Pools on brink of Playoffs - how high can we go?

By Albatross
April 26 2004

Hartlepool United's 2-0 victory at Rushden on Saturday has taken us to the point where a Playoff finish is almost a certainty - although it's not assured just yet. The question really is "How high can we go" - 4th place is looking a real possibility and even an automatic slot not quite out of sight.

Saturday's results have clarified a number of issues at the top. Plymouth are champions, and while teams as far down as Brighton could in theory take the other automatic spot, realistically it's between QPR and Bristol City. Meanwhile anyone lower than Bournemouth in 8th place are out of playoff contention, and even the Cherries would require an exceptional couple of games to stand any chance at all.

Effectively there are three playoff spots up for grabs (QPR and Bristol are already guaranteed at least that), and four teams with a chance. Swindon and Pools both have 72 points, Brighton are a point further back, and Port Vale are on 67 - as far as Pools are concerned, they are the only teams that count as Bournemouth's admittedly remote chance would only see them able to overhaul Brighton out of the teams currently in the driving seat.

If anything, we're in the enviable position of looking at the teams ahead of us rather than behind. Vale would need to win both of their games to have any chance of overhauling us - and even one point for Pools would probably be enough given our advantage in goal difference. Here's a quick roundup of who's got what games left.

QPR - Swindon (H), Sheffield Wednesday (A). Pools can still catch them, but it's highly unlikely. They do need to take something from both games to be sure of an automatic spot though, and with Swindon their next opponents they could do us a favour.

Bristol City - Barnsley (A), Blackpool (H). Four points ahead of us, but with on paper two very winnable games our chances of overhauling them are remote.

Swindon - QPR (A), Pools (H). Level on points, ahead by 2 on goal difference. With a very tough game at Loftus Road, there's every chance that our final game of the season might see us finish ahead of them with any kind of result.

Brighton - Notts Co (H), Wrexham (A). A win over already down County would secure a playoff slot, and they will fancy their chances of finishing ahead of both us and Swindon with arguably the easiest run-in of the sides chasing 4th place.

Port Vale - Tranmere (H), Rushden (A). They need six points to have any chance - and with Tranny in terrific form (Brian Little is set to pick up Manager of the Month) and a poor away record that looks unlikely.

We can still finish anywhere between 2nd place (with some bizarre results) and 7th - but in practice it looks a lot like we're going to finish 4th, 5th, or 6th. 6th is the one to avoid, as we'd almost certainly end up playing whichever side misses out on Automatic promotion out of QPR and Bristol - from whom we've earned precisely one point in four games this season.

The big question for Pools now is how Plymouth will play on Saturday. Having just clinched the title, will they ease off against us, or play some of their best football knowing they're not under pressure? One thing that will probably count against us is that a number of players will no doubt be looking to impress their new manager. But with Pools on a real roll at just the right time of the season, who knows?

There was no glory for Pools at the PFA Awards though, with not one of our players making the divisional team of the year - wheich was instead dominated by Plymouth, Bristol City, and (oddly) Blackpool. While the likes of Mickey Nelson may feel they should have been there, it does link in well with Neale Cooper's comments after Satruday's win about the team spirit - this season, our team has definately exceeded the sum of it's parts. Can we take that extra step and secure a playoff spot? A trip to Cardiff? Maybe even (whisper it) that fabled spot in Division 1? Only time will tell - but if we do fall short, it won't be due to a lack of commitment. Our terrific season just goes on and on.....