Preview: Doncaster Rovers v Hartlepool United

By Albatross
April 22 2005

Two sets of fans, with but a single thought? Maybe not quite, but a number of Doncaster Rovers fans seem sanguine at the prospect of Hartlepool United winning to take a vital three points in the playoff chase. The team though is unlikely to feel quite the same way.

While this is a game that looks more crucial for Pools than for Doncaster, Neale Cooper will know that he can't take much for granted against a side that were very unlucky not to walk away from the Vic with three points earlier this season; after falling behind to a Neil Roberts goal, Pools got away with the win after substitute Joel Porter's brace - but only thanks to an inspired performance from Dimi in the Pools goal, and some good fortune when ref Chris Foy had a "should have gone to Specsavers" moment by booking Chris Westwood for a foul by Mickey Barron on Gregg Blundell that could easily have been a sending off.

Doncaster's attempt at making it three promotions in a row looks to have finally stalled - it would take a miracle for them to make it now - but it's entirely possible that they'll finish in the top ten. That's some achievement, but it could have been better - however a run of injuries and a slight lack of depth that they have shown up in the squad has cost them in recent weeks. Despite this they have still lost at home just twice this season, to Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield; and with players coming in to the side and trying to impress to win new contracts we can hardly expect an easy time of it on the pitch.

It seems though that the Rovers fans wouldn't mind at all if Pools walked away with three points so long as we keep their Yorkshire rivals Wednesday out of the playoff picture. We can have the win, it seems, to make sure that Donny get another crack at them next year! Somehow though I don't think Dave Penney will view things in quite the same way - if he's fielding a weakened side that's more likely to be out of necessity than charity to Pools, although there have been mutterings that he's taking opportunities now to blood a few youngsters ready for the next campaign.

In fact, the injury problems aren't quite as bad as maybe we'd been led to believe. Goalkeeper Andy Warrington isn't fully fit - Everton loanee Iain Turner has been deputising; Mark Albrighton is a big miss at the back; on the right of midfield two wingers are out - including Jermain McSporran after major knee surgery. Dave Mulligan had to play there last week against Stockport, but came off after just half an hour to be replaced by youngster Adam Brown - who did well and even scored the last goal in a 4-2 win. Not too bad, but the real problems are up front. Roberts, who scored at the Vic, is out for the season; meanwhile Leo Fortune-West, the player the Poolies love to hate, has spent almost the whole season on the sidelines but is now back. Leo, who has just extended his stay with Doncaster, has plenty of previous with the Pools fans, and would no doubt love to mark his new contract by putting one over on us. Gregg Blundell meanwhile is out of form, but the only current replacement Rovers seem to have is the untried Lewis Guy.

Michael McIndoe is leading scorer for Rovers this season; currently operating on the left, he's netted 12 times including 10 in the league. Blundell is the next best, with a total of 11 - but he has now scored just once in the last two months. Guy, who has started just one game, may be preferred up front - but with the bench including one player on his way out of the club (Rigoglioso) and almost certainly another untried youth product (possibly Craig Nelthorpe, recently given a squad number) there's a definate feeling that our opponents are getting down to the bare bones.

Pools meanwhile have concerns of their own. Joel Porter recovered from his ankle injury to start against Sheffield Wednesday - but picked up another knock and had to be replaced early on. Porter is apparently still struggling with the thigh strain - Eifion Williams is the most likely deputy. Hugh Robertson is also available again, and his better defensive qualities may see him replace Matty Robson at left back. Jack Ross is of course out of the picture completely and it will be a major surprise if he plays for the club again following this week's shenanigans.

Most of the talk this week has continued to be about Adam Boyd's first senior Hat-trick, and the spectacular third goal in particular. His first goal was arguably much more important though - and shows that like any prolific striker he's capable of putting away the straightforward chances. We could certainly do with him grabbing at least another one at the Earth Stadium!

This could well be a very strange game. The Donny Fans don't seem to mind the idea of an away win; a big following of Pools fans is likely, and you could have the bizarre sight of both sets of fans wanting the same team to win. Rovers would like to stay in the top ten though, and their home record indicates that we'll have to turn things on to beat them. I'll go for a draw, 1-1, with Boyd scoring his 27th goal of an amazing season.