By Albatross
March 28 2003

Hartlepool United take on Bournemouth at the Vic in a clash that is vital for both sides. A win would help get Pools back on track and go a long way towards securing promotion: but Bournemouth want the points for their own promotion challenge. Bournemouth may be third in the table, but their away form this season has been little short of atrocious: their last league win away from the Fitness First Stadium came three months and ten games ago, a 1-0 win at Southend. Six of the nine games since have seen them lose to teams in with a shout of promotion or playoffs, with the three draws coming against teams in the bottom half.

In fact, their away record this season is only the 19th best in the division, and if not for their exceptional home form it would have been an average season at best for the team from the South Coast.

Part of the Cherries' problem has been injuries. A Goalkeeping Crisis saw them playing most of their game against Hull in December without a recognised Goalie, and no less than five 'keepers have played for Bournemouth this season. The current one is former Southampton player Neil Moss, who joined on a free at the end of February after previously spending a three month loan spell at Bournemouth earlier in the season.

Goalkeepers haven't been the only injury problems that the Cherries have faced. At the start of the season, Alan Connell - signed from Ipswich over the summer - was a revelation, scoring 7 goals in 11 games: but a serious knee injury that has needed two operations has kept him out since October, and he is highly unlikely to play again this season. It's only recently that he has been dethroned as their top scorer, with Warren Feeney, James Hayter, Garreth O'Connor and Steve Fletcher all now on eight goals.

Bournemouth have supplemented their strike force with the deadline day signing of Australian Scott McDonald from Southampton; and he was not the only player to join the Cherries promotion push. Middlesbrough Defender Phillip Gulliver will join up with their squad after signing a loan deal that sees him join them for the rest of the season. Both players are in the squad for the game at the Vic.

Due to postponements and involvement in both the FA Cup and LDV Trophy, Bournemouth need all the strength in depth they can get at the moment: this will be their ninth game of the month, and in midweek they lost at Cambridge.

The main problem for Pools remains the forward line. It's now six games since a forward scored, and nine since a forward scored from open play. It's no wonder the clamour for the inclusion of Gordon Watson is growing all the time, and the rumours and speculation about the reasons for his delayed return continue to mount. He did play and score for the reserves this week, and looked hungry: but a bigger clue to possible changes up front may be the fact that Kevin Henderson was substituted very early in the second half. It could well be that Hendo will start the game in place of Richardson, who has failed to impress at all after his recent bout of 'flu. Watson however should be at least on the bench, and has the added incentive of having a point to prove to Bournemouth fans, who were not impressed with a brief spell he had at Dean Court in the 99/2000 season.

Paul Smith also impressed in the reserves, and may well make the bench as well: it might be better though if he started in place of Darrell Clarke, and interchanged with Humphreys on the flanks.

Pools may be out of form, Bournemouth may be gunning for automatic promotion, but I honestly can't see an upset here. The Cherries away form - particularly against the top clubs - is abysmal, and our home form has been our saving grace recently. We need a win to get back on track, and I think we'll get it: 2-1, with Humphreys and Watson to score for us, and (inevitably) Steve Fletcher to bag one for Bournemouth.