Bates Focused On Good Start After Boro Beating

The hosts started well before conceding four goals in the final ten minutes of the first-half.

But Pools boss Bates told the club’s video service that he wasn’t too concerned despite the heavy reverse and that his focus was on next Saturday.

“I thought we started the game really well,” he said. “We had bit of a mad fifteen-minute spell at the end of the first half and beginning of the second and there are lessons to be learned from that.

“It was a good test for us. We came up against a very good Middlesbrough side, but I was still pleased with a lot of things I saw, especially in the second half.

“It’s good for the lads really. We’ve had a great pre-season, but this is just a little kick up the backside to remind everyone that we’ve not cracked it yet.

“It is all about building up to next Saturday now - the running is done, the lads are fit and we want to focus on getting off to a good start now.”