Preview: Hartlepool United v Huddersfield Town

By Albatross
March 25 2005

Hartlepool United face Huddersfield Town this evening, looking for three points to strengthen our hold on a playoff place. Our opponents are on an awful run away from home - will it be a Good Friday for Pools at Victoria Park?

The Terriers haven't had the greatest of seasons, but after winning promotion last season they probably wouldn't have realistically expected to be challenging for the playoffs in any case. They go into the game sitting in lower mid-table, probably safe enough from being sucked into the relegation battle but also too many points behind to stage a realistic playoff challenge - even winning every game may not be enough.

While their home form hasn't been too bad - other than Pools only four sides have left the Galpharm Stadium with three points - their away form has been pretty dire. They've only won away four times, and the last of those came at Swindon early in December. Since then their nine away matches have yielded just one draw, and they've lost seven in a row on their travels. That makes it all the more remarkable that one of their few away successes was against Luton back in October!

Part of Huddersfield's problems have been the lack of decent support for leading scorer Pawel Abbott. His strike rate is impressive - 21 league goals in 36 games, and seven of those games were as a substitute. Beyond that you have to look quite a long way - Andy Booth has seven, and then Luke Beckett - who had a brief loan spell - scored six goals in seven games. In an effort to pep things up Peter Jackson had brought in Delroy Facey on loan from Hull, but he failed to score in four games and has now joined Oldham to mixed feelings from Terriers fans.

There's been a bit of late transfer activity for both clubs, but while Pools have seen two arrivals, our opponents have seen a bit of both. Danny Adams has arrived on a non-contract basis from Stockport after apparently falling out with the management there; but out of the door has gone Efe Sodje. The former Nigeria International, who was hugely popular at the Galpharm, has joined Yeovil on a free transfer. Meanwhile his brother Akpo has joined Darlington on loan and Facey has left too.

There may be a bit of shuffling in the Hudderfield side. Tom Clarke and Jon Worthington are both in the running for a start after recent suspensions, Adams may well get a run out - but Tony Carss and Danny Schofield are battling for fitness and it's uncertain whether one or both will make it.

Pools meanwhile are getting to the stage of having options throughout the side. Hugh Robertson is a doubt, and the game is probably too soon for Jack Ross or our deadline day signings Howey and Butler to be in the running for a start at least - but we had a strong looking bench on Saturday with the likes of Konstantopoulos, Strachan, Clark and Boyd, with players such as Barron and Daly not even making the 16. Boyd will in all probability start up front alongside Porter - but that's still harsh on Eifion Williams, who showed enough aganst Bradford to indicate he's still best played up front. If Willo is switched to the right wing then Humphreys would probably move back to the left - but again that would be harsh on Matty Robson, who really looked the part on the wing. It's possible that if Robertson fails to make it that Robson may be asked to play at full-back; but with a squad that really is starting to look strong, Cooper is faced with some awkward - but pleasing - choices to make.

This is one of those where everything points one way. Pools need the three points: Huddersfield are nowhere near as desperate; Pools have been strong at home most of the season: our opponents have lost seven on the spin. It's no surprise that we are strong favourites to win this match - but Huddersfield have sprung the odd nasty surprise this season and Pools have lost games recently when expected to win. Nevertheless, I'm going for the obvious result: Pools to win in entertaining fashion, 3-1, with Boyd, Porter and Humphreys bagging the goals.

For anyone that's looking for something a bit different about our opponents, try checking out the HTFC World Website. Site creator Danny does several match reports a season in a way that can only be described as inspired - check out the report for Bournemouth this season, or (one of my personal favourites) the Round-up from Christmas 2003 with it's unmerciful mickey-taking of Julian Alsop. Enjoy!