Out with the old…

Well 2005 has been and gone so now it’s time to concentrate of 2006. Pools season so far has been very disappointing, lets hope the new year brings with it a turn around in results and a bit of harmony on the Victoria Park terraces.

Hartlepool United welcome Swindon Town to Victoria Park on Bank Holiday Monday and it’s a game the Pools management team of Martin Scott and Steve Agnew cannot dream of losing. We are currently sitting just four points above the relegation zone and have a difficult month of fixtures coming up including a home game with Tranmere who are now just a point behind us and a nasty looking away trip to second top Swansea City.

Vital Quotes:

Martin Scott told the press after Pools 2-1 defeat at Oldham:-

‘We?ve got to learn from the performance, we?ve got a tough tough game against Swindon on Monday. Neither team started well, but then Oldham came into the game and we were second best and second to the ball. I?ve said to the players though why wait until we are two goals down to start playing. The players have got to get themselves brushed down and start believing in what they are good at.’

Speaking to the Swindon official website the Robins boss Iffy Onuora said:-

‘Over the past few weeks we have spent a lot of time on the training ground, talking things through and working hard. Credit to the players. Sean has been carrying a bit of a knock but you wouldn’t know it – he was all over the place, putting in blocks and was superb again. Jerel has continued to improve and that’s what we need from every player.

I have spoken to Jamie Cureton and he is part of our plans for Hartlepool on Monday. He is one of our players and in form – I believe he scored for Colchester at Hartlepool a few weeks ago so that could be an omen for us.’

Hartlepool Team News:

Pools continue to be without the services of last season’s strike force of Adam Boyd and Joel Porter, hopefully we’ll see the two together again in the not too distant future. Michael Barron left the pitch in the second half of the Oldham game due to a virus but it is believed he will be back and fit to face the Robins. No Thomas Butler, Carl Jones, James Brown or Matty Robson of course.

Martin Scott does have new on loan striker James Walker to call upon and I think there’s a good chance that Walker will start the game alongside Eifion Williams in attack.

Player to watch: James Walker:

He may be yet to make a his league debut but James Walker is thought very highly off at Charlton Athletic. Monday won’t be the first time James has played on the Victoria Park pitch as he was part of the England Under 18 side who entertained Scotland in front of the Sky television camera’s last year.

Swindon Team News:

Iffy Onuora has a fair few selection headaches ahead of the game as SIX loan players are due to return to their respective club. Jack Smith picked up a hamstring injury and is definitely ruled out and Neale McDermott looks to be returning to Fulham, the Robins have Andy Gurney lined up to join their fight against relegation but he won’t be available in time to face Pools.

Striker Jamie Cureton has returned from a loan spell at Colchester United (during which he scored SEVEN times!) and could go straight into the starting eleven.

Player to watch: Jamie Cureton:

Jamie Cureton has already played and scored against Pools this season as Colchester United left Victoria Park with all three points back in December, Cureton scored the only goal of the game on a night when Pools dominated the play but again had nothing to show for our efforts.

Current Form:

Hartlepool 2-1 Bournemouth 10-12-2005

Walsall 1-0 Hartlepool 17-12-2005

Barnsley 1-1 Hartlepool 26-12-2005

Hartlepool 1-2 Southend 28-12-2005

Oldham 2-1 Hartlepool 31-12-2005

Oldham 2-2 Swindon 10-12-2005

Swindon 0-0 Blackpool 17-12-2005

Swindon 1-0 Colchester 26-12-2005

Chesterfield 1-1 Swindon 28-12-2005

Swindon 0-0 Swansea 31-12-2005

Match Prediction:

There’s no thought put into the one, it’s a must win home game, defeat would be a disaster and could send this season into a serious nose dive. 2-1 to Pools, Walker and Williams with the goals to relieve a little bit of the huge weight currently sitting on Martin Scott’s shoulders.