'Hartlepool are a big strong side'

Swansea City gaffer Kenny Jackett described Martin Scott's Hartlepool United as a 'big strong side' after Saturday's 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium, Jackett told website this is south wales:-

'It's disappointing because the second-half performance could have been better. After a good first half we went out of the game a little bit which is concerning.

We were good value for our lead at half-time and I thought we were going to build on that and that's what we talked about at the break, not sitting on a 1-0 lead. But we didn't and at times we weren't strong enough.

Hartlepool are a big, strong side and at times we were too reliant on our football a little bit and that's in both ends where we're not winning enough headers and not running enough. The basics have got away from us and we were reliant on individual ability.

We didn't do enough in the second half to capitalise on our lead.'

I don't think there's many Pools fans who would consider us a big strong side, take Michael Nelson and Jon Daly out of our team on Saturday and you'd struggle to find any real height. I'm sure Martin Scott won't mind what Kenny has had to say though as he prepares his 'big strong side' for two very tricky fixtures against Blackpool and Rotherham.

Our season will be shaped by the next two games, anything less than a win at home to Blackpool and we will travel to Rotherham with the threat of relegation weighing heavily on the management and players, that's if it's not already of course.