Richie Humphreys - two

By Clarence Rode
January 1 2008

In the lead twice, thanks to well-worked and well-taken goals from captain Richie Barker, Hartlepool slumped to their latest away defeat as 2008 got off to a disappointing start at Carlisle. It’s further proof, as if it was needed, that Pools are just incapable of hanging on to a lead and boss Danny Wilson needs to get it sorted before it becomes a crisis.

Pools went in front on 38 minutes when Humphreys hammered in the rebound after a shot from Ian Moore (right) – outstanding again in attack – was blocked into his path.
Three minutes later Joe Garner levelled for Carlisle with a header, but three minutes after half-time Humphreys struck again after another great run and pass from Moore.
But more defensive lapses made Pools pay and on 66 minutes Carlisle were level again as Eddie Nolan and Jan Budtz made a mess of a clearance and sub Jeff Smith was there to score two minutes after being sent on.
Two minutes later Garner second gave Carlisle the lead for the first time and deep into added time Hackney got away to rub salt in Pools’ wounds with a fourth.
They were sloppy goals to give away – but aren’t they all? – as Pools slumped again and boss Danny Wilson told the club website: “I can’t believe we lost that game 4-2. Where did those four goals come from?
“That was some of the best football we have played all season. There were some great individual performances out there today – we were really good going forward and some of the lads at the back played well, too.
“But once again we’ve lost out because of these silly individual errors and they’ve taken advantage of them. All we can do is get back on the training ground and use this little period of time we have and every available bit of daylight to work on these things.”
To answer Danny’s first question, the goals came from players who can finish, especially against a defence that makes too many errors.
It might have been some of the best football all season and there might have been some great individual performances, but it wasn’t good enough. Look at the scoreline.
Notice he says that SOME of the lads at the back played well. So drop those who didn’t, Danny. Ben Clark is fit enough to be on the bench – get him out there.
Pools are clearly destined to have a mediocre season at best, which many fans would have been happy to settle for before the season began. But they are such a frustrating team at the moment because everybody – managers, players ands fans – knows they can do a lot better.