"Embarrassed" Hartlepool United manager slams Pools players following humbling FA Trophy exit
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone has apologised to Pools fans after his side were dumped out of the FA Trophy in humiliating fashion by Northern Premier League Division One Midlands outfit Anstey Nomads.
While Featherstone's eight-week long stint in caretaker charge could hardly have gone better, with Pools winning four and drawing three of their seven National League matches during his interim spell, things could hardly have gone worse since he was appointed on a permanent basis earlier this month.
Having been beaten by a resurgent Yeovil in the first game after he was announced as manager until the end of the season, Pools were knocked out of the FA Trophy in an embarrassing result that will surely rank as one of the worst in the club's recent history.
A few years ago, even the most sceptical of supporters would have struggled to imagine their side being beaten by Northern Premier League opposition - this season, however, it has happened twice.
Having been dumped out of the FA Cup by Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity in October, Featherstone's first game in temporary charge and the sole defeat of his interim tenure, Pools were humbled by an Anstey team who play their football another level below Gainsborough in the footballing pyramid.
For all Featherstone did his best to talk up the significance of Saturday's game in the week, it was apparent almost from the referee's first whistle to his last that Anstey, who have reached the fourth round of the Trophy for the first time following what will live long in the memory as one of their greatest ever results, simply wanted it more than their hosts.
Whereas Pools, who made four changes from their National League defeat to Yeovil but still named a strong team that included the likes of skipper Tom Parkes, popular midfielder Jamie Miley and the in-form Adam Campbell, lacked any semblance of energy, purpose or intent, the visitors played with spirit and determination throughout.
Yet even when skipper Jordan Annable gave plucky Anstey the lead after 14 minutes, most Pools fans would surely have felt confident that their side would have more than enough to turn the game around.
While things could have been different had the out of sorts Danny Johnson, who is now without a goal in 22 matches, not seen his penalty saved by impressive Mansfield loanee Anthony Nunez four minutes into the second half, Nomads were good value for an historic win and doubled their advantage thanks to Zimbabwean-born striker Tendai Chitiza.
Although a first ever Pools goal for teenager Campbell Darcy deep into added time will rank as a memorable moment for the youngster, the home side had left things far too late as they were condemned to a nightmarish defeat.
"I'm embarrassed," Featherstone told the official Pools club website.
"I'm embarrassed by our performance.
"Although there weren't many fans here today, I'm embarrassed that a Nicky Featherstone team has performed like that.
"There was a lack of energy, a lack of intensity, a lack of purpose with everything we did.
"I've got a few decisions to make now moving forward because that wasn't good enough today.
"We definitely weren't at the races, that's for sure.
"I didn't see that coming, we trained well in the week. There was loads of purpose to our play in training, we've worked on a few things - I saw nothing today.
"More importantly, there was no pride.
"We all have bad days at the office in terms of things like being on the ball and in possession, they happen.
"For me, the worrying thing was that we didn't seem up for it. Anstey wanted to win the game more than us, and that's massively alarming.
"The message to the fans would be the same as what I say every week - just get behind the lads, support the lads, it is what it is.
"I can't say much to them (the fans), because they're feeling the same as me - they're embarrassed, they're angry.
"They pay a lot of money to come and watch their football club give it their all and I think we as a football club, as a team, as a group of staff and as a group of players have let them down.
"I promise, that can't happen again - that performance today cannot happen again."