By Albatross
January 3 2004

A decent enough performance from Pools, but it wasn't enough to overcome Sunderland at the Stadium of Light; almost 41000 saw Pools go down 1-0. First a word about the pre-match entertainment: a Country and Western group going by the name of "Tex Leon and Friends" came out and were roundly booed by the growing crowd of Hartlepool fans. Mention must be made of their unique drummer: either he's invisible, or they were playing to a backing track....

Cooper had stayed with the same 16 and starting eleven that had won at Oldham, and they were greeted to cheers as they came out to warm up. When they finally came out ready for the game, the noise was incredible - surely the biggest number of Hartlepool supporters the team has played in front of in donkey's years, even if some of them didn't know the words!

Sunderland kicked off towards the massed ranks of Hartlepool fans, and Chris Shuker soon showed his paces; intercepting a throw in on the half way line, he broke speedily towards goal and found Robinson - but his cross across the face of the goal was to no-one. McCartney was next to go on a run, the Sunderland defender's cross went easily to Provett.

On 7 minutes Sunderland almost went ahead. Some good pressure from the home side seemed to have been broken up by Nelson; however the ball broke kindly for Stewart; however, although his shot from the edge of the area beat Provett, it hit the post and was cleared.

Ritchie Humphreys then had a chance to try one of his long throws, but Poom collected the ball to snuff out the Pools attack. Shuker was proving to be a handful on the right, and his run on 10 minutes saw him reach the edge of the box before losing the ball, which Poom collected despite a suspicion of a backpass.

Sunderland were looking dangerous going forward, but Pools were not without a threat up front, and on 12 minutes some good approach work created a chance fro Robinson to shoot; Poom however was equal to his 20 yard effort.

Pools had a penalty shout on 14 minutes; Eifion Williams broke into the box, and went down - however he was definately looking for it having no other real options, and the ref waved play on.

Sunderland were coming more and more ito the game, with Stewart putting over a good cross that just went too far, and then Oster tried a lobbed effort from outside the box that failed to trouble Provett. A couple of minutes later Proctor went down on the edge of the area in a challenge with Westwood - but the ref quite rightly waved play on. Jeff Whitley also tried a long range effort that went well over.

Pools best chance looked like coming from a set piece - Humphreys was putting in some effective long throws - and Sunderland showed they had been practicing things on the training ground as well when a corner from Oster was flicked on at the near post - only to miss everyone and go out for a goal kick. Pools tried their short corner routine on 27 minutes, only for Poom to comfortably claim the ball across from Williams.

There was more danger from a Sunderland free kick on 29 minutes. Barron was adjuded to have fouled McCartney - although he appeared to have got the ball - and was booked into the bargain. Oster's shot from the edge of the box was straight at Provett though.

This acted as something of a spur for Pools, and Shuker went on the break; he got the ball out to Robinson, who shot well to force Poom to save for a Pools corner. The ball across wasn't well cleared by Sunderland, and Poom was forced to make another good stop, this time from Williams. Some good buildup play from Shuker and Williams a couple of minutes later looked set to create another opportunity for Pools, but Barron's final ball was poor.

Sunderland almost made Pools pay on 38 minutes; a corner from the left wasn't well cleared and Arca rattled the woodwork from 20 yards out. We were soon to see the other side of Arca though - on 41 minutes he conned the Ref with a blatent dive on the edge of the box. Fortunately Oster's free kick was blocked by the wall, and justice was done.

A free kick on 43 minutes saw Pools on the attack once more, and a great ball from Shuker found Strachan - however his cross found no-one.

0-0 at half time then, and Pools could consider themselves a little lucky. Oster and Arca were looking dangerous going forward, Pools midfield seemed to be dropping a bit too far back, and Barron was getting dragged every which way. However, it was still game on - all the game needed was a goal.

