Harrison insists Pools must be a lot more ruthless in attack
POOLS FOCUS
Craig Harrison has challenged his Hartlepool United players to find their ruthless streak.
The manager’s comments come after Pools let Chester off the hook at Victoria Park last night.
Having fallen behind after just 59 seconds to a James Akintunde strike, Harrison’s men then went on to completely dominate their National League opponents.
But despite hitting the woodwork three times and created an endless number of opportunities, Pools had just Jake Cassidy’s 70th minute equaliser and one point to show for their night’s work.
And Harrison was not happy that his players again failed to produce a 90 minute performance.
Although, he admits there was plenty to be positive about from the encounter.
“How didn’t we win that? You look at it and I look back before I commit to things 100 per cent, but this was a game we could have done enough to win two or three games,” said the manager.
“We have to be ruthless in all third. Defensively we have to be better for 90 minutes, attacking third everyone had to be a bit better and a bit more ruthless and we will get there.
“We conceded early, but it’s happening too many times. I don’t believe in coincidences, I like to know all I can and statistically we could have had seven points if it wasn’t for first-half mistakes.
“It’s a game with human error and we have to make sure it doesn’t happen regularly. Once or twice is a mistake, three or four and it’s a bad choice.”
Having fallen behind in the game, Pools had to show fight and resolve to get back into the clash.
And while that pleased Harrison he does not wish for the unhealthy habit of conceding first to continue.
“We came back strongly and Scotty (Harrison) made a mistake and showed resilience to do well after that,” he said.
“We build momentum as it went on, hit the bar twice in the first half and their keeper made saves.
“We score a scruffy goal in the end, their keeper should have done better. But of all the opportunities it was a scruffy one.
“It’s about resilience and keeping going to the end. That’s the best we played by a million miles and we are only 75 per cent there. It was an improvement on the three games we have had before this.
“Create that many chances at home and we will win a lot of home games.”