October Review: It's getting better....

By Albatross
October 31 2005

What a difference a couple of games can make. Had this been written just over a week ago, I might be reflecting on another poor month for Hartlepool United; instead, back to back wins over MK Franchise and Port Vale mean that the picture looks much rosier.

Looking back at this time last season reveals that we're only three points behind where we were then - and have played a game less. A win over Gillingham then would mean we'd be doing about as well as last season - without the likes of Boyd and Porter. Part of the frustration last season was that we had the worst away record while being one of the best at home; this season has seen things reversed, with our away form ranked third best in the division while our home form is currently the worst.

Three wins out of four gives us the seventh best record in the division for October, and as we've played a game fewer there's even an outside chance that Scott may claim the Manager of the Month award: our points per game was the best in the division. However I think that Andy Ritchie at Barnsley may be a better bet: the Tykes were unbeaten in five games, winning three, and had an impressive +6 goal difference. There is no shortage of contenders though: Yeovil, Bournemouth, Southend and Chesterfield all chalked up ten points from five games.

No-one other than Barnsley was unbeaten, but the other end of the form table reveals that three sides failed to get a win. Blackpool were worst off, taking just two points from a possible fifteen, but Swindon and Rotherham fared only marginally better with three points; and it was another month to forget for Bristol City. Gary Johnson's baptism of fire saw them win once, lose four, and concede no less than eleven goals in the process.

So who have been the big winners and loser in October? Well, Oldham, Walsall and Rotherham were all in the top ten but are now in the bottom half; Bournemouth and Pools have made significant advances upwards. The table normally starts to show who's aiming for what by now, and if it does then it's excellent news for Southend, Swansea and Huddersfield who are starting to develop a small gap between themselves and the chasing pack. At the other end, Swindon need to get things turned round quickly if they're not to be set adrift. After that though the gaps are small: eleven points is all that separates Brentford in 4th and MK Franchise in 23rd. As far as playoffs and relegation are concerned, there's still everything to play for.