Hartlepool batten down the hatches as they take the long trip down south to play The Pirates.
Vital Quotes:
Home Team Focus
Rovers broke their horror losing away streak during the week with a well organized and battling performance at Huddersfield. The scored ended 0-0 and this gives Bristol their 3rd clean sheet in six games a good base to start on as they look to make up time they lost during the winter period. Bristol Rovers entertain Hartlepool United in one of the next four fixtures where they will be playing teams sitting below them in the league.
They play lowly Wycombe on Tuesday before facing Walsall twice in the space of three days. It’s a run of fixtures, which could see Paul Trollope’s team back on the edge of the top six. Despite a bad run of form away from home, the Memorial Stadium has become somewhat of a fortress. Rovers have not lost at home since mid October.
Rovers manager Paul Trollope has issued a rallying cry to his players as the face an abundance of games in quick succession. Games that Trollope wants to win, as Rovers push for the play-offs.
“We have got games in hand of people around us, but with games in hand you need to win them and make the most of them. We have come out of a frustrating period of away games and postponements, but now we come into a group of games with a lot of home games and a lot of good games for us against teams that we are capable of beating, but we have to make the most of it and close in.” Paul Trollope (Bristol Rovers).
Away Team Focus
Hartlepool will be desperate to pick up some points this weekend as the gap between them and the relegation zone was narrowed to just four points. Chris Turners men have lost four of the last six games and have conceded 15 goals in that time. Hartlepool now face a second long journey south in a week as they face Bristol Rovers.
This last time the two sides met at the Memorial Stadium was the last day of last season where Bristol run out 4-1 victors a result that would have lost Hartlepool their League 1 status if it wasn’t for Leeds United beating Northampton Town. Chris Turner will be hoping for a much better performance with plenty of heart and determination on show.
Despite losing 2-1 to Charlton mid-week, Turner praised his players for the effort they showed and felt pride had been restored after Saturdays 0-5 destruction at the hands of MK Dons.
”I think some pride was restored tonight. I’ve just been asked if I had a right go at the players after Saturday but I didn’t because I knew they were better than that and tonight each and every player gave their best and played well. I think we were unlucky not to come away with a point from here tonight” Chris Turner (HUFC)
Bristol Rovers Team News:
The only player to miss out on the game against Hartlepool is Dominic Blizzard who also missed the trip to Huddersfield. Former Hartlepool striker Darryl Duffy is pushing for a start after coming off the bench against Huddersfield. Whilst Centre Back Stuart Campbell will have to tread carefully as he is one yellow card away from a one-match ban. However Paul Trollope is likely to stick with the same 11 that played and battled well against Huddersfield.
Player to watch: Jeff Hughes
Jeff Hughes is enjoying his second season at Bristol Rovers. The left winger, who can also play left back, has already beat his goal tally from last season and is currently Bristol Rover`s joint top League scorer with 7, along with striker Jo Kuffour. The Northern Ireland international will be hoping to continue his great form in front of the home crowd.
Hartlepool Team News:
Chris Turner has almost a fully fit squad to choose from. The only absentees being James Brown, knee injury and Peter Hartley, who misses his 3rd and final game through suspension. Chris Turner will have the exact same squad of players to choose from as he did against Charlton and his biggest decision will be, does he stick with the same team that battled hard in the 2-1 defeat at Charlton or will he make changes in a bid to freshen up an attack that has only had 4 shots at goal in two games.
Player to watch: Dennis Behan
Dennis Behan is almost certain to start against Bristol after returning from injury in the last two fixtures. Behan on his return to the starting line up scored against Charlton and Turner will be hoping some fresh legs inject new life into the ‘goal shy` Hartlepool attack. With Behan likely to play upfront on his own, as he did against Charlton, Pools will need another big performance from the Irish man if they want a result at Bristol.
Match Facts & Stats
13 players in total have run out for both clubs, including, Anthony Williams, Chris Llewellyn, Jon Bass and Ali Gibb. There has been 15 meetings between the two sides to date, 7 at The Memorial Stadium and results could not be tighter. Bristol just nick the advantage with 3 wins in Bristol to Hartlepool`s 2. However the last time Hartlepool won on their journey south was in 2006 when Darrell Clark and Darryl Duffy secured the points.
Match Prediction:
Bristol Rovers 2 – 0 Hartlepool United
It is very difficult to look past the hard facts for this game. Rovers have not lost at home since mid October and oddly enough Hartlepool have not won away from home since the same week as that last Rovers home defeat. Hartlepool have struggled for goals and with Rovers keeping 3 clean sheets in the last 6, it is difficult to see anything but more of the same for both sides. A very long and difficult journey for any travelling Pools fans.
Next Fixtures:
As the fixtures come thick and fast Hartlepool take on Gillingham on Tuesday night at Victoria Park, Hartlepool fans will no doubt see this as a must win, given the run of recent results.
