Pool 1 – 2 Livi

Pool lose out to Livingston in their last pre-season friendly, David Fox scored Pool’s only goal with a 25-yard thunderbolt in the second half.

Simon Grayson named his strongest line up possible for tonight’s game but it wasn`t enough with Livingston hanging on for the win.

Pool had the first chance on the night when new boy Adrian Forbes’s cross-cum-shot narrowly missed the far post after good hold up play by Scott Vernon. Forbes’ luck didn’t change and minutes latter he flicked on a defence header from a free-kick into his own goal giving keeper Rhys Evans with no chance.

Livingston could have and should have doubled their lead, David Craig fired high and wide from the far post from a cross that evaded the Pool defence.

Pool continued to press in the first half, but a lack of creativity from midfield meant that chances were few and far between.

Grayson keep the same team in the second half and the 11 managed to improve on what was a dire first half showing. But, Livingston doubled their lead early in the second period caching the Pool defence asleep from a free kick. Scott Mitchell found himself unmarked at the far post and headed against the upright, James McPake was on hand to fire the rebound in.

With Livi two up the 1400 Pool faith full just wanted to see some creative attacking football and there was glimpses of that to come, Hoolahan slide in Adrian Forbes but the winger was unable to make up for his first half gaff shooting wide from a great position in the box.

Grayson ringed the changes bringing on Fox, Coid, Prendergast and Donnelly. Southern heading high and wide from a Prendergast cross, Joseph firing wide from long range and the best of the chances falling to Presndergast who shot over the goal from 3 yards following a cracking cross from Hoolahan.

But it was from the hardest of the chances that Pool found their consolation goal from, a cleared corner found Fox who fired in a bullet of a shot into the top corner from 25-yards.

Keigan Parker fired a free kick just over the bar in the final action of the game.

Overall it was a good run out for the team, fitness levels seem good with non of the players looking tired in the last stages of the match. But it was apparent that there is lack of attacking power upfront which must be addressed before the big kick off in a week.

Blackpool – Evans, Joseph, Jackson (Coid 75), Clarke, Tierney, Forbes (Prendergast 70), Bean (Fox 70), Southern (Donnelly 83), Hoolahan, Vernon, Parke