By Albatross
February 3 2005

Good news for Hartlepool United and Neale Cooper: the Pools Boss has been named as Manager of the Month for January. It's well-deserved, with Pools on a tremendous run at the moment that has seen us unbeaten in all competitions since early December. The award for Coops is well-deserved but slightly unexpected. Pools took ten points from four league games in January, conceded just two goals and scored nine - a record that stands up to pretty much all scrutiny. However the evidence of past awards has tended to show that it's been the team with most points over the month that has won the award and we were only 4th on that list.

The three teams with more points had all played more games though. Tranmere, Doncaster and Sheffield Wednesday all managed six league games over the month, and topped our points tally mainly through draws - Tranny were just a point ahead having lost one of their six and drawn two, while Doncaster and Wednesday had three wins and three draws to earn two points more. Pools had the best points per game record though, and it seems that has been enough to bag the award.

Cooper though will know that he can't rest on his laurels in February. Arguably we've had a couple of easy games in January against a couple of strugglers in Torquay and MK Dons; this month will see us take on Chesterfield, current leaders Luton, and Brentford in League action as well as in the FA Cup. Should he be in contention for February's award as well, then there's every chance that Pools will be approaching contention not just for a playoff place but for automatic promotion!

It's now up to the players to show the supposed curse that goes with the award is simply fantasy - and they can start doing precisely that on Saturday against Chesterfield. There will be a full preview of this match on Pools Online on Friday.

News of Cooper's award comes almost exactly two years since the last time a Hartlepool United Manager won the award; that of course was Mike Newell. He was unlucky to miss out on the award the following month before Pools then tailed off from March onwards. Cooper was close to winning the award once or twice last season but missed out; however his achievements have now been recognised by people other than the fans and I'm sure I echo many Poolies by saying it's about time!