Bradford City reserves 1

Hartlepool reserves 2

Owen Morrison is being urged to follow Nicky Summerbee's lead.

Morrison was axed to the reserves yesterday after a poor display against Torquay.

Manager Colin Todd hopes the shock will have the same effect as it did at the start of the season with fellow wingman Summerbee.

Morrison has started six of the last seven games since making his City debut as a sub against Walsall. It is his best run in a first team since November 2001 as he has struggled to nail down a regular slot with any club.

But his place must be under threat for the TV clash at Barnsley from fit-again Lewis Emanuel.

Todd said: "If he is honest, Owen will know he hasn't performed as he can and hasn't worked with any imagination.

"He knows why he was put in the reserves and I'm looking for a response from him, as I would any player."

Morrison was joined in Wayne Jacobs' second string by Craig Armstrong who is keen to build up match fitness after his spell in the Sheffield Wednesday wilderness. Neither did their chances any harm.

Playing on the right, Morrison scuffed the first chance across goal after 15 minutes following a neat exchange with Danny Ekoku.

Armstrong forced a low save from James Winter with a thumping 20-yarder but captain Tom Penford should have scored after being teed up by Kevin Sanasy's pull-back.

At the other end, City's young back four had a few uncomfortable moments and twice Jack Wilkinson could have done better from close range.

Ekoku volleyed against the bar from Morrison's corner before Hartlepool stole the lead on 40 minutes.

The offside flag stayed down as Wilkinson burst clear and made no mistake from the edge of the area.

City levelled six minutes after the break. Armstrong, who looked strong in central midfield, was the provider and his pass was superbly drilled into the top corner by sub Sean Clifford.

But within three minutes Hartlepool were back in front, with Danny Fox tapping in Matty Robson's cross. Morrison, pushed up front when Sanasy went off, threatened an equaliser with a wriggling run but opted to pass in front of goal instead of pulling the trigger.

Then Liam Flynn was squeezed out by the penalty spot after carving an opening with Ekoku.

Donovan Ricketts had a few problems with his kicking and sliced a couple of clearances. But there was nothing wrong with the Jamaican's hands as he turned away a thunderbolt from Robson late on to prevent Hartlepool netting a third.

City reserves: Ricketts, Aujla, Richardson, Penford (Clifford 46), Ellis, Wright, Morrison, Sanasy (Doherty 46), Ekoku, Armstrong, Flynn. Subs (not used): Colbeck, McGuire, Thackeray.