By Albatross
August 18 2003

Experts, Schmexperts! Before the start of the season, most commentators were predicting Hartlepool United for the drop; a week and three games later, the results and performances seem to be saying otherwise. Let's try and keep our feet on the ground though... If someone had said to me just over a week ago that Pools would be sixth in the table with two games gone, and have a Carling Cup game against West Brom to look forward to, I'd have bitten their hand off - and I'm sure I'm not the only one. An away win against an established Div2 side, beating the promotion favourites on penalties in the cup, and then a home draw against a side bang in form and expected to challenge for promotion is one in the eye for all the so-called experts who predicted a season of struggle for Pools.

Not that we should get carried away. We may be sitting in a playoff spot, but with just two games gone there's still a bit of time before the table takes shape properly. However, it's still a good time to be a Poolie; another couple of good results and some opposition fans might actually give us a little bit of respect! To be fair though, the Tranmere fans didn't shoot their mouths off before Saturday's match....

So who's made a good start and who has failed to live up to top billing so far? Well, Luton and Port Vale currently have maximum points, to general surprise; less astonishing is the fact that so do QPR and Brighton - at least, before tonight's game between the two sides. Luton have beaten Rushden at home and Stockport away, while Vale beat Bournemouth on the opening day before chalking up an away victory over Grimsby.

Of the relegated sides, Sheff Wed currently lead the way with four points - though they will be very disappointed not to have beaten Oldham at home - Brighton as mentioned before play tonight after their win at Oldham on the opening day, and Grimsby are finding life tougher than they would have expected with just one point from two games and a cup defeat in controversial circumstances at Doncaster.

Pools currently lead the way for the promoted sides, but Wrexham are not far behind, having also notched four points - although they have had arguably the easier games, against Notts County and Chesterfield. Rushden recovered from defeat against Luton to beat Plymouth at the weekend, and only Bournemouth are still looking for their first win after a draw against Barnsley on Saturday.

The teams so far without a point at all are Stockport, Colchester, Brentford and Notts County. Notts County have yet to score a goal, and by all accounts are looking pretty toothless; a number of angry Magpies are dismayed as well by the condition of Darren Caskey, who it seems is expanding in all the wrong directions. They need money for players and soon if things are to improve. Brentford also look in deep trouble, with a number of fans already talking about struggling to avoid relegation.

Looking ahead for Pools, there are three games coming up that will tell us a lot more about how we can expect to do this season. Bristol City away is possibly our hardest game so far, against the team that I have predicted to win the title this year; nothing so far makes me want to change that forecast. With the two teams with six points to follow in Port Vale and Luton, three points in our next three games would be a decent return in my opinion. More than that and we will know that relegation is a word unlikely to be used by anyone for much longer in connection to Pools.

Talking of which, it's time for a new poll. After getting off to a decent start, where do you think Pools will finish this season? Make your choice, and have your say on our Message Board.