Reaction From Hartlepool Boss Chris Turner

Last updated : 03 December 2009 By Thetashkentterror

Chris Turner
'Pools manager Chris Turner spoke to the assembled press after his side's 3-2 League One defeat at Brunton Park against Carlisle this evening, Turner amazed in the difference in weather between the first and second halves :


" We got the start that we wanted, the obvious things have been said about a derby game. I read Greg Abbott's comments but we started off well and we were on top. We created one or two chances and we got a goal in front and we really looked as though we could step on and try to kill the game off in the first 45.

" But then for some unknown reason it was absolutely torrential rain and wind and it was horrific, I haven't played or seen a game of football in those conditions for a long, long time. Consequently every time there was a corner kick or a free-kick put in on our goal area it was absolutely horrific to defend and Carlisle scrambled a goal in before half-time.

" We hung in to keep it at 1-1 and we really fancied our chances in the second-half because of the wind and because of the conditions. If we could get the ball in the final third and hold it up there and get corners and free-kicks and strikes and crosses at goal then we would put them under that sort of pressure.

" But for some unknown reason the machine had been turned off at half-time, the rain has stopped and it was not half as bad in the second-half. But having said that I didn't think we performed well in the second-half. A freak third goal won them the game but then an obvious penalty kick decision wasn't given in the final three minutes of the game. You talk about Thierry Henry's handball but this was more blatant than that. "



" Those little things are going against us at this moment in time you know, I think we deserved a draw out of the game at least. If you get a penalty kick and tuck it away, I think 3-3 would have been a fairer scoreline but it didn't happen. I didn't think we played as well, or as well as we can do or we should do in the second-half.

" The ball wasn't being held up up the front and we didn't win enough second balls in midfield. We didn't apply the pressure that they did, they changed it a little bit and went with a quickie down the middle in the second-half which caused us one or two problems. Then a freak goal which ends up winning them the game, which typifies at this moment what is going against us.

" I put Andy (Monkhouse) down the middle and young David Foley on because I wanted David to do what he is good at in and around the penalty box but that never materialised. Andy has played down the middle a couple of times before. He can hold the ball up and win headers and with (Denis) Behan and (James) Brown out for weeks we are running short of strikers.

" We had a quarter of our team missing but we took the game to them, but then slowly one or two players stopped doing what had got us a good start and Carlisle clawed their way back into it.

" One or two players start doing different things and a lot comes from strikers getting hold of the ball to make us play. It's about the mentality. Good teams and good players keep doing the same thing, they don't go off on their own agenda or start doing things which make it difficult. That consequently breaks the rhythm of the team which it did last night."

 




Meanwhile recently signed Norwegian striker Armann Bjornsson commented : 

" I hope I can make the most of a few players being out injured. I've got to make my mark now and just keep on training hard and pushing for it. The first few months have been hard but it's always like that when you come to a new country. The football is different over here - it's much more physical.

" Everybody is new but it's quite nice to be in England - it's like Iceland. We don't play at the moment both in Norway and Iceland, but it's cold in Iceland, England and Norway so I will just keep on going. The winter conditions won't put me off at all. The goal will boost my confidence and hopefully I can play well and stay in the side. "