NEALE Cooper will spent time this week trying to bolster his Hartlepool United squad for the League One run-in.
While Pool are handily placed in mid-table, the recently returned boss feels there is more to come from his players and hopes to get something extra out of them with a couple of additions.
Defensively they were stout at Exeter at the weekend, but Cooper felt with a bit of extra quality in the final third they could have made the haul home on Saturday night with three points instead of one.
James Brown could be the one to bring that bit more to the front line, the striker never stopped at St James’s Park and gave an indication he could finally be over the stretch of injuries that dogged him all season.
It was clear that the goal he scored the previous game at home to Rochdale had done his belief and confidence the world of good.
Chances, however, for Brown and his teammates were rare. Antony Sweeney had Pool’s best, both in the second half. First he was played into the penalty area thanks to good work from Brown and Luke James, but goalkeeper Atrtur Krysiak was off his line in an instant to block his clipped effort.
Then, towards the end, the midfielder was picked out by Gary Liddle at the far post, but headed over the bar after climbing high above his marker.
All in all it was a satisfactory performance, but Cooper wants a bit more. “It (a draw) makes it only 345 miles home now – a point has knocked about ten off! It wasn’t the best display, but a fighting one, ” said Cooper ahead of his trek home.
“One or two of them didn’t have their best games, but it happens. Young boys come in and start and then, I’ve done it myself as a player, you get bedded in the team – in and out – and get used to it, .
“Luke has done so well in the last few weeks, but knows himself he could do better. He had another big lad up against him, but he could have held the ball up a bit better and he has been doing that.
“He has been excellent and I’m not coming in to be negative, but he has set his standard in recent weeks.”
And he added: “I’ve looked at players but they have to be the right ones. I’ve spoken to plenty of managers – Davie Moyes, and others. Hopefully this week something will happen.
“There’s a couple of pieces missing in the jigsaw. We don’t have natural wingers, I’ve been on the phone for players, but it has to be the right ones. We need someone up front, a finisher in the box. I hope we can get someone in, we are trying in the next week or so.”
EXETER CITY: Krysiak; Tully, Archibald-Henville, Duffy, Golbourne, Dunne, Sercombe (Taylor 15), Noble, Bauza (Coles 88), Logan (O’Flynn 61), Nardiello. Subs (not used): Pidgeley, Bennett.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood, Murray, Liddle, Baldwin (Haslam 69), Sweeney, James, Brown (Hassan 80). Subs (not used): Rafferty, Humphreys, Monkhouse.
Attendance: 4,016.
Referee: Mark Haywood (W Yorkshire).
