Preview: Hartlepool United v Doncaster Rovers

By Albatross
February 24 2006

Hartlepool United face Doncaster Rovers at the Vic with some familiar faces on view: Chris Turner and also Graeme Lee and James Coppinger. Who will be going home happy though?

Having beaten Donny at the start of the season this represents a chance for Pools to do the double - but the circumstances of this match are rather different. Back then both sides were settling in to the season, and both sets of fans had high hopes; the reality is that Rovers are on the fringes of the playoff race while Pools are looking to stave off relegation.

It's been something of a hit and miss season for our opponents, with runs of good and bad form at different times. Where they have made headlines is the League Cup; beating Man City and Aston Villa before taking Arsenal to a Penalty Shootout in the Quarter-Final. Their current form shows a winning streak that stands at three games, including a win away at Chesterfield; prior to that though they lost in successive games to Blackpool and Swindon. To paraphrase the nursery rhyme, it seems that when Donny are good they are very very good - but when they are bad.....

Much then may depend on the mood of the team that runs out at the Vic. As to the make-up of that side - well, Dave Penney has plenty of players to choose from. No less than seven players have signed since the opening of the window - four on loan - including former Pools defender Graeme Lee for £50,000, sometime Boro and Darlo forward Alun Armstrong on loan from Rushden, and current Smoggy forward David Wheater. Another recent signing - Jason Price from Hull - has scored three times in four starts recently. All in all no less than 33 players have started in the League for Rovers this season - Barry Fry would be proud.

Goalscoring has understandably been spread around somewhat, with 15 different players having netted in the League. McIndoe and Heffernan have been the most productive with eight and seven respectively, but neither started the last game although McIndoe was a sub. Instead, the familiar figure of Leo Fortune-West may be leading the line.

Meanwhile the news for Pools is that things are improving. Eifion Williams is back and hopefully fresh following his recent paternity leave; Joel Porter and Hugh Robertson are back in full training, but with the midweek reserve team game called off are unlikely to be considered even for the bench; but beyond that Pools aren't reporting any new doubts

Stepho went for an attacking formation against Chesterfield, and I won't be surprised if he tries the same against Donny. Both sides have been in mean mood defensively recently, so it may go down to who has the extra bit of skill up front. With a probable front line of Boyd and Eifion, I fancy Pools to nick it 1-0.