Setback for Pools, but they can still do it

Poole - best chance
By Charlie Summerbell
March 6 2013

A goalless home draw in what was a six-pointer against a side reduced to ten men for more than half the game was not the sort of result Hartlepool United needed to maintain their desperate campaign for League One safety.

But looking on the bright side, they have moved up another place to third bottom and they are now five behind fourth-bottom Oldham and seven behind the safe fifth-bottom place occupied by Scunthorpe.

If they can beat fourth-top Yeovil at the Vic on Saturday – not an easy one on current form – and other results go their way (Scunny v Coventry, Pompey v Bury, Tranmere v Oldham), their outlook could look a lot better.

A home draw is a big disappointment after a game Pools dominated for long spells, but it’s not the end of the world. And it’s not the first time Pools have been let down by their own weakness in front of goal.

The red card shown to Colchester striker Jabo Ibehre was a little harsh after a tackle on Neil Austin that was more clumsy than malicious, but Pools won’t worry about that – all they know is that they failed to cash in.

“It's always difficult to play against ten men, especially when they're camped in their half and leaving you on the ball," boss John Hughes told the club website.

"We said to them at half time that we wanted them to be patient, make sure got the ball wide, got our crosses in and switches of play so all credit to the lads for keeping going at that. a

"I said to them that it will just take one chance to get that goal but unfortunately it just didn't come for us - the goalkeeper made a great save from James Poole and then in the dying minutes Nathan Luscombe had a good chance.

"In terms of playing against ten men and in their half it was as good as you could have hoped for, but all we were missing was that winning goal that wouldn't come.

"At the same time we didn't want to go cavalier or too gung-ho, we needed to keep the clean sheet - but two points have got away from us tonight and it's disappointing, there's no point hiding from that."

But Hughes will be telling his players that it’s not over yet – Pools still have a chance of completing the great escape.

A couple of months ago they had no chance.