Pools looking to slay Dragons

By Albatross
April 11 2004

Hartlepool United visit the Racecourse Ground looking for three points against Wrexham - and find an injury-hit and out-of-form team facing them. Pools have injury worries of their own though, and this is a match that is likely to be far from straightforward.

Although Wrexham may be in 13th place, they are still in with a chance - albeit somewhat remote - of a playoff place. Their defeat on Saturday against Port Vale leaves them eight points behind Pools but with a game in hand.

Recent form has though been poor, with matters not helped by an injury crisis that is severely restricting Denis Smith's options. Four defeats in their last six games and just a solitary victory is not the sort of record a playoff contender needs at this stage of the season - and indicates that Pools may be playing Wrexham at just the right time.

Apparently the number of first team squad members beating a path to the Physio's door is well into double figures. Former Pools goalkeeper Andy "Officer" Dibble suffered an horrific injury to his arm a month ago in a match against Peterborough, with doubts expressed about whether he'd be able to play again at one point; while other long term absentees include Hector Sam, Mark Jones and Shaun Pejic; Brian Carey missed the Port Vale defeat, and Steve Roberts and Carlos Edwards both needed late fitness tests before being cleared to play. Jim Whitley and Steve Thomas returned from spells on the sidelines to the starting lineup, Lee Jones came back from injury to take a spot on the bench, and with Darren Ferguson and Craig Morgan both missing through suspension Smith had to call up some of his youth teamers to fill out his squad. Morgan is available for the game with Pools, but Ferguson will still be missing as he serves a three match ban.

Goals have been something of a problem for the Dragons, with just 44 scored in 40 games in the league - the loss of Andy Morrell and Lee Trundle proving to be a big problem. Much had been expected at the start of the season from former Spurs star Chris Armstrong and ex-Norwich midfielder Chris Llewellyn - but they have scored just twelve goals between them in the league. Llewellyn is actually top scorer in the league with his seven goals - the missing Sam is next best with six, and then four more players have five: Armstrong, Carlos Edwards, Lee Jones and defender Dennis Lawrence.

The side that Wrexham are forced to put out may contain some walking wounded, but one face that will be familiar to Poolies is their Goalkeeper. Following the injury to Dibble, Wrexham moved swiftly to borrow Sunderland 'keeper Michael Ingham - who almost single-handedly denied us victory at York last season.

Wrexham's campaign hasn't been helped by continuing financial problems off the pitch, with a string of tales indicating problems at board level. There's every chance that the attendance for the game against Pools will be below 3500 - and that's having an impact on the team as well, with players such as Trundle opting to leave to gain more wages despite dropping back into Division 3 with Swansea - themselves hardly financially well-off.

Pools of course have injury worries of their own. Gavin Strachan limped off with what appeared to be a back injury against Bournemouth and is unlikely to play; so to is Eifion Williams after his setback on the training ground. Eifion will no doubt be hoping to take some part though - at last season's game a number of his friends and relatives came to cheer him on, and the local lad will no doubt be hoping to give any of them at the Racecourse this season something to shout about. Should Eifion not make it, Paul Robinson will probably continue on the bench despite Joel Porter being out of sorts on Saturday. Michael Nelson is also highly unlikely to return just yet.

The obvious choice for Cooper should Strachan not be fit would seem to be reintroducing Mickey Barron. Apparently Barron was fit for the Bournemouth game but missed out when Cooper decided to field an unchanged squad; a return to Central Defence for the Pools Skipper would allow Mark Tinkler to move forward in place of Strachan should he not make it. Starting with Neil Danns is also an option, but that would leave us with a decidedly inexperienced midfield partnership of Sweeney and Danns... and given that in the corresponding fixture last year we lost in large part because we didn't compete in the midfield that might be a touch too risky.

Despite our opponents' injury problems, this is unlikely to be a Welsh Cakewalk for Pools. It's a game that we are capable of winning - but our opponents are no mugs, and will want to gain revenge for our win at the Vic earlier in the season. Another three points and I think most will truly believe we not only can make the playoffs, but will - and victory in this sort of match would really show the mettle of this team. However, I think that Pools will be forced to settle for a draw, 1-1, with a Hugh Robertson thunderbold earning us a share of the spoils.

Finally, as I write this the Pools Youth Team are preparing to play in the U19 (Group A) Final of the Dallas Cup tournament. Pools progress has attracted some attention, and they face a side from New York/New Jersey Metrostars for the trophy. The match is set to kick off at 9pm BST on Sunday Night - and win or lose, it's been a terrific effort from the Pools Youngsters and the coaching setup that has brought them on.