Pools manager disappointed with first half performance and reveals bemusement over Liam Donnelly’s late red card at Brisbane Road

East London Advertiser: Hartlepool United defender Liam Donnelly is shown a red card by referee Dean Whitestone after squaring up to the official (pic: Simon O'Connor).Hartlepool United defender Liam Donnelly is shown a red card by referee Dean Whitestone after squaring up to the official (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

Dave Jones felt some of his Hartlepool United players froze against Leyton Orient on Monday afternoon.

The Monkey Hangers knew they only needed to pick up a point at Brisbane Road to send O’s down.

But Omer Riza’s side fought back from going a goal down to earn an excellent 2-1 win and live to fight another day.

“It isn’t an Orient youth-team, but what I will say is that everybody said they had nothing to play for, but what they did have was their pride and everything else with a big crowd behind them,” said Jones.

“They are not going to just lie down and die, but we had to match their enthusiasm and one or two of my players froze. Maybe more and they can’t do that – they have to stand up and be counted.

“I don’t think one or two of them did, but it is a dressing room. We are all in this together and it starts with me.

“Did I pick the right team? Well I haven’t got many options, but did I pick the right formation? And then did the players go out and perform. We are all to blame. It is not just about one individual.”

Rhys Oates opened the scoring after eight minutes at Brisbane Road, but Victor Adeboyejo equalised soon after for O’s.

Tristan Abrahams then gave Orient a deserved lead, as they dominated the first 45 in east London.

Hartlepool came back into the contest more after the break, but O’s held on to pick up all three points.

Jones added: “It’s hard to describe what happened. We knew everything about them and that they were a young team playing with no fear, but you have to compete with that.

“We didn’t do that in the first half. In the second half we were a little bit better and we had a couple of good chances, but everybody in our dressing room knows where we are and what we have got to do.”

To make matters worse for Hartlepool, they had Liam Donnelly sent off for two bookable offences just before full-time.

Pools left-back was cautioned for dissent by referee Dean Whitestone before trying to square up to the main official.

After a couple of seconds to gather his thoughts, Whitestone unsurprisingly showed Donnelly a second yellow.

“I don’t know what he is doing. I can’t bring myself to ask him what he has actually done,” said a perplexed Jones.

“Look I know he is upset he didn’t get a foul, but you can’t square up to the referee. I haven’t seen that for a long, long time.

“I am so disappointed and we were lucky on Monday because other results have gone for us.”