Is today the day Pools celebrate winning the League Two title? A couple of results will need to go our way but it’s very possible. I’ve read in a couple of places that if Pools better Walsall’s result it will all be done and dusted. But by my reckoning that’s not correct, Swindon’s recently excellent run of results has seen them come into the Championship reckoning, if they win at Bristol Rovers and Pools fail to beat Rochdale they will be in striking distance of Danny Wilson’s side on the final day of the season.
Pools 88 pts
Walsall 85 pts
Swindon 84 pts
So if Walsall and Swindon both lose and Pools draw, or Walsall lose and Swindon draw and Pools draw, or Pools win and Walsall draw, a point will be enough for Pools to secure our first ever piece of silverware. Does that make sense?!
Vital Quotes:
Rochdale boss Keith Hill told the Manchester Evening news:
‘It should be a fantastic atmosphere and the players will need no motivating for it on either side,’ he said.
‘We can’t really control our own destiny, but what we can do is give it our best shot and then see how the other results have gone.’
Hartlepool United boss Danny Wilson told the Northern Echo:
‘Things are positive and the players have been brilliant, looking forward to the final games, they promise to be terrific, not just for the football, but for the fans and the occasions they could be.
‘These are great times to be a footballer – in the Premiership it’s like this every week, or at least it’s supposed to be. It’s what you are in football for.
‘I think what is good about it is that the actual pressure of promotion has gone. We are up into the next division and that was our aim from day one.
‘Now, when you look back on your career you can look back with happy memories. The good thing about it was clinching promotion with four games to go so we could relax and then think about getting the points to win the title.’
Rochdale Team News:
Dale come into the game unchanged after the 5-0 hammering of Macclesfield last Saturday. Gary Jones is out until pre-season after breaking a bone in his knee and Nathan Stanton misses out with a hamstring problem.
Player to watch: Joe Thompson
18 year midfielder Thompson was apparently star of the show during the 5-0 drubbing of Paul Ince’s Macclesfield. Pools must also keep an eye on Chris Dagnall who grabbed a hat trick last week to takes his seasons total to 15 goals.
Hartlepool United Team News:
Danny Wilson looks set to move Gary Liddle into the centre of defence alongside Michael Nelson as Ben Clark sits out the game due to suspension.
This move would see Tony Sweeney return to the centre of midfield alongside Willie Boland.
Player to watch: Richie Barker
Richie Barker is on the verge of lifting the League Two goalden boot award and with his first ever promotion in the bag he can fire Pools towards our first ever piece of silverware.
Barker has been in good form lately and will be keen to add to his 24 goals this season.
Current Form:
Rochdale 0-0 Swindon
Bury 0-1 Rochdale
Rochdale 0-2 Barnet
Mansfield 1-2 Rochdale
Rochdale 5-0 Macclesfield
Hartlepool 3-0 Chester
Barnet 2-1 Hartlepool
Hartlepool 1-0 Accrington
Wycombe 0-1 Hartlepool
Hartlepool 1-1 Notts Co
Match Prediction:
Rochdale can still make the play offs, but it would take a serious of unlikely results to do that. Which is the same for Pools to lift the title today, if we are being honest.
This is a tricky game for Pools, 4 points from our last 6 will secure the title, it would be nice to take 3 at Rochdale and not have the pressure of having to win on the final day. Usually I would say we may have to settle for a draw on Saturday, but I’m thinking we may sneak this one, in a similar fashion to the win at Wycombe.
Prediction: Rochdale 0 Pools 1
Next Fixtures:
Hartlepool vs Bristol R 05-05-2007
