PAUL Cook could only shake his head in disbelief on the touchline as he witnessed Accrington Stanley ship four goals in his first game as boss.

The 44-year-old – previously a player-coach at the Crown Ground between 2003 and 2006 - was a popular appointment with many and was greeted warmly by supporters.

Fans sung his praises, adapting a chant previously used for John Coleman.

“Who needs Mourinho? We’ve got Paul Cook-io!” they sung.

Unlike Coleman, Cook opted for the tracksuit look as he watched the match a yard from the touchline – complete with woollen hat in wintry East Lancashire conditions.

Saturday’s fourth official at the Crown Ground may have been glad with Stanley’s recent change of boss, with Cook appearing a more studious figure than Coleman – a man who always made his opinions clear from the sidelines, together with assistant Jimmy Bell.

As the second goal went in after 23 minutes, Cook just shook his head repeatedly. No-one had seen this result coming. His first half time team talk would have been a difficult one.

A lack of familiarity with the players at this early stage would have made the hairdryer treatment, often employed by Coleman, a more perilous choice.

Cook tried to make substitutions to change things and his first signing, Jamie Devitt, did look a player capable of making a real impact during his loan spell at Stanley.

But it made no difference to the result on this occasion, the ‘King Coley’ banner in the Clayton End a reminder of times now at an end.

Afterwards, Cook spared time for the BBC cameras before speaking courteously with the written press.

He made no attempt to hide the nature of the result but stressed the need to encourage his players, trying to remain as positive as possible.

But the result will have undoubtedly hurt Cook.

Following Coleman, a 1-0 winner with Rochdale on Saturday, was never going to be easy. But he could never have imagined it was going to be this hard.