Friday, January 11, 2008

Hartlepool United (H) Preview


The Cobblers welcome Hartlepool United to Sixfields tomorrow afternoon (3pm) as we look to pick up the form again after the 3-0 trouncing at Leeds last week. Hartlepool sit 15th with the Cobblers just a place below in 16th, it promises to be a tight affair as Jonathan Hayes and Mark Little look set to make their debuts.

Team News

Poul Hubertz sits out in the second of his three game suspension games but Giles Coke could start after completing 90 minutes against Southend in the reserves in midweek. Stuart Gray could hand debuts to Mark Little and Jonathon Hayes while Daniel Jones also comes back into contention after completing his one match ban.

Godwin Antwi misses the Sixfields clash through suspension but Danny Wilson welcomes back Ben Clark, Willie Boland and Joel Porter after injury. But Jamie McCunnie and Andy Monkhouse miss out with knee injuries.


The Story So Far…Hartlepool United in 2007/08

Newly promoted Hartlepool got off to a good start in their new surroundings of League One as they responded to an opening day defeat at Luton by winning 2-1 at home to Doncaster and 2-0 at Port Vale.

Goals from Ian Moore, James Brown, Richard Barker and Joel Porter gave the Monkey Hangers a 4-1 win over Oldham to kick start September but they were then beaten at Leeds and held by Swindon. United beat Leyton Orient 4-2 at Brisbane Road but ended the month with a 1-0 home defeat to Walsall.

October began with a 2-2 home draw with Carlisle as Michael Mackay scored a late equaliser. They were beaten at Nottingham Forest (2-1) before seeing off Bristol Rovers by the single goal at Victoria Park. The month ended with defeat as Brighton took the points home in a 2-1 success.

Hartlepool started November at Millwall and a goal from Anthony Sweeney won them the game. A 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield was followed by a draw with Bournemouth away. November ended with two defeats at Gillingham (2-1) and Swansea (1-0).

There was a turn of fortune at the start of December as United saw off Tranmere Rovers 3-1 in a big win at home before an inconsistent month saw a defeat at Yeovil (3-1), victory at home to Crewe (3-0) and a loss at Swindon (2-1). Hartlepool lost out to a late equaliser at home to Leeds on Boxing Day as Jermaine Beckford grabbed the Elland Road club a point before 2007 ended with a draw at home to Leyton Orient.

In their only game of 2008 so far, Hartlepool lost out 4-2 at Carlisle United.


Recent Meetings

04/03/00: HARTLEPOOL 2-1 COBBLERS

Paul Stephenson and Graeme Lee give Hartlepool the lead and a Carlo Corazzin strike isn’t enough to give us anything from the game.

11/09/99: COBBLERS 2-1 HARTLEPOOL

Tommy Miller puts United in front in the first half but Steve Howard scores twice in the second half to turn the game in our favour.

25/01/97: COBBLERS 3-0 HARTLEPOOL

Neil Grayson scores a hat trick in four minutes either side of half time to ease the Cobblers to victory in the Wembley season of 1997.

29/10/96: HARTLEPOOL 0-2 COBBLERS

Neil Grayson scores in the first minute at Victoria Park before Sean Parrish adds a second in the 22nd minute to hand The Cobblers a good win away from home.


For The Record…Cobblers v Hartlepool

Games Played: 56
Cobblers Wins: 23
Draws: 13Hartlepool Wins: 20

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