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The past 12 months might go down as the most memorable in history, but the chances of this year following suit appear slim after Pool fell to their seventh defeat in ten games at Oldham.

After reaching the play-off final back in May, the new season wasn't meant to be like this.

But over the last 52 weeks, Pool have only won 17 League One games from 46, eight from 25 between August and December and nine from 21 from January to May.

For a team which has had sustained success since the turn of the Millennium, it's not the sort of return you would expect.

Perhaps reaching the final put a bit of gloss on things because there were times during the final stages of last season when Pool weren't playing well - defeats to Walsall and Wrexham at Victoria Park in particular.

And it was last January when Pool enjoyed their last purple patch, 29 points from a possible 36 pushed them into the play-off zone from where they never left.

For long periods this season, Pool have remained on a par with their points tally of last season.

Now, amid a disappointing run of results, they are 15 points adrift of their previous running total.

Today they meet Swindon at Victoria Park. The visitors are second bottom, but unbeaten in six and defeat for Pool, just four points off the bottom four, is unthinkable.

But just like Middlesbrough, Pool won't admit to looking over their shoulders just yet.

Saturday's defeat was, as Martin Scott admitted, a bit closer than it should have been.

Pool were outplayed in the first-half as Oldham, with three up front, went at the visitors.

Andy Liddle had a field day on the right of the forward line, setting up the opening goal before scoring the second on the hour.

But from then, Pool got their game into gear and, as Oldham sat back, started to press forward for the first time.

After the strikers had nothing to feed from in the opening half, they could have grabbed an equaliser, however undeserved it may have been given their first 60 minutes.

It was, as Scott pointed out, similar to Pool's win over Bournemouth on December 10, their last victory.

And while recent performances haven't brought the rewards they deserved, there was no complaints at Boundary Park.

"We've been 2-1 up at home ourselves and saw us sit back and hold on to what we've got, '' said Scott. "But Oldham edged it overall. Once their second goal went in we had more belief, naturally they sat back, but we caused them problems.

"We got the goal, started winning knockdowns and created chances. We lobbed things in the box later on, the quality was OK, but we couldn't get the final touch or bit of luck you need.

"We didn't perform for a long period of the game, but tiredness isn't an excuse - we came into the game more as it went on, so that's not a reason.

"The standards we set in recent weeks, which have been good, wasn't there. Results haven't matched the performances, but we didn't reach those levels.

"We dropped below those standards and you have to be at your best when you come to places like Oldham, because they are a good, well-organised team and play to a formation that suits them.

"You have to compete and we are very disappointed. If we are being honest, and we are as a team and as a staff, we've played better in recent weeks.

"We dropped below what I expect.'' Pool had problems coping with Oldham's formation, as the three men up front were always a danger.

Liddle played towards the right side, which meant the overworked John Brackstone had both the former Sheffield United man and wing back Mark Hughes to contend with.

Liddle first popped up in the six yard box to meet a Paul Edwards cross and Dimi Konstantopoulos saved twice with his legs.

He then got in behind Brackstone to fire a low cross towards Luke Beckett, but the ball carried too much pace for the striker to control and it bounced wide.

Next time, however, there was no mistake.

Brackstone went to ground to try and cut out a crossfield ball, but it squirmed away for Liddle.

He picked out his pass and Beckett, despite half-hearted offside appeals, was unmarked to tap in.

Konstantopoulos almost gifted him a second, as he directed his pass towards Micky Nelson to the feet for the striker. One-on-one and the big keeper stood tall to unnerve Beckett and he saved.

Oldham created four second half chances before converting their second.

Paul Warne cut back across Ritchie Humphreys, passed to Liddle and after his shot was stopped by Konstantopoulos, he forced in the loose ball.

Antony Sweeney could have reduced the gap, touching the ball towards the near post and Chris Day saved and a goalbound Humphreys volley was diverted wide.

Micky Nelson sprayed the ball to Williams, he moved into the area and curled a low shot around Day and in off the far post.

The striker teed up Sweeney for a firm 20-yard volley that Day pushed out.

It wasn't to be Pool's day, they hope 2006 will be their year.