We carried on were we left off on saturday and if anything this was a slightly better performance against a team from a higher division, even if slightly weakened.

We appear to have a back 4 that can actually defend and a 'keeper behind them when called upon who can make saves, and whose handling again was top notch. And 2 fine saves to boot. We now seem to have a spirit and confidence.

Behan holds up play, Friedrikson once more outstanding in midfield and a man who actually keeps finding his team mates with passes whether long or short and a vision to change direction. The back 4 never giving and once again almost no mistakes from any.
Hartley and Haslam at full backs.Yes we do have full backs at last.

Liddle and Collins working together as centre half's should. Sorry Ben Clark at the moment no way back even when fully fit you will have to bide your time for injuries or suspensions. bench is best you can expect for quite a while. I dont believe Im saying that but it true.

Pools were outstanding, kept the ball, though apart from a 30 yard belter ,well saved by Dimi from Hartley lacked a little upfront. But we have Brown who came on and started to create a few things. It was a totally professional performance.

Marks

Flinders. Safe handling and two great saves 9. My man of the match simply for the saves
Hartley. nearly scored and fact he a defender in a defenders position means we look safe on the left 8
Haslem. Did his job and covered when needed 8
Collins Won his headers, the Collins we saw when we first signed 8
Liddle. One slight slip almost cost us but another coming back to form in his new position 8
Jones. Covered ground well 7
Sweeney. Got forward at times as he did in 2003/04 7
Friedrikson. Find of many a season for Pools on what I've seen so far, subbed in 2nd half ,hopefully as a precaution for Charlton 8
Behan, Leads the line well doesnt give in 7
Monkhouse. One moment of madness when give ball away resulting in yellow card but once more looks like coming into the form we know he capable of 8
McSweenie. Holds up balls chases into channels and looks another good signing.Our gain again 8

Subs.
Larkin. Looks like will fit in and give us options from bench or when others out of form/injured 7
Brown. Another 20-30 mins under his belt wouldnt have harmed him, and should be ready to unleash on others soon 7
Boyd, Got the goal one other effort from distance, still looks little off it to me , though maybe like Brown few more apperences off bench may help 7

Turner as on Saturday got it right, I may have to totally change my opinion that I didnt think he was right man this time round 8

Great stuff Bob.

I am over the moon, and cant wait to see the lads on saturday.

Like I said a while back CT has done his job this summer, in that he has brouGht the feel good factor back. Its like when Coops was in charge for me.

Even defeats wont dampen my spirits this season............not one bit.

If we keep our expectations realistic we can all go out and enjoy the season, and actually go to games with smiles on our faces...............which we never did under the previous two idiots.

Well done HUFC.

Proper football team display. Full of heart as well as professionalism.
JAF had more time on the ball than any Pools player I've seen in many years.
Larkin put in a great shift, but for me Gary Liddle (one slip aside) was superb.
Behan is strong and clever for an old fashioned battling centre forward, won so many headers against bigger defenders.

When Browny and Boyd are fully fit it should get even better.

Bring on Burnley!

Cheers Fetish. Great report.

How great it is to finally feel a bit of optimism.

I cant wait until Saturday.

Defeats are inevitable but it is the manner of some over the past two seasons that get to you.

Good report Bob

We weren't in the best position, it's always difficult to get a genuine view of the game, form behind the goal

However I thought that Fredriksen was more influential against MK Dons, than last night.
I reckon he will get the time and space he relishes , in the league games.

Also I thought that the substitutions changed the game. I couldn't see where a goal was going to come from
in the first half, as well as we were playing. However as the game went on and the three subs were inroduced
we just looked more and more dangerous going forward.
Dimi didn't have a shot to save first half , but he saved them several times after the break and in extra time.
The other effect of the subs was to push Jones in to centre mid, and he responded , showing that this is his
preferred and best position.

Liddle looks like he's played centre back for seasons, so comfortable and as you said this is the best I've seen Collins play.

Larkin also looked a good acquisition and made a worthwhile contribution, including setting up the goal.

CT has got a real task this weekend, sorting out is starting line up.
What a luxury

Thought we were excellent last night. Fredriksen linking up the defence and midfield really well, always looking to find the pass.

The defence are constantly wanting to put a tackle in and defended really well. It was hard to pick a Man Of The Match out of that lot, but I'd have to say Hartley he was immense at Left Back and that shot in the 89th minute was quality.

Flinders aswell was class, Claiming crosses and made some great saves including making himself big for a 1v1.

I had my doubts about Turner too, but if that spirit comes away from home this season aswell as home I very much doubt we'll struggle.

Excellent result and you gotta worry for the likes of Ben Clark and Neil Austin because getting in that starting 11 is going to be very difficult for the pair of them. The one thing I'd like to see now is Monkhouse on the left and McSweeney on the right and were going to be a force.

How excellent though that we will have a decent calibre of players on the bench this season rather than relying on rubbish that will not change a game, apart from making our side weaker.

no task for ct if all fit start with same team

i'm loving this. It sounds very encouraging. Always hard to get a feeling for the away matches you can't get to but it sounds like we're playing as a unit once again.

I'm eagerly anticipating Saturday. Only saw a breif glimpse of Fredriksen in the Sheffield Wednesday friendly but he showed a load of promise in the brief time he was on.

The defence sound like they already have an understanding too. Something which was lacking in most games last season (other than the Stoke game strangely enough!)

Roll on Saturday

Its fantastic walked out of the Ricoh last night with a grin on my face, We played really well. First half lacked a bit up front but Turner changed it and Larkins pace caused them a lot of trouble, I forgot to mention him, madness! Like John says all 9 signings are in there for places, Exciting times! Hope we get another positive result on Saturday

agree mate driving home last night i could,nt take grin off my face lets hope we rock the vic on saturday

I walked out of the Ricoh and straight into a gaggle of former students in their Cov shirts..." Sir we saw you go mental when Hartlepool scored". I certainly did !!!