Preview: Hartlepool United v Sheffield Wednesday

By Albatross
April 15 2005

This could well classify as the biggest home game of the season: Sheffield Wednesday travel to the Vic in a game that's critical for the playoff ambitions of both sides. Can Hartlepool United get a crucial victory? Or will the Owls rain on our parade?

Our opponents currently have one of the best away records in the division - with eight wins, just four defeats, and an impressive goal difference of +14 on their travels. However recently they've not being doing so well as injuries have taken their toll; it's been four games since their last away win, and although they have lost just one of those four their home form has also suffered a little of late; first of all Torquay walked away from Hillsborough with a point from a 2-2 draw, and then Tranmere took all three a fortnight ago. Last week's 1-1 draw at Oldham didn't produce the best performance, and also caused more problems for Paul Sturrock's already decimated squad.

Currently 5th and a point ahead of Pools, Wednesday's recent form is amongst the worst of all the playoff contenders and they need to turn things around quickly if they are to secure their place. With this game critical to both sides then, Sturrock will be wishing that some of his injury worries had cleared up - and that one or two players hadn't got themselves suspended. Glenn Whelan, Zigor Aranalde and Alex Bruce will all miss out - Whelan after being sent off in the last minute at Oldham - while on the injury front former Poolies Graeme Lee and Paul Smith are part of an extensive injury list that includes the likes of Steve MacLean, Adam Proudlock, David Lucas and a number of others that are doubtful including Paul Heckingbottom, Craig Rocastle and former Bristol City striker Lee Peacock.

The loss of MacLean means that the Owls will be without the player that is by some distance their leading scorer. He's been missing for just over a month having netted 19 times so far. The lack of another regular goalscorer is as much as anything due to the lack of a regular partner for MacLean - Peacock has started less than 20 games (and has scored just five times), Proudlock managed six before he was ruled out at the end of November, and in fact the second top scorers for Wednesday are defender Lee Bullen and loanee Kenwyne Jones, who managed his seven goals in the same number of games before going back to Southampton.

Pools have injury worries themselves of course. Matty Robson, Michael Nelson and Joel Porter are all doubts with ankle injuries - it looks like Nelson and Porter may not make it - Jack Ross may well not be available, and Mark Tinkler has only just resumed full training. Eifion Williams is back in contention though, and that does at least give Neale Cooper some different options up front; Eifion showed against Bradford that he's a natural forward, and is probably closer in style to Porter than Daly, who did reasonably enough against Colchester and may start again. Meanwhile Steve Howey could make his first start in the absence of Nelson, with moving Clark into the centre of defence another option. There's no doubt about who will be in goal though - Dimi Konstantopoulos will start, and with Neale Cooper considerably less than impressed by Jim Provett's decision to ask for a transfer after Coops preferred the big Greek to him against Colchester there are doubts about whether Provett will even be on the bench! If he is dropped completely James Winter will probably find himself handed an unexpected role as substitute for the first team while he sweats on being offered his first pro contract.

Dave Brown's award-winning playing surface is under pressure; heavy rain means that the game was put into doubt earlier, and it's likely to be heavy and slippery tonight. In some ways that may suit Pools better than Sheffield Wednesday - our opponents look certain to have one or two players struggling for fitness having to turn out, and a hard, tiring game on a difficult surface may see them struggling well before the end.

This is a game that neither side can really afford to lose - but both know that a win will put them back in the driving seat as far as securing a playoff place is concerned. However I have a hunch that both sides will effectively neutralise each other, with a 0-0 scoreline on the night proving less than satisfactory for both sides.