Preview: Pools v Rovers

So this is it then, the final game of season 2006/2007. By 5pm we’ll know who’s won the League Two Championship, if Pools can better Walsall’s result at Swindon Town that it will be Danny Wilson’s men collecting the winners medals.

Wilson goes into the game with a selection headache though. Andy Monkhouse and Richie Barker are both suspended after sendings off at Rochdale last Saturday, Michael Nelson is at best rated 50/50 to be fit to take his place in the centre of defence.

Vital Quotes:

Danny Wilson told the Hartlepool Mail:

‘This is bonus time and it would be the icing on the cake if we could deliver the title. It will be a difficult game, Bristol are on a good run and they are a dangerous side.’

‘Of course the fans will have their radios and will be listening to what is happening in the other game, it is only natural. It will be exciting, that’s for sure but we know that we have to get the three points. We will know on the bench what is going on at Swindon because obviously it could have a bearing on what we are doing. But first and foremost we want to make sure we get the win and then see where that takes us.’

Rovers boss Paul Trollope told the Western Daily Press:

‘We’ve nicked in, and now there’s a desire to stay there. But we know that if we don’t produce, our season could be over and we could come crashing down with a huge bump come 5pm on Saturday.

‘The players are full of confidence and belief but we don’t want to slip up at the final hurdle. It’s been such a long road – and such a lot of hard work – to get here that we are totally focused.

‘I’m sure what’s going on elsewhere won’t affect us, although news will filter back somehow. Our intention is to get the first goal and hopefully win the game.’

Hartlepool United Team News:

Danny Wilson can call upon the services of central defender Ben Clark after he completed a one match ban by sitting out the defeat at Rochdale.

Richie Barker and Andy Monkhouse are both suspended to Joel Porter and David Foley look set to be handed starting positions.

Michael Nelson will face a late fitness test on a knee injury which ended his afternoon at Spotland early last Saturday.

Player to watch: Joel Porter

Pools need a hero, cometh the hour, cometh the man, Joel Porter. It’s been a long road back to fitness for Porter and this game should see him start up front for the first time since he picked up his knee injury way back in October against Doncaster Rovers.

Bristol Rovers Team News:

Rovers hope defender Byron Anthony will be fit after a slight hamstring injury. Andy Sandell picked up an ankle knock against Swindon last Saturday and will face a late fitness test.

Aaron Lescott serves the final game of a four-match ban and Craig Hinton is also ruled out with a groin injury.

Player to watch: Rickie Lambert

After moving to Rovers from Rochdale for 200k Lambert’s career at the Memorial Stadium started slowly. But he’s been an almost ever present this season and has start to grab some very important goals, including the barnstormer which launched Rovers into the play off positions last Saturday.

Current Form:

Barnet 2-1 Hartlepool
Hartlepool 1-0 Accrington
Wycombe 0-1 Hartlepool
Hartlepool 1-1 Notts Co
Rochdale 2-0 Hartlepool

Bristol R 2-0 Bury
Barnet 1-1 Bristol R
Bristol R 0-0 Lincoln
Macclesfield 0-1 Bristol R
Bristol R 1-0 Swindon

Match Prediction:

Did the title dream die at Spotland last Saturday? At the time I thought yes, but now I’m not so sure. I’d rather be in our shoes that Walsall’s that’s for certain.

The loss of Monkhouse and Barker could be crucial however, although it does hand potential hero status to some of Pools ‘squad’ players.

One things for certain, Saturday the Vic is going to be packed, all we can ask is the lads go out and give it their all, if we can win our game then what will be will be. Good luck Pools, we’ll roar you on, please do the business for us.


My prediction: Pools 2 Rovers 1, Swindon 1 Walsall 0.

Next Fixtures:

NONE!