Tranmere 3 Hartlepool 1

Mar 16 2008 by lynsey richardson, Sunday Sun

DANNY WILSON looked on in disbelief as his team lost away from home for the 13th time this season.

There's little doubt the scoreline flattered the home side and Wilson couldn't believe his side returned home on the end of a scoreline which certainly flattered the home side.

Pools saw key decisions and game-turning events work against them as Jamie McCunnie was sent off and substitute Tom Craddock missed a second-half penalty which would have levelled the scoreline at 2-2.

But referee Dean Whitestone bore the brunt of Wilson's anger.

“I really can't believe we lost that game,” he fumed.

“I'm at a loss. Tranmere had the last three minutes of the game and that's about it.

“Their goals came not from their good play, but good fortune.

“We had a penalty missed and one sent off.

“I am livid with the referee, I thought he was exceptionally poor.

“We had a man sent off when we conceded a penalty and they didn't even get a yellow card when we had a penalty in our favour.

“How? I've no idea. It was exactly the same situation, a scoring opportunity.

“I thought my players were magnificent and I mean it.

“I was proud of the way we played. We shouldn't have been two down in the first place.

“But we kept going and kept going, Tranmere were very fortunate.”

After an uneasy start, Pools were behind and down to ten men before half-time.

McCunnie got the ball tangled in his feet and brought down Ian Moore in the area.

Chris Greenacre's shot was saved by Arran Lee-Barrett, but the striker knocked in the rebound.

The full-back was dismissed after his foul and Pools suffered a double whammy.

It was two down when Micky Nelson sliced a cross from the right wing by Chris Shuker into his own net.

But when Ritchie Humphreys got one back with 20 minutes to go, after Pools had dominated for long periods, it was game on.

When Porter was felled in the area by Antony Kay, Pools had a chance to level.

However Tom Craddock, on loan from Middlesbrough, pushed his kick wide of the post after keeper Danny Coyne dived the opposite way.

Still Pools pressed for a deserved leveller, but they couldn't find it and Tranmere killed the game off in the last minute when Shane Sherriff headed in a free kick from eight yards.