Middlesbrough defender scores again but would rather have point or three

The defender turned dead-ball assassin would rather have the three points (or point) than a goal.

Jackson headed in a corner for the second time in two games when he got on the end of Jake Gray’s delivery from the left flag in the 65th minute.

It put Pools level at 1-1 with Luton after the Hatters had gone ahead five minutes earlier through a Cameron McGeehan spot-kick after Nicky Featherstone had been found guilty of handling a Danny Green free-kick.

For the second Saturdayin a row, Jackson’s header had found the net but unlike the match against Yeovil seven days earlier, his afternoon did not have a happy ending as sub Craig Mackail-Smith finished with aplomb in the 86th minute.

Boss Craig Hignett said the on-loan Middlesbrough centre-half was a scoring sensation.

“I’m not a goal machine,” said the 21-year-old.

“It’s good to get on the scoresheet, but at the end of the day I’d rather have the three points than me score.”

Jackson spoke modestly of what he says is a new phenomenan .

The Darlington-born defender admits to not having given the statisticians any writer’s cramp before 2016.

“The ball has come to the right place and I’ve just stuck my head onto it, thankfully, it’s gone in,” he said.

“This is it, it’s only two.

“It’s nice to get on the scoresheet but it’s irrelevant if we’re not getting the points.”

However, the fact Pools left Kenilworth Road empty handed troubled him.

“It’s very frustrating, we deserved to win,” said Jackson who was part of a good defensive effort.

“I thought we were quite comfortable as a unit, as a whole team, so it’s so annoying to lose it at the death to such a poor goal, a ball straight down the middle.”

Jackson said Pools can take encouragement for the way they performed but needed to capitalise on it.

“During the game, we passed the ball, moved it around well and created good chances,” he said.

“We have to be more ruthless - in both boxes, score in theirs and defend better in ours and try to get clean sheets.

“I think it was a good performance, played the better football and at 1-1 looked the team most likely to win it.

“It’s frustratng to lose, when you play so well, but it’s good that we’re getting better an improving as a team.”

While Jackson was happy with the way he and his defence played, he had tribute for the midfield of Featherstone, Lewis Hawkins and Brad Walker.

“Our midfield three were brilliant, the way they moved the ball, the way they created space and opened up the pitch,” he said. “It was good to see the progress and how better we are becoming.

“If we keep playing the way we are, the points will come eventually.

“We need to work harder at both ends, get the rub of the green and it will come.”

Jackson felt they got no luck at Kenilworth Road, where referee Davies ruled Featherstone had handled in the wall.

“I was picking up at the side of the wall and I think it’s been a harsh decision,” said Jackson. “It was hard to tell where I was – everything happened so quickly.

“I was stood next to Nicky, I didn’t really have the best view. He said it was harsh and I’d back him all day, so it probably wasn’t a pen.”