Pools kicked off towards us in the second half, and showed their intent straight away. A long ball from Robson found Robinson; his first shot was blocked, but the ball came straight back and he tried a 20 yard snap shot that Poom had to save. The corner came over to Westwood, but he could only send the ball wide.

Pools were back on the attack very quickly, and a good ball from Robson again reached Robinson - the Pools forward broke into the box but over-ran the ball - and although he tried to check back the ball was eventually cleared. Shuker was the next to almost break through when he latched onto a throw in, again just taking the ball a bit tooo far.

Pools were having their best spell of the game so far, and so it was a double blow when Sunderland took the lead. A quick break saw the ball played into the box; from the Pools defenders tackle however the ball broke only to ARCA, who gave Provett no chance from the left hand side of the area.

Pools redoubled their efforts, with another Humphreys long throw causing some problems in the Sunderland box on 55 minutes; Provett then had to make a comfortable save from an Oster effort shortly after. Proctor then put another effort over the bar, before Provett was forced to make a great save from a close range Stewart header as the Mackems looked to finish the tie off. Pools attacked quickly, won a free kick, and then another 25 yards out in prime territory for Strachan. The Scot could only send his effort into the wall. The ball came back in and Nelson came of worst with a challenge with Poom; he needed treatment before resuming play.

Cooper decided to change things around on 64 minutes. Shuker, who had been impressive but looked like he was fading a little gave way to Istead. A quick break from Robson shortly after saw Pools win another long throw fro Humphreys to take - the ball was cleared, but there was an admittedly somewhat hopeful shout for handball in the area.

Provett was still in the thick of the action, being called upon to make a comfortable save from Proctor. Pools continued to push forward, and a Robson cross made its way to Eifion Williams - his shot went over the bar after being charged down by Wright to win Pools a corner that was well cleared.

With 20 minutes to go Cooper decided to bring on Joel Porter to replace Robinson, and the Aussie found himself in the thick of the action soon after.

Babb crudely fouled Williams to win Pools a free kick that Nelson headed wide, and then some good work from Porter on the left flank gave him the opportunity to cross the ball in; unfortunately it proved to be a bit too far, but on 75 minutes he helped create an opportinity for Humphreys; a great ball across from Strachan came to Porter, and he laid it off into the path of Ritchie. However Humphreys put his hsot well over the bar from the sort of position he scored from last season.

With about 10 minutes of play left Cooper made his last roll of the dice; Clarke came on to add more mobility to the midfield at the expense of Tinkler. Shortly after a free kick from the left by Strachan caused some trouble for Sunderland, the ball eventually breaking for Istead to shoot from close range - only to see Babb block his effort.

Pools continued to attack, and Sunderland were increasingly giving away free kicks as they tried to weather the storm. Stewart was lucky not to be booked for a dangerously high boot that caught Robson in the head on 86 minutes, and just after Arca was booked for a crude challenge on Clarke. This free kick saw Nelson try and head home only for the effort to be blocked, and then Eifion Williams beat Poom only for Babb to block his shot on the line.

With injury time being played, Pools desperately tried to get forward, while Sunderland tried to waste a bit of time in the corner; they weren't as successful at it as Pools last week though, and a long ball into the box from Pools was the result. The ball was cleared after a scramble, and then Strachan had Pools last effort when a Humphreys long throw was cleared to him; his long range effort was well over the bar though, and the referee blew for full time shortly after.

A defeat then, no further cup glory, but Pools went down fighting and didn't give Sunderland an easy time. Our neighbours passing showed their first division credentials, and we were lucky not to go in behind at the break - but our second half display especially caused Sunderland more problems than some of their other opponents this season, and we can consider ourselves a shade unlucky not to have a replay to look forward to. Still, we went down fighting, almost 41,000 saw it which should make the bank manager happy, and who knows - maybe some more of the 9,000+ fans that travelled up to see Pools will be impressed enough to come along to the Vic soon. Defeat, but not dishonour is the name of the day.