Poor defending cost Pools the points, says Curle
HARTLEPOOL United manager Keith Curle bemoaned his side’s defending as they fell to a defeat at promotionchasing Swindon Town.
Pools made their way to the County Ground looking to avoid a third consecutive league defeat – but they found themselves two goals down by the time the midway point of the firsthalf had been reached.
Former Sunderland star Jonny Williams put the visitors in front with 12 minutes on the clock when he tapped in from close range after getting on the end of a cross to the far post.
And the lead was doubled just five minutes later when Remeao Hutton’s stunning cross cut out the Pools defence and allowed Luke Jephcott to head beyond the helpless Ben Killip.
Reflecting on his side’s poor defending, Curle told the club website: “We gave a very good team a twogoal start. We didn’t stop crosses, we allowed balls into our box, poor defending at the back post.
“We are playing against a team playing with confidence, good movement and they’ve got good wide players that can open you up.
“But you have got to be able to deal with it and it’s usually the opposite side of the pitch to where they are attacking where you can be vulnerable. The two goals come from crosses into the box.”
Pools pulled a goal back just before the half-hour mark as Josh Umerah’s power and determination allowed the striker to set up Clarke Odour and he made no mistake with a cool finish.
Curle’s side stuck to their task throughout the second-half as they looked to claim what would have been a valuable point and one that could have become the launchpad to a more positive run of form.
But an equaliser evaded them and their hosts could have made life more comfortable for themselves had Jephcott and Mathieu Baudry not wasted opportunities to add a third goal inside the final 20 minutes.
Despite the defeat, Curle insisted that his side showed the qualities he feels they will need if they are to escape the relegation zone and avoid a return to the National League at the end of the season.
“We take the positives,” he said. “The effort, the commitment, I haven’t got a problem with that. We need to build on that and that is what is going to get us out of this.”
Pools are back in action on Tuesday night when they host Salford City.
The effort, the commitment, I
haven’t got a problem with that. We need to build on
that
Keith Curle