Monky - great goal

By Clarence Rode
February 18 2009

A last-minute goal gave Hartlepool a deserved Victoria Park draw against Leicester City, the best team in League One, and prompted caretaker boss Chris Turner to wonder why the team can't play like that more often. "If we did," he said, "we wouldn't be in the bottom half of the table."

Andy Monkhouse was the late hero with a brilliant strike to clinch a 2-2 draw - the third on the trot at the Vic - in the last minute of a great game.
Leicester weren't too pleased because they thought they should roll over teams like Pools, but it was always an even game and while there were two controversial penalties, there were lots of other chances at both ends.
A bad mistake by Richie Humphreys have Leicester their first goal and Pools keeper Arran Lee-Barrett looked as if he had given them a win when he gave away a daft penalty ten minutes from the end by going for a ball that was running out anyway.
It was inevitable that Steve Howard scored both Leicester goals - he always scores against Pools. But the lads gave as good as they got, and it has to be said that while ALB made an error with the pen, he did make a couple of good saves at the feet of Howard and Matty Fryatt.
Monky had the sort of game he used to out in last season and before, Gary Liddle was something like his old self, Joel Porter scored a penner and did as well as ever, Rune Lange (right) will be cushty when he's fit, Nelson and Collins did well at the back, Sweeney was canny (still say he's better in midfield mind),  and Baby David did Ok when he went on for Matty Robson.
He went off with a hamstring injury, but only gave the ball away before that anyway.
All in all it was a lot better than average for Pools - now they need to follow it up with a similar performance at home to Leyton Orient on Saturday.
A win then is absolutely vital, and if they play like this they'll do it.
As Turner says, they would be a lot more comnfortable if they could play like this more often, and on Saturday Richie Jones could be fit again and on-loan Daniel Nardiello is available after his suspension.
Mind, with the greatest of respect, when Turner says ALB is one of the best keepers around in League One, you've got to wonder what he's on about.