Hartlepool match reports

[North London Bee]

Yes, if we want to go up we have to beat teams like Hartlepool, yes we gave away a daft late goal and yes to every other bitch and complaint that will certainly be posted on here tonight.

The truth is we played a team who performed way above themselves and their league position, who could have been 2 goals ahead at the interval and played some decent football.

We defended very poorly for the entire first half with Howard winning everything and causing us to have kittens every time the ball went near him.

The offside trap failed nearly every time and bit for 2 poor misses and 2 great saves from Moore we could have been dead and buried.

Rosler put Dean out of his misery at the interval and Legge coped far better with Howard thus cutting off their main out ball .

There were a couple of close calls but it was a real surprise when Craig headed a last minute corner into his own goal. Did he misjudge his jump? Was he pushed, Did the ball just hit him? I couldn't see from where I was sitting.

This was the second own goal we had gifted them but Dean was unlucky as a low cross hit him and spun over Moore.

Hayes scored 2 goals and finally broke his duck with a close range finish and an excellent header from a loopy Donaldson cross.

We played lovely possession football coming out from the back and I really think this is the right way for us to play.

We were looking for an opening and had the patience to keep possession in the meantime.

Forshaw and Logan and to a lesser extent Bidwell and Forrester combined well but the final ball was not there.

In truth we didn't create nearly enough but we cut them apart twice in the last few minutes but Donaldson was unable to finish.

THe problems today were

1. we defended like tarts

2. We didn't really hurt them enough in dangerous areas

3. We didn't see the game out properly

4. Hartlepool were really no mugs and played very decently and defended well in numbers

5. Hartlepool also knew when to break the game up and concede a free kick that ended our impetus and speedy break

Not the best day at the office and like everyone else I thought we had done enough to cling onto a win but in truth we did not really do quite enough to win.

Positives were hayes scoring twice and contributing a bot more in open play although his partnership with Clayton doesn't scream goals to me i am afraid.

The fact that the players are not afraid to hold the ball and retain possession and then try out a range of short sharp passes.

The midfield four looked positive and confident.

Disappointed but not too upset.

[sonofabee]

NLB spot on with his report.

Can't blame Uwe as justified his selection of Hayes.

Sadly we didn't get out of the traps quick enough and allowed them to dictate and put us on the back foot from the start. They did their homework on us and the right
back had the measure of Harry.
Harlee was off key, dominated and taught a lesson by
Howard but that will benefit him long term.
We didn't deserve three points today if honest and players looked flat with the possible exceptions of Simon Moore, TC (until the og) and Clayton.
Pleased for Hayes but really like the look of Spencer looks mobile and quick with a good first touch.

[ladbroke]

Thought the referee had a poor game... too many fouls went unpunished and booking a couple of their players would have stopped it earlier...

But we can't blame him for our defensive problems today... Hartlepool were a team playing well above what their position tells us..

[beedeleted]

A decent enough game played in freezing cold. Brentford again played well as a team but individual errors hurt them again. Paul Hayes scored two goals. the second was a nice centre forwards header, and the first a tap in. He had a great game chasing and hassling. Where we fell down time and time again is in defence. Simon Moore again saved us today. Our central defending in the first half was woeful. I am not a fan of Dean and would start Legge every time. Today i was proved right, sadly. Craig also does not begin to fill the hole that Karleigh left and is at best average at this level. Conclusions? We are at present a mid-table side on merit. We could improve and challenge for a play off spot but realistically we need better defenders ( or the ones we have to defend better). Hartlepool will not go down. Whatever took them to the bottom of the table seems to have vanished with the removal of their manager.

[NorthamptonBee]

We didn't play that well or that badly, we never really got going IMO. Hayes scored two well taken goals but didn't do much else, that's fine as goal getting is what his main job is. I thought I'd be typing about a well earned win against a lively side who surely put in their best away performance this season. I wouldn't have taken Forshaw off as we lose so much impetus without him but maybe his problem means he had to go. Harry was hot and cold, my MOM was Moore which probably says that my mind says it was a fair result, we won the 2nd half and should have seen it through but could have been well behind at HT. I do wonder if Moore was at fault for the 2nd goal but even then he IOM was our best performer.

Their winger Noble looked class to me, pace and trickery, I thought Logan did well against him but I'd like to sign him up please.

