Mother Nature, Game On?

So again I write a match preview for Scunthorpe United v Hartlepool United, and again I wonder if I’m wasting my time! The weather forecast isn’t great for the whole of the country never mind Scunthorpe, hopefully the game will go ahead as the Pools camp is sky high on confidence after Friday nights thrilling 3-1 win over high flying Huddersfield Town.

Vital Quotes:

Scunthorpe United boss Brian Laws told the club’s official website:-

‘We now have to take our game to Hartlepool. They won on Friday so it sets things up nicely for Tuesday. We know what we need to do to stay in this division and that is to get two or three wins under our belt and get them as quickly as we possibly can. We have ten games to do it in.’


Hartlepool United boss Paul Stephenson told the Northern Echo:-

‘We want to stay unbeaten for as long as possible and we have the players to do that. It’s a sign of a good team when the reserves are buzzing because that means you have players outside the first team desperate to play.

Every game is important for us. We planned like mad for Scunthorpe, but it was called off. Then we planned for Huddersfield and came through that one well. Now it’s Scunthorpe again. All we want to do is play and games can’t come along quick enough.’

Scunthorpe Team News:

Utility man Richard Hinds is a major doubt after being on the receiving end of a two footed challenge in the final minutes of the Irons’ 3-0 defeat at Southend, Hinds will face a late fitness test before the game. I imagine Billy Sharp and Martin Butler who were both ruled out of the original game are still sidelined with their ankle and foot injuries respectively. Peter Beagrie could be set for a place in the squad after being sidelined since late January.

Player to watch: Andy Keogh

Striker Keogh is upto 14 goals already this season and he registered during the 3-3 draw at Victoria Park back in August. Keogh was short listed for the Irish Under 19 player of the year award but just missed out with Bolton’s Joey O’Brien taking the honour.

Hartlepool Team News:

No fresh injury worries for Paul Stephenson, in fact quite the opposite as the Pools squad gets strong by the week. Joel Porter played his first football of the season against Huddersfield and capped his late cameo appearance with a wonder strike to seal the points. Fellow striker James Brown made his return from cruciate ligament damage as the youth team drew 5-5 on Saturday afternoon, Brown bagged a brace.

Player to watch: Adam Boyd

I’m still naming Adam Boyd as Pools player to watch, young Boyd’s fitness is now approaching 100% and he will be relishing playing every game after missing so much of the season, two goals (and a missed penalty) now in four and a half come back games, not bad at all.

Current Form:

Scunthorpe 0-2 Bristol C
Scunthorpe 2-2 Swansea
Gillingham 1-3 Scunthorpe
Port Vale 1-2 Scunthorpe
Southend 3-0 Scunthorpe


Rotherham 0-0 Hartlepool
Hartlepool 1-0 Chesterfield
Tranmere 0-0 Hartlepool
Hartlepool 1-1 Doncaster
Hartlepool 3-1 Huddersfield

Match Prediction:

It’s difficult not to be over confident looking at this game, Pools are now on a run of five unbeaten, we’ve only conceded twice in those five games and both goals have been wonder strikes from 25 yards out. On Friday night Pools finally found their shooting boots, if that continues I can see us winning at Glanford Park, I’ll be optimistic and say 2-1 to Pools, Boyd and Williams to score.

Next Fixtures:

Hartlepool vs Barnsley
Southend vs Hartlepool
Hartlepool vs Oldham