Rune Lange - goal

By Clarence Rode
February 15 2009

Ten years ago, getting his first chance in football management, Chris Turner guided Hartlepool to safety when they faced the big drop into non-League football. Now, after being confirmed as caretaker manager until the end of the season, he is facing a similar task as he tries to save Pools from dropping into League Two.

The situation isn't as serious as it was all those years ago and the consequences of failure aren't quite so disastrous. After all, even though it's where Darlo appear destined to stay forever, Pools have proved in the past that getting out of League Two isn't THAT difficult.
With Colin West installed as his No.2 again, Turner knows what's needed - a dramataic turnround in form and a string of results good enough to keep the team away from the bottom four.
After Satrurday's 3-1 defeat at MK Dons, Pools are just seven points ahead of fourth bottom Brighton,and while that may look comfortable, some of the teams below them have been getting better results lately and on current form Pools ARE in danger of relegation.
If Danny Wilson's Swindon can get a point at Leicester, then surely the Pools team he left behind can do the same at MK Dons. Turner was hardly helped by injuries and suspensions, with five changes forced on him.
But Pools weren't outclassed - they lost because they didn't make enough of their chances (again) and gave away soft goals (again), in the closing minutes (again).
Pools heads are down, they are struggling with injuries, they miss Willie Boland more than anybody might have expected, they defend badly and they are too reliant on goals from top scorer Joel Porter, ruled out on Saturday with a back injury.
The goals output from midfield and defence is a disgrace - even the worst of teams can get the odd goal from defenders and a few more from midfield players, but for Pools the output is shameful. Andy Monkhouse has a rwespectable six, Michael Nelson three, but the number goals from other non-strikers is poor - how come regulars Gary Liddle and Richie Jones only have three between them from midfield, for instance?
As we said here just before Christmas, this is a crisis and it's time for Turner and West to do their magic.