Preview: Hartlepool United v Doncaster Rovers

By Albatross
November 5 2004

Hartlepool United look to continue their excellent home form this weekend, with Doncaster Rovers the latest visitors to Victoria Park. And how much has changed since our last league meeting - when Donny were heading out of the league and Pools were struggling at the wrong end of Division 3 as well.

After winning promotion for the second season running, some might have been forgiven for thinking that this might prove a step too far for Dave Penney's side; however they have held their own in Division 2, sit comfortably in mid-table, and will feel that there's no reason why they can't improve still further.

It's a far cry from the last time we met in League action; then, back in 1997/8, Donny were a side of misfits and non-league players suddenly getting a crack at league football, with a Chairman who infamously had tried to arrange the torching of Belle View - and who later served a prison sentence for his part in the affair. Rovers were relegated by a mile, and it looked doubtful that they'd ever make it back. However with John Ryan taking the club on they have come on in leaps and bounds on the pitch (although Belle View is little changed) and a repeat of the 3-1 scoreline from February 1998 looks a lot less likely. The last time we met at all was also a 3-1 win for Pools at the Vic, back in the LDV Trophy in 2001.

Their rise hasn't been achieved by throwing pots of money about either. The only players they payed serious money for in the current squad are Gregg Blundell (£25K from Northwich and leading scorer last season) and Michael McIndoe (£50K from Yeovil and scorer of eight goals this season). Dave Penney has instead looked to make some shrewd free transfers, and his judgement is doing enough to see them 11th in the table.

Like Pools, their away form has been a weak point this season: two wins and one draw in eight, and an admittedly less than full strength side was dumped out of the LDV at Hereford in midweek. Eight goals scored is not the best, and the 18 conceded must be giving Penney the same sort of headaches as Neale Cooper. The nadir came with a 5-0 hammering at Bournemouth that saw them four down by the break! One player that he has brought in to try and stem the tide is Sunderland's Keeper Michael Ingham; he's arrived to cover for injuries, and Poolies may remember him as the player that almost single-handedly kept York in the game when our game at Bootham Crescent was televised two years ago.

In fact, Doncaster are facing something of a crisis if reports are to be believed. Leo Fortune-West won't face Pools after requiring knee surgery this week, while Mark Albrighton, Simon Marples and Steve Foster are all struggling too. John Doolan is suspended after being sent off last weekend, and with reports that Blundell is also struggling Penney may have to shuffle his pack.

One player who looks certain to start though is leading scorer McIndoe; his seven league and one cup goal make him top of the goal charts by some distance. Fortune-West has three, as has Paul Green; the former Wycombe midfielder Jermaine McSporran may be in line for a start up front, and another option is former Pools loanee Jamie Coppinger.

As far as Pools are concerned, there is once again a doubt over Richie Humphreys, while Adam Boyd is hoping to be back. The thing everyone is waiting to see though is what happens with Nelson; will the transfer-listed Mickey move straight back into the defence, continue up front (where he didn't impress many on Tuesday) or find himself on the bench? It would seem to be more than a little harsh on Clark or Westwood to be dropped or moved after two clean sheets. Ross will probably continue on the right of defence, Robson on the left, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Lewis Goburn start. If Humphreys is fit then he'd probably play on the right, if he isn't then expect to see Goburn take his place on the left and the unfortunate Eifion Williams asked once again to play out of position on the right flank.

This is another game that Pools should expect to win; Donny are poor on their travels, struggling with injuries and suspension. They certainly won't make it easy, but they are vulnerable - and so I'm going for Pools to win it fairly comfotably in the end, 2-0 with Williams and Sweeney getting the goals.