Jeff Stelling’s amazing 20-sec rant as his beloved Hartlepool slip near big drop.. while colleagues repeatedly tell him he is live on air!
Sky Sports presenter can't control his fury as Pools lose to rock-bottom Orient - but social media users react with sympathy
JEFF STELLING lost his famous cool for an incredible 20-second rant on live TV as his beloved Hartlepool slid nearer the biggest drop in football.
The Sky Sports presenter blasted the "disgrace" of Pools losing at bottom side Orient - while his studio panellists tried to calm him down and tell him he was back on air!
Social media users reacted with amusement and sympathy as much as shock as Hartlepool-born Stelling's outburst seemed to confirm he is the people's presenter.
RichEdmondson @RichEdmondson66 tweeted: "Fantastic off-air rant this by Jeff Stelling. On air..."
Many fans shared Stelling's furious, fast-paced monologue on Twitter - as the 62-year-old disected the League Two strugglers' tactics and selections this season.
Stelling eventually apologised to viewers - after finally responding to pundit Alan McInally alerting him the team was on-live again after a break.
Stelling was seething after third-bottom Hartlepool blew an early lead to succumb 2-1
Orient rookies Victor Adeboyejo and Tristan Abrahams overturned Rhys Oates's opener.
And in stoppage time farce was added to anguish as Pools' Northern Ireland defender Liam Donnelly was quickly booked twice for dissent and sent off.
Some tweeters claimed Stelling knew his outburst was on air - because he stayed so articulate.
Whatever the case, Hartlepool are now just a point above a Newport side whose recent improvement was rocked by a 6-1 loss at Plymouth.
Argyle's victory sealed promotion with three games to spare.
And Stelling's home-town club Pools have the same number of matches left to avoid falling into the National League.
