MW - still caretaker

By Charlie Summerbell
October 6 2010

Having proved in cup games that they know how to win at home, Hartlepool United badly need to do it in League One as soon as possible if their season isn't going to turn into a mirror image of last year, with a very similar end result.

In 2009-10, they were just strong enough at home – with a few notable exceptions – to survive an almost ever-present threat of relegation brought about by their dismal away form.
So far in 2010-11, their away form has kept the team’s heads above water as flop follows flop at Victoria Park.Their sole League One home win came against bottom club Walsall, who most other teams seem more than capable of beating.
Pools’ midweek Johnstone’s Paints Trophy win over League two Bradford City not only demonstrated that they know how to win at home, but also earned them their best run in the competition for three seasons – last time they reached the area last eight in 2007 they lost on penalties to Morecambe.
The vital goal again came from Leon McSweeney (right) – not as spectacular as his winner at Plymouth on Saturday, but still potentially very valuable.
Caretaker boss Mick Wadsworth (how long is a bloke a caretaker before he becomes the boss?) told the Northern Echo: “I thought at times we played some really good, quick passing and incisive football. It was a bit like in the last round against Northampton when we were on top and were waiting for the goal to come.
"Everyone gave a good account of themselves out there tonight. It was a poacher’s goal if you like, in a gritty performance, a solid one.  
"It’s a good competition, I like to pay respect to all competitions and I don’t like it when teams change around for the sake of it, you are duty bound to play the strongest team.
"I felt in the changes we made, the players missing out have played a lot and they were due a rest. It was a good chance for others to come in and do well and they did."
It's a good competition when you are winning, and as Wadsworth says, the performance of a team showing five changes demonstrated Pools’ strength in depth. All the holders of one of the best away records in League football have to do now is prove they can play at home as well as on their travels.
Wadsworth and his players can’t explain why they struggle at home, why they have produced so many poor results in front of their own fans.
But it’s down to them to sort it out quickly – starting against second top Peterborough on Saturday, when a win would not only be very welcome but could also give Wadsworth the right to remove the word “caretaker” from his job title.