AB - goal

By Charlie Summerbell
August 26 2009

Beaten, but by no means disgraced, Chris Turner’s Hartlepool United can hold their heads up high after an unlucky 2-1 home Carling Cup defeat at the hands of Premiership new boys Burnley at Victoria Park. Yes, Burnley made ten changes from the team that beat Everton two days earlier, but they are still a Premiership club and Pools did everything but beat them in a match they dominated.

Turner’s new-look team may have only four League One points out of 12 and may have been knocked out of the Carling Cup, but they have done enough to show that they are going to do far better than they did last season.
The squad looks strong and the team is playing well - the signing of Icelandic international Armann Bjornsson (right), who at 6ft 5in can play in defence or up front, is another early-season boost for fans.
So that makes it all the more surprising that only 3,500 turned up at the Vic on Tuesday night – surely for a match just three days after a useful win at Gillingham and against a side from the Premiership, Pools deserved more than that.
Hopefully there will be a big turn-out for the League game against alleged big club Norwich on Saturday, when former Brann Bergen player Bjornsson will be in the squad.

Turner told the Northern Echo (easily the best for Pools coverage, we reckon): “It was an excellent tie – we pushed them to the limit. I’m proud of the team, the way they played and fought.
“We created more chances than them and it’s something of a hard luck story. We take a lot of credit out of this game and performance.
"Every player played their part – that’s all I can ask from my team.’’
James Brown missed the game, a precaution after he took a knock on the knee at Gillingham, but the good news was that Richie Jones, who broke a bone in his hand at Priestfield, was passed fit and did well in midfield.
Adam Boyd grabbed his chance in the team after taking over from Brown and gave Pools a deserved lead in the first half, but £3m sub Steve Fletcher equalized late on and scored a second in extra-time to put Burnley through.

Unlucky Pools go out of Carling Cup

Discussion started by The Box of Kippers , 26/08/2009 11:01

The Box of Kippers
26/08/2009 11:01

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SportNetwork HQ
26/08/2009 12:14

We paid the price for not scoring more when we had most of the pressure. Burnley must feel very relieved today because their gamble in not playing more first teamers almost came unstuck.

As for the Northern Echo mate well thats all well and good but how mnany Pooliess buy it? The Mail may be bad in some areas but at least we get lots of Pools coverage

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Rift House
26/08/2009 12:28

You would expect the Mail to have good coverage of Pools, but some of the headlines are awful.

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OptionalCapers
26/08/2009 12:43

We were very lucky. You should have won the game easily, but you didn't take your chances and it cost you.

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LAWS OUT
LAWS OUT
LAWS OUT
LAWS OUT
LAWS OUT


If only the Premier League were as competitive as this.

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Rift House
26/08/2009 13:53

You lot had better win it now. Good luck in the Prem.

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