Hartlepool: Bjornsson display gives United a lift
Injury absentees James Brown and Denis Behan will not return instantly to the Hartlepool United line-up if Armann Bjornsson continues to terrorise defences.
That was the message today from director of sport Chris Turner after seeing Bjornsson inspire Saturday's win over Millwall to end Pools' three-game losing streak.
Giant Icelandic targetman Bjornsson had struggled to make an impact at Victoria Park after arriving from Norwegian outfit SK Brann in the summer.
But with Behan and Brown ruled out until the New Year, Bjornsson has been thrown into the side and has taken his chance with two goals in two games.
Turner said: "He's had to bide his time. He's been very patient whereas some players might have been banging on the door. Now he's got an opportunity and he's got to keep up that performance.
"It's very hard when you're transferred from one club to another. When you're coming from another country and another culture, it's twice as hard.
"He hasn't shown in the reserves what he showed on Saturday but for some players, reserve-team football is not their forte.
"He has been put into the side because of the loss of Behan and Brown. But if he plays like that, I can't see those two getting back in automatically."
Pools found themselves 3-0 up within the first 29 minutes on Saturday after Peter Hartley gave Turner's men an early lead with a right-foot shot from the edge of the area.
Adam Boyd grabbed his seventh of the season after hesitation in the visitors defence, before Bjornsson headed home the third to kill off the game.
Pools had chances to add to their tally although Turner felt such a convincing victory against a side vying for the play-offs had been on the cards.
Pools did have a lucky escape with the game goalless when keeper Scott Flinders had a clearance charged down by Millwall striker Steve Morison.
The ball cannoned off Morison and crashed off the underside of the crossbar before bouncing on the line and out again.
Pools' opening goal came four minutes later and from then on, it was the home side's day.
Hartlepool: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Liddle, Hartley, McSweeney (Fredriksen 71), Sweeney, Humphreys (Clark 82), Monkhouse, Bjornsson, Boyd (Greulich 82). Subs Not Used: Cook, Rowell, Cherel. Goals: Hartley 12, Boyd 22, Bjornsson 29.
Millwall: Forde, Frampton (Smith 61), Ward, Robinson, Dunne, Hackett (Grabban 46), Bolder (Laird 46), Abdou, Schofield, Henry, Morison. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Grimes, Fuseini, Price. Booked: Morison.
Att: 3,153 Ref: Jock Waugh (West Yorkshire).
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Weather for Sunderland
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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