Match Preview: Hartlepool United v Barnsley

By Albatross
September 3 2004

Speculation, Speculation, Speculation - that's what we seem to have heard all this week, mostly about Adam Boyd. However there is a match to be played, and Barnsley are the opponents for Hartlepool United. And Boyd looks a certainty to play.

With Paul Hart having brought a number of players into the club, several on big wages, plenty was expected from Barnsley this season. After a draw at Franchise on the opeining day, they won their next match against fancied Bristol City thanks to two goals from former Pools loanee Chris Shuker; however, things have gone off the rails somewhat since. A home defeat to Luton, and a draw at Walsall, were followed by two more league defeats against Hull and Wrexham to leave them with five points from six games and languishing in 19th place.

The problem has not been up front - they have already scored ten goals in the league and another two in the Carling Cup at Darlington - but in defence. The Tykes have leaked an average of two goals a game so far, and although the teams they have faced have mostly been in the top half Paul Hart will know that things need to be tightened up at the back if they are to improve.

This makes it more than a little strange therefore that the only signing made by Paul Hart since the start of the season has been another forward: Michael Chopra, on loan from Newcastle, has started the last two games. Looking at Barnsley's squad lists, strikers are something they are hardly short of. Against Wrexham, no less than six players who are or can play as forwards were involved at one point or another - and the match finished with Conlon, Boulding, Chopra and Stallard all on the pitch. Shuker leads the way with three goals in all competitions, with Boulding, Conlon and defender Paul Reid all with two.

Former Hibs keeper Nick Colgan has been released from International duty with the Republic of Ireland to face Pools, but former Leeds midfielder Stephen MacPhail is set to miss out again through injury; Jacob Burns, another former Leeds man may return though.

For Pools, some injury problems and a couple of departures mean that we are looking a little thin on the ground in some departments. Betsy has returned to Barnsley although whether he'll be back at Pools afterwards is still open to question; Ryan McCann has left; and Hugh Robertson and Mark Tinkler are struggling with injury and could well miss out. Adam Boyd is still here contrary to some expectations; with Cardiff admitting an interest though could it be his last game for Pools? Williams would seem the leading candidate to partner Boyd up front, but problems on the right of midfield may yet see the forward asked to play there again - in which case Porter, who impressed for the reserves in midweek, may start up front again. Another option may be to play Craddock in defence and move Ross into the right midfield role most of us expected him to fill at the start of the season.

To be honest, if there's one thing that worries me about this game it's how we'll handle Shuker. He'll no doubt be especially keen to do well against us, and without our regular left back Matty Robson will have to be on top of his game if Shuker is up for it. However, our defence has been reasonable for most of the season and given that we are likely to get a few chances we should be able to beat the Tykes. 2-1 to the Hartlepool then, Williams and Boyd to score.