There was more pressure heaped on the embattled boss after goals from Connor McBride, Kairo Mitchell and former Pools frontman Devante Rodney inflicted a second successive home defeat on Sarll’s side.
There’s not a lot going right for Pools at the moment and Sarll’s decision to change his side’s shape to a back three for the first time – in part to deal with the absence of the suspended David Ferguson, the club’s only recognised left-back, and in part to get Mani Dieseruvwe and Gary Madine into the same side – certainly didn’t seem to work.
The Prestige Group Stadium was tense even before kick-off and the frustration ratcheted up a notch when former Gateshead winger Connor McBride opened the scoring just before half time.
In the face of mounting criticism, Sarll stood by his principles and thanked the supporters despite the fact that the pools were jeered during halftime and once more after the referee blew the final whistle.
Although Pools has just once in nine hours of football played at the Prestige Group Stadium and is winless in six meetings this season, home supporters haven’t had much to cheer about. Nevertheless, Sarll promises to keep addressing the disgruntled supporters in his efforts to turn around the fortunes of his ailing team.
“If you don’t win, you’re never right,” he stated.
“I sensed that there was a lot of tension tonight.
“That’ll be the fans’ feelings towards me after recent results, of course it will, but that’s the game. That’s football, it’s normal.
“I stuck to my beliefs and values, I always try to say thank you for coming, I always try to show respect.
“If they want to show their opinions then good on them, they pay their money.”
Pools have now failed to score in their last three games and have managed just one home goal in six matches.
“We wanted to get Gary on the pitch from the start for the first time.
“He came into the side in place of a full-back, so it looks like a brave, aggressive move.
“We all want Gary on the pitch, that’s for sure.
“Between Saturday and Tuesday, it was a big change in strategy and tactics.
“We went back to a four and we conceded two really poor goals, it just wasn’t a good night for us.”
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