Playoff Preview Part 2 Bristol C v Pools

By Albatross
May 19 2004

Hartlepool United face Bristol City knowing that one way or another, there will be a result tonight. Can we make it to Cardiff at the fourth time of asking? Or will it be a case of planning for next season in Division 2? In the words of Highlander, "There can be only one!"

Both sides have injury concerns going into the game, but it's looking as if all those involved will be available for selection. For Bristol, Tommy Doherty has apparently recovered from his head injury; for Pools, the only lingering doubt remains Michael Nelson, with reports varying over whether he'll be available. Should Nelson not start, I'd expect Tinkler to partner Chris Westwood, with Strachan probably coming back into the midfield.

While the likelihood is that Pools will make as few changes as possible - at least to the starting eleven - Danny Wilson is muttering about making a couple of changes. Whether this can be taken seriously is another matter - after all, this is the man that claimed City would come up to Hartlepool to attack, only to abandon that plan after the first five minutes. He's certainly got some attacking options, with Luke Wilkshire, Scott Murray and Lee Miller all on the bench at the weekend - but the chances are that he'll stick with the same system and maybe shuffle the personnel to bring the more attacking Murray or Wilkshire into the midfield.

Cooper seems content to let Wilson do all the havering (Scots slang for talking nonsense for those that don't know), knowing that all the pressure will be on his opposite number. Outside Hartlepool, it seems no-one is expecting anything other than a win for the Robins - with the home team odds on to take the tie with every bookmaker, and Pools as far out as 4/1 to win in normal time with some Bookies. And while Wilson seems to think that Pools will be intimidated by the second biggest crowd we'll have faced this season, Cooper knows that his team didn't freeze in front of 40,000+ at Sunderland... While most seem to be expecting a close game (2-1 to City is the favoured scoreline bandied about), Cooper has the enviable situation of knowing that his team - with the best away record in the division - are the distinct underdogs tonight, with little expected of them. Should we frustrate City, and even move ahead in the tie, it might not take long for the City players to find that big crowd getting on their back.....

For Pools, this is simply Cup Tie football - anything can happen, and while victory tonight would hardly be giant-killing, there's no reason why we should lack confidence going into the tie. We've shown we can raise our game on such occasions by pushing West Brom and Sunderland very close this season; though the long and the short of it is that despite good performances we lost both games.

Bristol City are not underestimating us. Evidence of this was shown by the revelation from their camp - courtesy of Matt Hill - that they have indeed done at least some penalty practice. It seems inconceivable that Neale Cooper has not had the Pools players doing likewise.

Will it be that close? Personally I think the answer is yes. I can certainly see us taking the game into extra time - and then it will be down to fitness, astute use of substitutions, and of course sheer luck. Almost as much to avoid putting the mockers on our chances as anything else, I'm going for the game to be 1-1 at the end of normal time - Boyd scoring - only for us to miss out due to a goal in extra time. If we make it no-one will be more delighted than me - but for the moment I just can't dare to believe.