Richie Jones - goal

By Clarence Rode
February 4 2009

Caretaker manager Chris Turner said Hartlepool United players were showing commitment and spirit, and he was proved right as they battled their way to a point at Huddersfield, playing for just under half the game with ten men after loan signing Daniel Nardiello was sent off. After losing to a last-minute goal at Brighton on Saturday, the point should give Pools a much-needed lift.

They came back well after an early own goal from Michael Nelson (right), who hooked a cross into his own net as he tried to clear, and Nardiello made a well-taken equalizer for Richie Jones.
Nelson put hios erarly disappointment behind him to put in a great game, but Nardiello was sent off early in the second half after a challenge on home keeper Alex Smithies. It was the sort of tackle that referees can see in different ways, but the home players reacted to it and Turner admitted: "When that happened, I knew it would be a red card."
He added that he woulod expect his player to go for the ball in the circxumstan ces and he feels it was a genuine attempt to win possession, not to injuure the keeper.
But now Nardiello faces suspension early in his stay with Pools, though at least the performance at Huddersfield will give the team, and Turner heart for the rest of the season after their League One campaign threatened to slump.
The point keeps Pools in mid-table, where they have spent most of their season, eight points ahead of fourth bottom Orient and 11 behind Leeds, who are one place outside the play-off zone.
If they can maintain the form they showed at Huddersfield, they should be all right. But the Brighton game wasn't the same, and the last-minute goal they conceded there underlined that the defence is often wobbly under pressure away from home.
One good performance at Huddersfield doesn't mean those days are behind them.
They'll be hoping to get back to winning ways at the Vic on Saturday, when Walsall - a single point ahead of Pools - are the visitors after a home hammering at the hands of run away leaders Leicester on Tuesday night.