[Stanley]

Sums up our season, some lovely passing play and moves as usual but couldn't finish them off when we had the chance and we paid the price for a rather lucky own goal. Had a good view of it and just seemed like Craig slightly mistimed it and it fell into the one part of the goal Moore could not get to.

Harry quiet today, thought it might have been worth throwing on Dallas at the end for him.

Douglas, Hayes and Donaldson the better performers today.

[Owlsmoor_Bee]

We didn't play that well or that badly, we never really got going IMO. Hayes scored two well taken goals but didn't do much else, that's fine as goal getting is what his main job is. I thought I'd be typing about a well earned win against a lively side who surely put in their best away performance this season. I wouldn't have taken Forshaw off as we lose so much impetus without him but maybe his problem means he had to go. Harry was hot and cold, my MOM was Moore which probably says that my mind says it was a fair result, we won the 2nd half and should have seen it through but could have been well behind at HT. I do wonder if Moore was at fault for the 2nd goal but even then he IOM was our best performer.

Their winger Noble looked class to me, pace and trickery, I thought Logan did well against him but I'd like to sign him up please.

Agree about Noble, thought he was one of the best players I've seen at GP this season. Was he on loan or is he theirs ?

[North London Bee]

Agree about Noble, thought he was one of the best players I've seen at GP this season. Was he on loan or is he theirs ?

Sunderland loanee

[sonofabee]

We didn't play that well or that badly, we never really got going IMO. Hayes scored two well taken goals but didn't do much else, that's fine as goal getting is what his main job is. I thought I'd be typing about a well earned win against a lively side who surely put in their best away performance this season. I wouldn't have taken Forshaw off as we lose so much impetus without him but maybe his problem means he had to go. Harry was hot and cold, my MOM was Moore which probably says that my mind says it was a fair result, we won the 2nd half and
should have seen it through but could have been well behind at HT. I do wonder if Moore was at fault for the 2nd goal but even then he IOM was our best performer.


Their winger Noble looked class to me, pace and trickery, I thought Logan did well against him but I'd like to sign him up please.

Agree, the left winger Noble was the best player on the park

[NorthamptonBee]

Agree about Noble, thought he was one of the best players I've seen at GP this season. Was he on loan or is he theirs ?

I remember Greg Abbott of Carlisle going mad that a bloke called Noble who was on loan to them wasn't going to sign on a perm, he was at Sunderland and I think he said he would get homesick and was going to Hartlepool instead. That's from memory and probably crap.

[Les Beeavinu]

Should have won but they were a good side who completely belied their position. We were below par as well with Forrester quiet and the full backs unable to get forward. The centre midfield did well and I think the changes at half time (Legge and a forward diamond) worked ok. We should have got a third, didn't and then unluckily lost out at the end. I'm putting this one down as "shit happens".

Ref was rubbish.

[JTofBFC]

Dont disagree too much with NLBs assessment really. I thought we took the tippy tappy too far on occasions. Douglas's default ball seems to be to give it straight back to the player It came from.

I don't think the strike partnership will ever work . In fact, I would say that no partnership will ever work with Clayton because he is never there to be the partner. He wants to play as a winger. Well let him then. I know he made the cross for Hayes 2 nd but that doesn't mean the partnership worked. It didn't. We will need both strikers firing together when we start our imminent run against the top teams. No goals in 11 of the last 12 for Clayton wonder when the next wave is due.

I agree Hartlepool didn't look too bad but maybe because we let them play. Moore kept us in it with 3 fantastic saves, my MOM. .

Another disappointment and 2 more wasted points.

Good to see some of the D Block arseholes still getting on Hayes back after two decent goals. Have a go on here but not at the match !!

[Brentford_till_die]

The atmosphere,, my gosh was it quite today. We lacked any real urgency and didn't play to the tempo we know they can. We had a lot of possession first half and early on we made some chances.
Hayes had a good chance two minutes in. Donaldson, had one or two chances on goal. Hartlepool didn't really trouble us that much, but when we got the goal we couldn't push on. I felt of we got the early goal then we would but so important to get that second goal. One goal is never enough, neither is two sometimes.

Donaldson good work on left, Forshaw run to Logan and Hayes bundled in 1-0 so happy for Hayes to get on the scoresheet and early on.

Very good hold up play by Donaldson, picked out Forshaw who shot and produced a save from Flinders.

