SOMETIMES a manager stumbles upon a scheme which only serves to make the opposition’s job easier.
Brentford boss Nicky Forster’s mistake was moving right-back Robbie Neilson into the centre of the Bees’ defence. Throw in the fact that Neilson stands at 5ft 6ins and would be marking Hartlepool’s Andy Monkhouse, who is 6ft 1in, and as schemes go, this was hare-brained.
Not that Monkhouse was about to ask any questions as he led Pool’s line superbly, bagged two goals for himself and gave Neilson a torrid afternoon. The striker was a bit quieter by the time Forster realised his mistake and moved the Scot back to right-back, but the damage had been done with Pool finding time to add a third via Carl Liddle’s glorious volley.
Take nothing away from Mick Wadsworth’s side. This was an assured display and while goalkeeper Scott Flinders had to be on his guard at certain stages during this match, there was only one team who looked likely to win.
Monkhouse’s display was pleasing to Wadsworth, who hopes his striker has finally put a run of bad form behind him. He said: “They say goals change games but they can change players as well. Andy’s on a bit of a run right now.
“He’s had a tough season but good on him.
“He has terrific ability and I thought his heading was superb today, as he gave Neilson such a torrid time that Brentford had to move him away from the centre of defence to right-back.
“Andy’s an influential player here. He’s a big personality in the dressing room.
“Now that he’s focused his attention more on his game and strapped his brain in a little bit tighter, he’s a key player for us, as shown today.”
The opening 35 minutes were tentative with both sides cagey but in retrospect, Hartlepool were merely sizing up Brentford’s armoury before going in for the kill. Leon McSweeney was seeing more and more of the ball and the strings he was pulling eventually had Brentford dancing to the home side’s beat.
After some good work by the play-maker in 36 minutes, the ball worked itself to an unmarked Monkhouse whose initial shot was beaten away by visiting keeper Richard Lee. The rebound fell back to the Pool striker whose second attempt smacked the underside of the bar and bounced back out.
However, referee Karl Evans spotted his assistant’s flag and the Manchester whistler was duly informed that the ball had gone over the line before spinning back into play.
Brentford came out after half-time determined to draw level with Flinders doing well to deny Robbie Simpson and Sam Saunders. The saves were to prove pivotal, as was Forster’s decision to move Neilson to centre-half come the 57th minute.
As the ball was played in the direction of Neilson and Monkhouse, the latter’s build was no match for the former Scotland international with the Pool hitman being allowed to burst into the penalty area and smash an unstoppable low drive past the despairing Lee.
Monkhouse should have completed his hat-trick soon after when after Lee had brilliantly saved from Antony Sweeney, the striker didn’t connect well with the rebound which allowed the Bees keeper to gather the ball.
Hartlepool wrapped up the points with six minutes left with a sublime goal. Colin Larkin broke down the left and his pinpoint cross found McSweeney at the far post. The midfielder spotted an advancing Liddle striding in to the box and nodded the ball back to his path. His crashing volley was duly dispatched into the back of the net.
HARTLEPOOL: Flinders, Haslam, Collins, Hartley, Horwood, McSweeney (Brown 86), Murray (Humphreys 75), Liddle, Sweeney, Donaldson (Larkin 69), Monkhouse. Subs (not used): Rafferty, Gamble, Boyd, Bjornsson.
Booked: Murray, Brown.
Goals: Monkhouse 36, 57, Liddle 83.
BRENTFORD: Lee, O’Connor, Neilson, Osborne, Woodman, Saunders, Bean (Legge 58), Diagouraga, Weston (Grabban 74), Alexander, Simpson (Reed 58). Subs (not used): Moore, Balkestein, Bignall, Byrne.
Booked: Reed, Legge.
Referee: Karl Evans (Lancashire) Attendance: 2,936
