Barker: Pools can learn from Leeds

Dec 30 2007 Sunday Sun

POOLS striker Richard Barker believes his side can use Leeds United as an example of what can be achieved at Victoria Park.

Barker impressed as Pools drew with the Elland Road club on Boxing Day – the teams drawing 1-1 after the visitors nabbed a 90th-minute leveller.

Game-saving goals have become the norm for Leeds as the club has wiped out its 15-point deficit, imposed at the start of the season for financial irregularities, with some ease.

Pools club moniker is “Never Say Die” and it’s a slogan Leeds have adopted.

“The Leeds game was a bit difficult to take,” admitted the striker, Pools’ leading scorer this season. “But then that’s them all over. Look at how many times they have scored late on.

“They can make quality substitutions and change the game from that point of view, but from our point of view it was a decent performance.”

He added: “Leeds are difficult to play against, big and strong. But we have more than matched them in both our games this season, but only came out of it with one point.

“Our second goal just couldn’t materialise.

“We have done alright in terms of going in front, but not held on to them all.”