By Albatross
December 24 2003

Hartlepool United's programme of festive games gets underway with the Boxing Day game at home to Barnsley - weather permitting! The Yorkshire side are flying high in division 2, but will it be Pools giving their fans an extra little something to celebrate? Barnsley are five points and five places ahead of Pools, and manager Gudjon Thordarson has done remarkably well given the time and money available to him to make the club genuine contenders at the top end of the division. With Peter "Hey, Big Spender" Ridsdale in charge in the boardroom, Barnsley will though be hoping to avoid the "boom and bust" scenario that's currently affecting Leeds.

They got off to a flying start with a six game unbeaten run that included four wins, but then lost their way somewhat with defeat at Port Vale kicking off a run of five games without a win. October saw them get back on track with four wins and a draw from five matches - and that's been enough to keep them in the playoff places ever since, despite some mixed results in November and December. Their last game was a 1-0 win at Luton, after three winless games including two home draws with sides in the bottom half (Stockport and Sheff Wed) and defeat at the hands of Bristol City.

Barnsley's home form is very similar to our own - five wins and six draws - but their away form has been better. Five wins, five defeats and one draw have taken them to the higher reaches, and it goes to show how important away form can be - especially with things so tight in Division 2.

It's been a long time since we last played Barnsley - 1979/80 in fact, and our last win against them came nine games and 28 years ago. However there will be one face that we have already seen this season - assuming he's picked, Paul Warhurst - on the end of a Pools win at Chesterfield - will be in the Barnsley squad for his last game before a suspension for being sent off on his Tykes debut kicks in.

Barnsley's leading scorer so far this season is Dutch Midfielder Dean Gorre with eight - but Gorre will not face Pools. He's still recovering from knee surgery at the start of December, and his loss has been a big one to Thordarson. Winger Kevin Betsy has hit the net six times this season, so has Isaiah Rankin. Up front is likely to be on-loan from Bolton Jonathan Walters - who has yet to hit the net. Watch out too though for young midfielder Anthony Kay: the 21 year old may only have managed four goals in his 49 game career so far, but he's hit a hot streak and has netted in each of the last three games.

Sasa Ilic will provide a considerable obstacle in the Tykes goal, with the likes of Steve Hayward, Gary Monk (loanee from Southampton) and Jacob Burns all taking part; however there are injury problems in defence with Brian O'Callaghan set to miss out and join Peter Handysides and Lee Crookes on the sidelines.

For Pools, the only absentee is Gabbiadini still - and I won't be too surprised if Cooper continues with the side that failed to break down Colchester. Again the question arises of Brackstone possibly replacing Matty Robson, but with Shuker having a decent game against the U's at least the right side of midfield seems to have an (albeit temporary) answer.

Prediction time, and it's a tough one to call. Barnsley have sold out the Rink End and will have plenty of vocal backing, and can be dangerous away from home; however, with some important figures missing from their defence, they are vulnerable. Given that they are as likely to lose as win away from home, and Pools are still formidable at the Vic, I'm going for a 2-1 win for Hartlepool, with Williams and Wilkinson to grab the goals.

Finally, may I wish you a very merry Christmas on behalf of Pools Online and Sport Network, and let's hope for a Poolie New Year!