HARTLEPOOL United did have a lot of possession at the Memorial Stadium last Saturday and I suppose we have to expect their local newspaper to express the disappointment of their defeat although I feel it was a little over the top.
The Hartlepool Mail described how the visitors "were unable to make the most of their domination" as they succumbed to a third successive defeat.
The report added: "Chris Turner's men controlled the vast majority of the game with slick pass and move directed by new signing Joe Gamble. But they paid the price for conceding two sloppy goals and spurning several clear cut chances which came their way."
I don't accept they controlled "the vast majority of the game" or that our two goals were "sloppy."
Chris Lines' header was as good as they come from a corner into a crowded goalmouth while Darryl Duffy picked his spot in the far corner. The sort of finish any striker would be proud of .
I agree with the report when it said that after Lines' early goal that "Pools weren't daunted and Andy Monkhouse, Colin Larkin and Gary Liddle should have levelled before the interval.
"Denis Behan then went close early in the second half before former Pools loanee Darryl Duffy scored the classic sucker punch which effectively ended the game as a contest and consigned Turner's side to a sixth successive away defeat."
The Mail added: "With the way Turner's side had dominated the game without capitalising, it seemed inevitable that a second goal would come and so it proved as the two former Pools loanee's combined in the 66th minute.
"Danny Coles' played a ball over the top down the left-hand channel and substitute Darryl Duffy beat the offside trap, checked inside Liddle before sweeping it into the far bottom corner."
"Frustrated Pools player Joe Gamble insisted Hartlepool United should be four points better off after three losses in his first week with the club.
The Hartlepool Mail said: "like the majority of the Pools squad, Gamble trudged out of the Memorial Ground dressing room shaking his head in disbelief that Chris Turner's side had not turned their domination into goals.
"It has been a tough week for the former Cork City midfielder who saw his new club thrashed 5-0 on his debut against MK Dons before being deprived of a deserved point at Charlton Athletic and then losing 2-0 at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
Gamble said: "Three losses in a row. Fantastic.
"But really, if we're going to be honest about everything, anyone who was at the game on Saturday or on Tuesday will see it does not reflect three losses.
"As an away team, you're not going to play better than that.
"How can you create seven chances - four of them clear-cut ones - and not score goals?
"No team are going to come here, play as well as that and get nothing out of the game."
"We deserved four points."
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner felt the home side "were frustrated" as Rovers emerged from their weather-enforced hibernation to force a goalless draw at the Galpharm Stadium.
It was only the sixth time this season that Lee Clark's side has failed to score as hopes of a fourth successive home league win were foiled by what the Examiner called "the stubborn West Country side."
Rovers were in action for the first time since December 28 and aiming to avoid an eighth successive away defeat.
The Examiner reported: "Other than a couple of corners, little had been seen of Bristol as an attacking force, but Town had a huge let-off two minutes before half-time.
"Having looked comfortably in control, the home defence was static as Jo Kuffour played in Mark Wright.
"The midfielder was one-on-one with keeper Alex Smithies, who spread himself to block, but the ball looped towards goal and it took a desperate clearance by the backtracking Antony Kay to prevent a goal."
A sluggish opening to the second half resulted in boss Clark changing both front men, with Theo Robinson and Robbie Simpson replacing Lee Novak (55 minutes) and Rhodes (58).
Town stopper Smithieshad to make a crucial save when he pushed Chris Lines' shot against his right-hand upright and away.
The home supporters' frustration continued as referee Russell Booth waved away a penalty appeal for handball just as his assistant signaled three minutes of time added on.
And it might have got even worse had Peltier not got in a sliding tackle to halt Rovers substitute Darryl Duffy as he sped in from the left.
Paul Trollope told the Bristol Evening Post that he hoped the battling point at Huddersfield that ended Rovers' run of seven straight defeats can be a pivotal moment in their season.
The manager said: "We've been disappointing in a number of away games, although we haven't always got what we've deserved - but, hopefully, this is a turning point for us.
"Having not played for three weeks and after losing as many games as we have on the road, we knew we were in for a tough test. We set out a game plan and several aspects of it worked."
