Boydie - goal

By Charlie Summerbell
August 13 2009

Even Chris Turner admits he has been surprisied by the speed with which his new-look Hartlepool United squad has blended into a team. As they followed up Saturday's useful League One draw at MK Dons with an extra-time single-goal win at Coventry in the Carling Cup, a lot of fans must be changing their outlook on how the team will fare this season.

After all, in two tough away games adding up to three and a half hours of football, they have drawn one and won one, and not conceded a goal - a massive improvement on last season's form and surely two results few would have predicted for a team with so many new players.
Boyd's clinical finish at the end of the first half of extra time gave Pools a win they thoroughly deserved against a scratch Coventry side at the Ricoh Arena, and Turner had every right to be pleased with the performance.
Former Pools keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos has been handed some of the blame for the goal, but poor defending had left him exposed.
Life won't get any easier - Pools start their home season against alleged big club Charlton on Saturday - but results and performances like these certainly won't do any harm to the squad's confidence and team spirit.
Their reward for winning at Coventry is a second round home tie against relegated Premiership side Burnley (yes, we know ... but just you watch, they will be), and after last season's wins over West Brom and Stoke, that's a game they know they can win.
From keeper Scott Flinders right through the team to the subs, Pools did well enough to suggest that Turner's close-season effforts will bear fruit.
The fact that Peter Hartley, who is not a natural left-back, was man of the match in that position underlines the sort of spirit that appears to be running through the squad.
Charlton will be a difficult test, but one that the team - and probably the fans as well - will be relishing.