Then on the left was a very good header by Bidwell, to Harry, who dribbled the ball in corner, brilliant cross and Harlee was on the end of it with a volley, but cleared off the line at the back post. Really good play.

20minutes in a great save by Moore, their 35 was one on one.

Goal kick by Moore, Donaldson chested down very well and made space to hit one, deflected for a corner.

Their 35 looked a good player. Noble. Pretty sure he made his debut away at Hartlepool last season and looked alright then too. Was really their only outlet. Apart from lumping the ball to Howard.

No idea what happened with their first goal, right on the byline, they shot and looked like deflection of Harlee into net. Was a tight angle.

Hartlepool had a cross and and Noble number 35 with a header and should have scored.

Another good save by Moore from Noble.

At the 40th min Uwe changed the system and went to 433 with Forshaw in middle. For me Forshaw is much better in the middle of the park.

At the start of the second half Legge came on for Harlee and slotted in well. Winning most of his headers.

Moore produces another good save from Noble midway through the second half.

Our second goal was a great play by Logan, Forshaw and Donaldson, put a few passes together in tight positions and kept the ball in, Donaldson got space crossed to far post and Hayes on the end of it 2-1

As I said never feel safe with a one goal lead. Although they weren't a real threat, when your one your only winning by one goal anything can happen. They had a late free kick and was blocked which they got a corner from.
Ball went in and couldn't really see what happened just looked saw the ball go flying into the net from about 10yards out? People around were saying Craig own goal? Gutted.

[Bridge Bee]

We didn't play we'll but they don't look like a bottom of the table team - better than Crewe, Colchester and Oldham on that showing. Still gotta beat them though and with our away record it's 2pts dropped.

The lack of goals and missed chances debate seems to have papered over the fact we've kept one clean sheet in seven league games. Moore was outstanding today and the only reason we got a point. Logan, bidwell, Dave, and forrester all well below par. Well done to Hayes, but at least look like you've enjoyed scoring pal.

Anyone else noticed that when we sub forshaw we let late goals in - today, scunny and donny.

A tricky fa cup tie plus away games at Pompey, Preston and Swindon makes November really tough. Plus Sheffield utd at home. Time to stand up and be counted for uwe and the players.

[big neil]

Blinking freezing today.
Fair result, they played above themselves if you believe the league table and we were slightly off colour.
I hope Clayton kept the receipt for that new pair of shooting boots he wore today as they obviously don''t work properly...

[Brentford_till_die]

Their 35 looked a good player. Noble. Pretty sure he made his debut away at Hartlepool last season against us and looked alright then too.

[hanworthbee]

The writing was on the wall when we Ealing road in the first half

[super J]

Disappointed. We didn't play particularly well today but we should have held out for the win and it is definitely two points dropped.

It all started so well but perhaps shows that scoring too early isn't always a good thing if it means complacency kicks in. A lovely move with Forshaw slipping in Logan down the right, his low cross was flicked on by Douglas and smashed in by Hayes for his first bees goal. Harlee almost made it two soon after with a crisp volley that was headed off the line and it looked like we were heading for a comfortable afternoon.

Far from it as we became too complacent, not winning the second balls and defensively all of the place. The back four didn't appear cohesive at all in the first half and seemed to lack communication as time and again balls over the top caught us out as we appealed in vain for offside. Moore made a top save from a one on one, before another broke down our left was pulled back to the edge of the box but their player fired wide. Two let offs for us and we were lucky to still be in front but they got their equalizer and it had been coming. I wouldn't blame Harlee too much, he did what good center backs should do and defend the near post, but unluckily ended up deflecting the cross over Moore's diving body and into the net.

It had been a sloppy half and an especially poor period before half time where we were lucky to be level at the break. Legged came on at half time to replace Charles who'd been roughed up a bit by the brute that is Steve Howard. Our football improved with Forshaw pulling the strings and Douglas mopping up, Clayton pulled out wide and fed a lovely ball for Hayes to guide a header into the bottom corner.

Adayemi Cameron to give us some legs in midfield and Spencer replaced Hayes. I wasn't sure about Donaldson drifting to the right but was obviously under orders from Rosler and a lovely move between him and Logan almost saw Clayton add a third but his finish let him down. I wouldn't say it was getting nervy but we all looked for that third goal to kill the game off but it wouldn't come and we paid the price. Craig, under no pressure but perhaps affects by the wind headed a corner into the corner of our net and we'd blown.

