Pools seek another win as Wycombe visit the Vic

By Albatross
October 24 2003

It's the first time we've ever played Wycombe Wanderers - and things aren't going well for the visitors to the Vic this weekend. Will Hartlepool United follow up Tuesday's win with another three points against a side in the bottom four?

A season that started quite brightly for the Chairboys soon turned sour, and cost Lawrie Sanchez his job. After opening up with a win over Stockport in the league and an upset of Franchise FC in the Carling Cup, things were looking up - only for a hefty dose of reality to set in as they proceeded to go 13 games without a league win, managing just four draws in that time. Sanchez departed after a defeat by Tranmere at the end of September, and John Gorman has been acting as caretaker boss since. He has managed a slight revival in the last week, as Wycombe scraped a win over Cambridge in the LDV and then a much better 3-0 victory over Bristol City on Tuesday - albeit with another home defeat to Barnsley sandwiched in between.

That win has left Wycombe in 22nd place in Division 2 - just one point above bottom club Chesterfield, and with the bottom five in danger of being cast adrift, wins are needed and quickly if a relegation battle is to be avoided. However, it looks unlikely that they will pull themselves round on current form: the victory over Bristol was aided by the away team finishing the game with just nine men, and playing most of the game with ten, and on their travels they have picked up just two points from seven games to have the worst away record in the division.

Defence has very much been the problem. 28 goals conceded in 15 games is poor - only Luton have conceded more goals in the division - and Aston Villa managed to stick five past them in the Carling Cup as well. Their heads seem quick to drop as well - only once have Wycombe come from behind to take anything from a game, that being a draw at Port Vale. An early goal for Pools could see our opposition thinking "here we go again...."

Guy Branston has arrived on loan from Rotherham to try and toughen up the defence, which also includes experienced former Rangers player Chris Vinnicombe - who should be making his 200th league appearance for Wycombe (195 starts and 4 sub so far). A familiar name to some Poolies will be the last line of defence: Aussie Keeper Frank Talia had a loan spell at Pools in the early 90s, making 14 starts.

Wycombe have scored 18 league goals this season, and they do possess a little bit of quality going forward. The goals have been spread around, with Andy Bell, former Barnet midfielder Darren Currie, Charlie Mapes and Jermaine McSporran all netting three times. Andy Holligan scored twice against Bristol, and is likely to continue up front. Some Wycombe fans though are starting to believe that part of their problem is a lack of defensive cover in the midfield, and it may be that one of their attacking players will have to be sacrificed to help the situation at the back.

For Pools, Tuesday's win over Chesterfield was a welcome bounce back after the Blackpool mauling - but also asked a few questions as well. There was still a lack of the flowing football we've shown previously, and while Cooper has praised Brackstone, some felt that his inexperience meant Ritchie Humphreys had to do more defensive work than he's used to. Meanwhile, Richardson put himself about to good effect, and Eifion had a reasonable game - but with Robinson coming off the bench to score the winner, will Cooper decide to start the former Newcastle forward again? Gabbiadini missed the game after picking up an injury at home, but even if he is fit is unlikely to get beyond a spot on the bench.

In midfield, Pools seem to have lacked some control in the last couple of games, and there may yet be changes there. Ryan McCann to come in? Possibly, but where is another matter. Tinkler though missed training through illness following the Chesterfield game, and although expected to be available McCann may step in if Cooper decides not to risk Tinks. Clarke continues to frustrate, but the issue of who we would replace him with means he is likely to get another opportunity on the right to try and convince Cooper and the fans.

A win against the Chairboys is essential if Pools are to consider themselves realistic Playoff challengers. The result against Chesterfield - if not the performance - has got us back on course, but a slip up against another of the sides we're expected to beat would indicate a level of inconsistency that a playoff side can ill afford.

This will be the first time we've played Wycombe; we were in this division when they initially came into the league, and they passed us on the way up as we went down. We may well be in different divisions again next season, so this might well end up as a very rare chance to see our opponents.

Prediction time then, and I can't help feeling this is going to be a game where the result is better than the performance. Pools are not in great shape at the moment, but even so we should have enough in the tank to see off Wycombe: 2-1, with Robinson and Nelson to get the goals.