Preview: Bristol City v Hartlepool United

By Albatross
December 27 2004

Last season Ashton Gate was where our season finished so cruelly with playoff defeat; this time, both sides are gunning for the playoffs once more as Hartlepool United visit Bristol City. Can Pools continue their current run of three victories?

City of course disposed of the services of Danny Wilson despite him reaching the Playoff final, but the person that replaced him was surprising: veteran midfielder Brian Tinnion was handed the reins.

Tinnion's strategy seems to have been "attack is the best form of defence" if his signings are anything to go by. Not one but two sought-after Division 2 strikers from last season have arrived at Ashton Gate: Paul Heffernan from Notts County and Steve Brooker from Port Vale - both for six figure fees. However Lee Peacock departed in the summer, and so did influential defender Louis Carey.

With plenty of backing Tinnion was expected to deliver a playoff place at least - and although that's still by no means out of the question their form in the early part of the season certainly gave the fans cause for concern. It was their sixth league game before they registered their first win, and they have yet to show the sort of really consistent form that would establish them in the top six. Ironically, it's currently their home form that's letting them down; they've gone seven games unbeaten away, but have lost their last two at Ashton Gate, against Luton and Sheffield Wednesday. They've failed to win more often than not, with five wins balanced by three draws and three defeats. Despite this no side has scored more home goals in the league than their 27, an impressive tally boosted by bagging five against Stockport earlier in the season, together with four goal hauls against Brentford, MK Dons and (in their last home victory early in November) Tranmere. It seems that when they win at home, they do it in style!

Leading scorer for City is actually a Youth Team product: Leroy Lita with am impressive 17 in all competitions so far, although he has only scored once in his last eight appearances. Luke Wilkshire is the next best with eight, Scott Murray has seven, and Brooker has an impressive strike rate with six goals since his arrival at the end of September to add to the five he grabbed for Port Vale. Heffernan's opportunities to shine have been limited, but he has scored four in not many starts. Brooker may return to the squad after missing Boxing Day's win at Stockport, while also available for selection after missing out are Tom Doherty, Scott Brown, Stephen Gillespie and Matt Hill.

Pools meanwhile have no new injury worries. Ben Clark may well be on the bench for the trip, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Cooper stick with the same squad that has won the last two games.

This has the makings of a hard game for Pools, against a side with top six aspirations themselves and with a dangerous-looking attack. However City are far from unbeatable at home, and with Pools with plenty of confidence after three wins on the trot and the away demolition of Wrexham, I reckon we can take a point from this. 1-1, with Joel Porter to get the goal that earns us a point.