Paul Murray

By Charlie Summerbell
August 22 2012

It's a case of so far so worrying for Hartlepool United as manager Neale Cooper threatens to fall out with a large proportion of his squad and the high hopes that were there before a ball was kicked in anger disappear.

You would think that after the humiliating 5-0 League Cup defeat at Crewe Pools might have got the dross out of their collective system, and while they hardly covered themselves in glory in the goalless home draw with Swindon in their League One opener, at least they improved.

But at Notts County on Tuesday night, they were back to the sort of rom they showed at Crewe, and already it looks as if it’s going to be a long, hard season.

Gift goals have long been a Pools weakness, but already this season they are threatening to turn it into an art form.

Copper admitted that he had turn into the team after the game. He told the Northern Echo: “I’ve had a go at a right few tonight, I don’t care. It’s my livelihood. I don’t know what I am going to get. We gifted them goals – criminal. It’s not good enough. Every time the ball comes in our box it looks like a goal.

“It’s a worry. If I bring people in and let people go, they can go. I can’t trust this team.

“We are great at times against Swindon, then come here and perform like this. I’m fed up.

“I’m learning about them and if they come in tomorrow upset I’ve had a go then they can leave.”

Francois Zoko headed the opener and while Pools improved after the overdue introduction of Paul Murray for James Poole at the break, they still weren’t good enough to pull back a distinctly ordinary Notts, and it was not shock when neal Bishop got the second late on.

Cooper is right to be angry … there can be no excuse for the limp, lame and at times lazy performance Pools put on.

On the form they’ve shown so far this season, they will be relegated, there can be no doubt about that. Trouble is, there's no evidence to suggest the current squad is man enough to improve.

Colin Nish has gone on loan to Dundee … but Cooper needs to add to his squad, not cut it and if Nish does anything in the Scottish Premier League, the red faces at the Vic will get even redder.