Battling Pools pull off cup giant-killing


David Foley - supersub

By Clarence Rode
August 27 2008

Hartlepool produced a top team performance to knock Premiership West Brom out of the Carling Cup at Victoria Park. They need extra-time to do it after looking as if they were going to win over 90 minutes, but they were full value for their first giant-killing in 16 years affter matching Albion throughout an entertaining match.

Pools will probably be disappointed with the crowd of only 3,387, but if they want to attract more fans they need to be consistnt - and if they can hi this sort o form more often, they'll soon be packing them in.
Pools went ahead with a Joel Porter goal on 61 minutes, but Robert Koren's long-range shot three minutes from time sent the game into extra-time.
But two goals in three minutes just before the end of the first half of extra-time killed off the Baggies, David Foley scoring yet another Carling Cup goal and Richard Barker heading his first of the season.
It's difficult to find anybody who didn't perform well for Pools, Jamie McCunnie coming in at right-back to allow Antony Sweeney to operate in what is surely his best position in midfield.
Up front James Brown and Poter ran the legs off the Albion defence, wih Celtic manager Gordon Strachan allegedly watching Brown just days before the tansfer window closes.

Arran Lee-Barrett - made some good saves and some brave ones when he needed to.
Jamie McCunnie - good first game of the season.
Michael Nelson, Hartlepool UnitedMichael Nelson (right) - wonderful.
Sam Collins - ditto.
Richie Humphreys - as good as ever.
Antony Sweeney - cracking performance.
Gary Liddle - back to something like his real form.
Ritchie Jones - best game so far.
Andy Monkhouse - did well, replaced late on.
Joel Porter - scored the first, had a blinder.
James brown - always tightly marked, still showed flashes.

The result and the performance will hopefully shut up the Danny Wilson critics.
The Pools boss has been targetted by the moaners after their up-and-down start to the season, but the team played brilliantly and his substitutions were master strokes.
If his team can keep this up, they'll do well this season.
Hopefull the result will give the side the boost in confidence they need at this stage of the season and now they are looking forward to the draw for the third round, due to be held on Saturday. Round three will be played week beginning September 22.

 

 

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Battling Pools pull of cup giant-killing
Discussion started by PoolsOnline.tk , 27/08/2008 10:31
PoolsOnline.tk
27/08/2008 10:31
Battling Pools pull of cup giant-killing

Rift House
27/08/2008 11:05
Only 379 Baggies there. But if you weren't, for your info, the new lad Valero looked out of his depth (probably a bit unfair to be given your debut in a game like that), the two centre-backs Barnett and Meite were poor, Bednar was like a headless chicken, Moore and Koren were OK, but the best of the lot was Macdonald, who went on as sub and looked outstanding with the ball at his feet.

Ward Jackson
27/08/2008 12:31
Best thing was that players like Foley and Barker came on and did well and keeps up the pressure for places.I went expecting a win and got one. Shows how far we have come

.Say Hello Wave Goodbye.
27/08/2008 16:33
Cheers for the reports, and well done to your team lads.

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