Turner disappointed with result but not second-half performance

Chris Turner, Hartlepool's Director of Sport, was disappointed that his side didn't get more out of the encounter at Boundary Park but he was pleased with the improvements in performance shown in the second half. He admitted that his side could even have come away with a point by the end.

He told the official Pool website, "We struggled in the first half. We sat back too deep, we didn't get tight enough in midfield and we didn't give the strikers any real service. Michael Nelson made a mistake for the first goal and he knows that but the unfortunate thing is that a player of Lee Hughes' quality was waiting behind him - all players make mistakes though and I can't criticise Michael because I think he's a tremendous defender. The players showed a lot of character and commitment to get back in to the game and we could have nicked a draw through Matty Robson near the end. I think on the whole we lacked quality in the final third in terms of service provided and if you're being honest then Oldham deserved the win at the end of the game."