Hartlepool United manager issues strong message to players ahead of trip to strugglers Braintree
New Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone has warned he's prepared to make difficult decisions following Saturday's "really embarrassing" FA Trophy defeat at the hands of Anstey Nomads.
Pools fans must surely have imagined that things couldn't get any worse than when they were dumped out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage by Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity in October.
Yet Featherstone's side were condemned to an even more nightmarish result - one that must surely rank as among the worst in their entire history - on Saturday as Pools were beaten by Anstey, who play their football in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, below Gainsborough in the pyramid.
For all Featherstone and skipper Tom Parkes did their best to talk up the significance of Saturday's game - the new boss even ruminated on the prospect of reaching the final and securing a first ever trip to Wembley Stadium - the plucky visitors simply wanted it more than Pools, who produced a performance that was dire, dismal and downright embarrassing in equal measure.
Pride is a word often bandied about when it comes to Hartlepool United - pride in the town, the team, the shirt - but there was no semblance of pride nor purpose from a Pools side who had been in fine form prior to last weekend's defeat at the hands of a resurgent Yeovil, ending a run of seven matches without losing.
For all Pools were woeful, their visitors were full of spirit, passion and determination and were good value for their place in the fourth round, the first time they have ever reached this stage of the competition.
The challenge for Pools now will be to dust themselves off and do their best to ensure their latest cup debacle doesn't derail their impressive progress in the National League.
But whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Saturday's result will live long in the memory as one of the lowest moments in Hartlepool United's more than 100-year history.
The challenge now for Pools will be to ensure their cup humiliation doesn't derail their impressive recent progress in the National League, with Featherstone's side two points outside the top seven ahead of Sunday's long trip to relegation-threatened Braintree.
"I'll watch Saturday's game back, I'll watch Braintree," Featherstone told the official Pools club website.
"We'll come up with a plan to put on an improved performance when we go to Braintree and, hopefully, get back to winning ways.
"I've got a few decisions to make now in the build up to that.
"Saturday was a really disappointing day, and a really embarrassing one for me."
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