Opposition view: Hartlepool boss Moore rues slow start

Moore’s men could have been blown away by a rampant Northampton side who threatened to run riot in a dominant opening 25 minutes, but the home side were guilty of missing numerous chances – Marc Richards and Ryan Cresswell the main culprits – to allow Hartlepool a route back into the game.

However, Richards’ goal on five minutes plus an own goal from Andrew Boyce was enough for the hosts to earn all three points despite Rakish Bingham reducing the arrears for United.

Moore said afterwards: “We shot ourselves in the foot. We knew that they start games well here and for 20 minutes I thought we were on the back foot and they could have scored three or four.

“They were daft goals. We had no strength, no leadership and then we we weathered the storm.

“We had a great chance when it was 1-0 when Boyce headed over the bar and we could have been back in the game.

“Once we got ourselves back in the game, I fancied us. But we never really put enough pressure on them in the second half, We sat in there at times and when we did try and put pressure on them, we kicked the ball forward too early and we couldn’t get our wingers involved.

“Northampton are a good side and they have good players. The start they made is what I’ve been trying to get out of us.

“We know where the problem is but it’s trying to find someone who can lead us and organise things at the back.

“I was pleased for Bingham. If we had played the ball a bit earlier he’d have been in a few more times because he was a constant threat with their lack of pace at the back.”