Neale Cooper’s return to the Vic really has made a difference, providing quick proof that football’s old “never go back” saying isn’t always true.

But Bournemouth are in good form, too, and scored two late goals to beat Exeter 2-0 during the week. Pools are six points behind Bournemouth, but the 4-0 win over Carlisle in their previous home game showed how much progress they have made under Cooper.

The manager says he’s not heartbroken after failing to make any signings during the January window and he told the Northern Echo: “I said to the players 'make my job difficult' because there's not many who would improve that team right now.

"There's pressure on the front boys to keep performing. Why go and get someone in who wouldn't get in this team?

"I've had emails in from plenty and had players in training with us, but they aren't the answer at the moment.

"But I want them to come and meet the players, not to take anyone blind. I want them in to look at, within two or three days I can sense if they fit in here.''

Cooper is happy with the team form and with the form of individual players as he gradually stamps his personality on his squad.

And nobody has pleased him more than Antony Sweeney, one of the few who was with Pools during Cooper’s previous spell.

He told the Hartlepool Mail: “Luke James has been getting the man-of-the-match awards recently, but Sweeney would be a rival for every one of them.

“He’s been terrific the past couple of matches and we’re seeing what I believe is the true Antony Sweeney.

“He’s in a happy place right now. That’s important for every player, because only then do you see the best of them when it counts, out there on the football pitch.”

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Pools aim to narrow the gap

Posted by: The Box of Kippers (IP Logged)

Date: 08/02/2012 11:02

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