HARTLEPOOL United failed to follow up their first win of the season in midweek after succumbing to 3-1 defeat against Carlisle United as interim boss Keith Curle lamenting the way his players 'didn't turn up' at the Suit Direct Stadium.

Pools took the lead when Alex Lacey's high effort crashed off the underside of the bar into the net just before half-time. Owen Moxon provided a timely equaliser steering the ball into the bottom corner from distance just after the break before a brace from Omari Patrick sealed the points for Paul Simpson's side.

The result leaves Pools sitting in 21st place just two places and a point above the relegation zone.

After beating Doncaster Rovers 2-1 in midweek, Pools may well be left with a feeling of being put back to square one after a difficult afternoon. “I can take defeat in a professional way and today we didn’t lose in the right way and we weren’t competitive as a unit. The elation of Tuesday night didn’t carry over to today" said Curle.

“To have a progression in your career you can’t be inconsistent and we didn’t have enough players who turned up. A big crowd was too much for some of them or did they give too much on Tuesday? We didn’t have enough players who did what needed to be done.

“The players are disappointed too and they know they’ve been undone by a team there who put in reliable and consistent performances.”

Meanwhile, Rollin Menayese and Jack Hamilton will be monitored by the Pools medical staff for respective injuries. Defender Menayese missed the defeat to Carlisle while striker Hamilton was forced off with a problem in the second half.

"Menyese was injured today" continued Curle to BBC Radio Tees Sport. "He went over on his ankle on the Saturday. It ballooned up and he was unable to walk on it. We're hoping with treatment from the physio, he will return."

On Hamilton's injury, he added: "You have to give it 24 or 48 hours to let it settle down and then, we'll assess it then."