Like I said not the best of performances today but we should have held out for the three pointss Hartlepool hadn't really threatened in the second half. We couldn't really get Forrester in the game enough and he was tightly marked throughout, a lot of our football was good today but defensively I think today was as poor as we've been all season. Lack of communication, we couldn't play the offside trap all day and kept allowing runners in behind.

Rosler has made us one of the best footballing sides in the division with excellent technical players like Harry, Forshaw and Douglas in midfield but it is time we started to deliver. I think we should be doing better than 11th and throwing away victories from winning positions is becoming a worry. 3 of the last 4 games we have been winning and haven't gone on to win, drawing 2 and losing 1. He has to braver, sticking Clayton wide right and going 4-5-1 when you are winning at home against the site bottom of the league isn't how you get out of this division. Rosler has transformed our style of play for the better but we need more ambition and a killer instinct of we are to be successful.

Today summed up our season so far, lots of good football, lots of promise, all good to watch. But no killer instinct, silly goals given away and not winning games from winning positions. We should have beaten Scunthorpe but drew, we should have beaten Doncaster but lost and we should have won today but could only draw. Add the points we've dropped from winning positions to our total and look where'd we be.

[Ken_Hom's_Wok]

We didn't play that well or that badly, we never really got going IMO. Hayes scored two well taken goals but didn't do much else, that's fine as goal getting is what his main job is. I thought I'd be typing about a well earned win against a lively side who surely put in their best away performance this season. I wouldn't have taken Forshaw off as we lose so much impetus without him but maybe his problem means he had to go. Harry was hot and cold, my MOM was Moore which probably says that my mind says it was a fair result, we won the 2nd half and should have seen it through but could have been well behind at HT. I do wonder if Moore was at fault for the 2nd goal but even then he IOM was our best performer.

Their winger Noble looked class to me, pace and trickery, I thought Logan did well against him but I'd like to sign him up please.

Agreed re noble - gave them all a tough time

[A Real Mysteron]

Why didn't we have anybody on the back post for the second own goal?

[beebopalula]

Not a good day. Good in patches but poor defending in the first half meant we were lucky to go in all square. Hard to pick out those who had a really good game-probably Moore, Logan, Dave and Douglas. The rest were OK. I thought we'd grind out a win but to be fair, Pool deserved something. You have to hand it to Steve Howard- still a right handful at 36/7. Rock on.

[Kingston Bee]

Dissapointing result but lucky not be losing at HT. Uwe did well to turn it around in the second half by bringing on Legge to handle Howard, Dean had a shocker in the first half. Uwe also changed formation so credit where it is due. Also very pleased for Hayes. We never got going and really just proved once again that we are a mid table team nothing more than that. Although Pool played we could not dominate, the top 6 seems a long way off. Yes we played good stuff in parts but we will do well to beat last seasons 9th position.

[Oldmead]

Not what I expected from a side bottom of the table I have to admit, that said this often happens when a side lose their manager ceating a 'backs to the wall' mentality. Hartlepool were disciplined, worked hard and were very difficult to break down....I would go so far as to say I have not seen many sides as effective in stopping us from getting the ball down and playing this season. Add Noble breaking fast in the first half especially off the man mountain of Howard and they were a half decent side. We never really got going aside from the first goal which was class.
I'm not criticizing anyone but we do appear to lose momentum as soon as we make changes late in the game, may be an arguement for leaving well alone with 10 minutes left and winning?
I expected to win this one but fair play to Hartlepool who had other ideas.

[CPT]

Just a couple of points from the game -

We looked poor in a rigid 442 system where our best centre midfielder is playing wide right!
Everyone was in straight lines and we kept playing direct to Clayton and Hayes which doesn't seem to be their strong points.
After Rosler moved Clayton out wide and brought Forshaw inside we looked a much better team (40 mins onwards).
I think 451 is the best formation for keeping the ball and it doesn't have to be defensive.
If you play one sitting midfielder and allow two to support the striker, it can be quite attack minded.

[larrysigny]

The main trouble, IMO, was that Pool passed to Pool players - we did the same. Our passing was abysmal - lots of short passing across and backwards, usually finishing with a pass direct to an opponent. Pool's passing was mainly forward - the only two times we really did that we scored.