Hartlepool United go to Shrewsbury Town this Saturday looking to set a Football League record for victories without conceding a goal. Pools equaled the current record with Monday’s 1-0 win away at Mansfield Town, victory and a clean sheet tomorrow and Pools would be out on their own with a record that will be very difficult to beat.
New signing Richie Barker will make his debut but Andy Monkhouse hasn’t been signed as yet so Pools will be without both Darryl Duffy and Monkhouse.
Vital Quotes:
Shrews boss Gary Peters told their official website:
‘We’ve got to worry about our form and keeping that going, we played Darlington who had lost seven games on the trot and that worried me because sooner or later that was going to change. We are now playing someone who have won nine on the trot and sooner or later that will change so lets hope we are the team that changes it.
Hartlepool like to play football and pass the ball, Danny Wilson is a good manager who has managed at the highest level and he’s got a solid team. He’s for players who came down with the side who are capable of playing at a higher level and has brought in good people to work with them.’
Speaking to the Hartlepool Mail new signing Barker commented:
‘I felt that this club is going in the right direction. I am determined to win something before my career ends. I’m 31-years-old now and this is my chance to play in a successful team, to go and get a medal or play in a higher division.
‘Two years ago this club were only 10 minutes away from the Championship and I think Hartlepool could be a Championship club. I did it a few years ago with Rotherham, going from League Two to the Championship in two years, so it can be done.’
Shrewsbury Town Team News:
Derek Asamoah, Kelvin Langmead and Neil Ashton all missed the Shrews win over Stockport County and will face late fitness tests before Peters names his side.
Steve Hogg has left the club to join Scottish side Gretna and so far there have been no additions to Peters squad.
Player to watch: Andrew Cooke
Former Darlo loan striker Andy Cooke scored his second hat trick of the season against Stockport last game, that triple took his total to nine for the season, although six of those goals were scored in just two games!
Hartlepool United Team News:
So at present no Andy Monkhouse and definitely no Darryl Duffy. Jon Daly is the subject of interest from Dundee United but it looks unlikely any deal will be completed before Saturday. Richie Barker is in line to make his Pools debut.
Michael Nelson is still recovering from injury so Garry Liddle will again partner Ben Clark in the heart of Pools defence. Michael Barron and Willie Boland are both one yellow card away from a suspension.
Player to watch: Richie Barker
Barker’s signing has been well received by the Pools fans, the same can’t be said from Mansfield followers who aren’t very happy seeing their talismanic striker in a Pools shirt. With 15 goals in a struggling Mansfield side, big things are expected from Barker.
Current Form:
Shrewsbury 3-0 Hereford
Shrewsbury 0-1 Barnet
Walsall 1-0 Shrewsbury
Darlington 1-2 Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury 4-2 Stockport
Hartlepool 1-0 Rochdale
Bury 0-1 Hartlepool
Hartlepool 2-0 Grimsby
Hartlepool 1-0 Peterborough
Mansfield 0-1 Hartlepool
Match Prediction:
Hmmmm, we’ve got to a) concede and goal and b) lose a game sooner rather than later. Will all this talk about league records I’m a bit worried. Mind I’d be even more worried if Danny Wilson had been named manager of the month.
BUT, with Richie Barker making his debut Pools could well extend our winning run, although I think the record maybe beyond us as I think we’ll concede. So I’m going for: Shrewsbury 1 Pools 2.
Next Fixtures:
Hartlepool vs Milton Keynes 13-01-2007
Wrexham vs Hartlepool 20-01-2007
Hartlepool vs Bury 27-01-2007
Pool should win, they didn’t have much of an idea against Walsall and we only had ten men, so as long as gay meadow isn’t under water I would go for 0-2