The former Hartlepool United boss’s return to Victoria Park has transformed losers into winners and put a whole new complexion on the club.

After a record nine home defeats on the trot, Pools have now won their last two at the Vic and are unbeaten in their last four games.

Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Carlisle was their biggest won of the season, taking them to tenth in League One and making fans wonder where they might be if that awful home run had not been quite so bad.

If, for instance, they had taken just six points, two wins, from those defeats, Pools would be seventh top, two points behind the play-offs. Nine points would have taken them to sixth and well in the race.

Football is full of ifs and buts, of course, but there is no questioning what Cooper has achieved, and as a bonus they have a teenager in Luke James who just might be going places. He scoffed twice against Carlisle, taking his tally to three goals in five senior games.

Wait until he really develops.

He got his first on six minutes, a deflected shot that got Pools off to a flier. On 17, Antony Sweeney got up well to head a second, and when Carlisle’s Lee Miller was sent off after just a quarter of the game it was virtually all over.

James got his second on 67 minutes with a great finish from an angle, and sub Colin Nish celebrated his return from injury with the fourth nine minutes from time.

“It’s been a really good week for us,” Cooper told the club website. “The way we started the game was fantastic and some of the football was brilliant.

“Everyone was superb, but it was another outstanding performance from Luke James. I’m not just talking about his goals, but he’s not scared of anything and to have that courage at such a young age is great.”

Former Carlisle defender Evan Horwood was forced off with a knee injury in the first half, and though he was on crutches after the game, it’s thought he should be fit to resume training soon as Pools prepare for next weekend’s visit to Richie Barker’s Bury.

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Pools prove old saying wrong

Posted by: The Box of Kippers (IP Logged)

Date: 29/01/2012 10:19

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