So Hartlepool United enter the final furlong with a little bit of catching up to do, there are 20 horses in front of us at the turn and only three behind us, with two games to play over the Easter weekend period HUFC have a great chance of making up some ground and finishing the season with our heads held high.
Bristol City at Victoria Park is the first of the holiday period games, Gary Johnson?s side are in good form, currently second behind Nottingham Forest in the League One form table. However the play off?s are out of reach for City so they travel North with only pride to play for, this could work in Pools favour, or worryingly it could work in City?s favour!
Vital Quotes:
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson told the official City website:-
?I have also seen Hartlepool this season and agree with Keith that they appear to be in a false position. They are a decent side and their plight means they are now scrapping for every point.
We will need to be right up for tomorrow’s game because they certainly will be. Anything less than full commitment on our part and they are capable of punishing us.?
Hartlepool United club captain Michael Barron to thisisthenortheast.co.uk:-
?Every game is going to count now. We have a home game on Saturday and three points are vital for us all. I’m one of the few who have been in this situation before with the club. You can’t let everything get on top of you and grind you down.
You have to go out and prepare as you would for any other game and play your normal game. Some lads have been in this situation at other clubs, and it’s up to the older players to help the younger lads through it all and tell them to go out, play football and enjoy it.
You get stronger from it and when you are through it, you realise how much stronger you become from it.”
Hartlepool Team News:
Darren Williams sits out the game after being sent of in Tuesday night’s defeat at Colchester United. Club captain Michael Barron will replace him at right back.
No concrete news on the fitness of Joel Porter yet, initially comments from the club indicated he would be missing for two weeks after collecting a thigh strain in the home game with Oldham, well that two weeks is up today, he may be back.
James Brown made his first team debut in the dying minutes of the Colchester game, I fully expect him to be on the bench for this game.
There have been calls for Mark Tinkler to return to the centre of midfield this week, could happen although there are reports he’s picked up a virus. I think Stephenson will stick with the pairing of Turnbull and Bullock.
Player to watch: Michael Barron
Cometh the hour, cometh the club captain. Experience is the word here, Barron has been in this sort of dog fight before and might be just the shot in the arm our survival hopes need.
Bristol City Team News:
City captain Steve Brooker is definitely missing as is the club’s second leading scorer Scott Murray. Cole Skuse has not travelled with the squad after picking up a knock in City’s win at Walsall.
Player to watch: David Cotterill
19 year old Cotterill has played 43 times this season although he’s only grabbed 6 goals. However the youngster is highly rated at City and will be keen to add to his goal tally.
Match Facts & Stats
Milton Keynes 0-1 Bristol C
Bristol C 6-0 Gillingham
Rotherham 3-1 Bristol C
Bristol C 2-1 Yeovil
Walsall 0-3 Bristol C
Hartlepool 1-1 Barnsley
Southend 3-0 Hartlepool
Hartlepool 1-1 Oldham
Swindon 1-1 Hartlepool
Colchester 2-0 Hartlepool
Match Prediction:
Positive thoughts, run to the telly and put your hand on the big red circle! Pools really really really need to win this game. We’ve suffered from a lack of goals all season, hence why we are down the bottom.
I’ve got belief and I think we’ll do it, 2-1 to Pools. Come on you blues…..
Next Fixtures:
Milton Keynes vs Hartlepool 17-04-2006
Hartlepool vs Nottm Forest 22-04-2006
Brentford vs Hartlepool 29-04-2006
Howay Pools, lets crack on and get ourselves out of this mess.