Preview: Pools Look To Go 4 Games Without Defeat

Both Pools and Sheff Wed look to make it 4 League games without defeat.

Vital Quotes:

Home Team Focus:

Hartlepool have made a bright start to the new season, with their only defeat in 5 games coming at the hads of Premier League Wigan Athletic in the League Cup. Despite the positive start on the field, things of the pitch seem to be anything but steady. Director of Sport Chris Turner and Chief Executive Russ Green departed the club just over a week ago, after just 3 games of the new season.

First Team Coach Mick Wadsworth has been installed as caretaker manager, for the foreseeable future, according to Chairman Ken Hodcroft. It is not the appointment of Wadsworth that has angered a large number of fans but more the lack of direction and conviction shown by the Chairman to resolve the issue.

Hartlepool have technically been managerless for over 18 months and it looks like Pools fans will have to wait a little longer before the club has an official manager. In the face of adversity stands Mick Wadsworth, a man who has had more than his fair share of ups and downs in the footballing world. Wadsworth only joined Hartlepool in the summer but he has already shown his passion and desire for the club by taken on all the extra challenges that have been thrown his way.

Earlier in the week we had a rallying call from the caretaker boss as he tried to unite his troops a head of a very busy few weeks and maybe months. Wadsworth has now set his sights on Sheffield Wednesday who visit Victoria Park on Saturday and he is determined to make it a tough test for one of the promotion favourites.

”I don’t think they have been playing as well as their results would suggest. That’s what the reports we’ve seen on them would suggest, so we have to make sure that Saturday is a very tough day for them.” Mick Wadsworth (HUFC)

Away Team Focus:

Sheffield Wednesday were relegated back into League 1 after 5 years in the Championship. Alan Irvine was appointed in January 2010 but was unable to keep the Yorkshire club from slipping out of the league. He has been backed and charged with the job of a swift return the Champhionship and his Owls team have set of on the right foot.

Despite reports suggesting the Owls have not found full flow with their football, they have swiftly found a winning mentality, especially at home. The Owls have won two games and drawn one and have so far only conceded one League goal. With a massive turnover of players this summer that has seen a total of 19 players come and go from the club, Irvine is convinced that things will only improve for the Yorkshire club once his new squad has had time to settle. And who could argue with him, with the likes of Clinton Morrison, Neil Mellor, Gary Teale and Daniel Jones amongst some of the names to join the club this summer.

Irvine believes it is now just a case of finding peak form but is under no illusions that it may take some time.

“You don’t just flick a switch and suddenly everybody knows each other’s strengths and weaknesses; we’re still finding out about them; they’re still finding out about us. We’re trying to get through everything we need to cover to make sure we’re the most effective team we can be.’ Alan Irvine (Sheff Wed)

Hartlepool Team News:

Both Boyd and Brown have been struggling this week with knee injuries. Brown has shaken of his problem and is available for selection, Boyd will be assessed during Fridays training before a decision is made on his inclusion on the squad. If Boyd is unavailable, Wadsworth will be forced to change his starting line up for the first time since he took over as caretaker manager, with Dennis Behan and Fabian Yantorno most likely battling it out for a spot in the starting 11. Steve Haslam is likely to continue deputising for the injured Neil Austin, who is making good progress in his recovery. Ritchie Humphreys will be hoping he did enough in a reserve game mid-week to at least get on the bench for the visit of his old club.

Player to watch: Paul Murray

Many eyebrows around Victoria Park where raised when it wan announced that 33 year old midfield Paul Murray would be signing a short term deal with the club.

However reports of his performances have been impressive and a good run of form has seen him sign an extension to his deal, keeping him at Hartlepool till the end of the season. On the pitch he bring a much needed steel and organization to the middle of the park, which has no doubt contributed to Hartlepools positive start to the season.

Sheffield Wed Team News:

Alan Irvine could welcome back Owls captain Darren Purse could be back in contention this weekend after missing the midweek Carling Cup game against Scunthorpe with a tight calf.

Elsewhere, Tommy Miller will be pushing to feature against his home town club, after making a return from injury against the Iron on Tuesday. Only Jermaine Johnson remains sidelined through injury and, other than Richard Hinds who is suspended, there are no further concerns for Wednesday.

Player to watch: Marcus Tudgay

Marcus Tudgay is in his 5th season with the Owls and is a firm fans favourite. He has finished the clubs leading scorer the last 2 seasons and made himself a Hillsborough hero when scoring a stunning strike to win the Sheffield Derby last season.

Dangerous in the air and his ability to hold the ball and link with his team-mates has attracted a lot of attention from clubs in higher divisions and for the second summer in a row, the former Derby County striker has been linked with a move to the Premiership.

Match Facts & Stats

Hartlepool’s last 2 Managers, Danny Wilson and Chris Turner, have also held the reigns at Sheffield Wednesday a long with Len Ashurst. 28 players in total have played for both clubs including: Richard Barker, Gordon Watson, Graeme Lee, Tommy Miller and current Pools players Steve Haslam and Ritchie Humphreys.

There has only been 4 League meetings between the two teams and history is very much in Pools favour, they have yet to be defeated by Wednesday at home and Adam Boyd is this fixtures top scorer with 3 goals.

Match Prediction:

Hartlepool 1 – 1 Sheffield Wednesday

Both sides go into this game unbeaten in the League but their starts to the season are not totally a like. Hartlepool have started better than expected and are riding high with confidence, despite issues of the pitch. Sheff Wed on the other hand have not been playing well but have already found a ‘winning mentality`. The fighting spirit that surrounds Hartlepool United right now, maybe just to much for Sheff wed to entirely overcome.

Next Fixtures:

Like most other lower league clubs Hartlepool play another 2 matches in quick succession. First the entertain Northampton Town, on Tuesday night, in the Johnston`s Paint Trophy, followed by a trip south to face MK Dons on Saturday.