Mick W - no day off

By Charlie Summerbell
September 17 2011

Fifth top, unbeaten in their opening eight League One games of the season and - perhaps most importantly - Hartlepool United have had absolute proof that their two big summer signings have not arrived at Victoria Park just for the ride.

So many times in the past, Pools have captured big-name players, and almost as often they have been let down.

But veteran Nobby Solano and big striker Colin Nish are clearly at Pools to play their part, and they certainly did that in the 3-0 home win over Richie Barker’s Bury.

Pools weren’t brilliant, but they were easily good enough as Solano’s first Pools goal gave them a good start, and two from Nish wrapped up the points that put them just four points behind leaders Charlton.

Solano scored on 36 minutes, a neat finish after a good run, Nish got his first on 51 after his first shot was blocked and his second came when he robbed a defender and stroked home a confident finish.

He also hit the bar in his bid for a hat trick, and like Solano put in the sort of shift that showed he means business.

Boss Mick Wadsworth described the performance as professional and solid and told the club website: “We didn’t play as well as we have done at times, but we remained solid.

“We didn’t look in trouble throughout the game, but goals change games and we could have had a couple more by the end.

“We won’t get carried away and we’ll just keep our nose to the grindstone and keep working hard.”

To underline that philosophy, Wadsworth had a surprise for the players after the game – no day off on Monday.

“The players thought they might get it off,” he said. “But why change things when we are doing well?”

Pools face a long journey next weekend when they go to Bournemouth to face a side which has picked up after a sorry start to the season following their play-off appearance at the end of last season.

Pools will travel confidently, but on the evidence of this game Wadsworth will be calling for more from his players, ands who’s to say more isn’t there?