his players know they are down and he is already preparing for next season. It's going to be a test for him as a manager, and for IOR as the owners. Pools are at rock bottom ... are they good enough to inspire a comeback?

But in the meantime holiday games against Portsmouth (Saturday at home) and Carlisle (Boxing Day away) at least give Pools opponents who are in almost as much trouble as they are.

But only almost.