By Albatross
February 2 2004

January's big news for Poolies came at the very start of the month as we ran Sunderland close in the FA Cup; but with us scoring five away for the first time in years and maintaining our playoff ambitions, we showed we hadn't taken our eye off the ball in the league. Not a bad start to the year for Pools, we were 6th in the form table for the month after two wins and a draw from four league games - but Manager of the Month can surely have only one destination. Danny Wilson's Bristol City won all four of their games over the month, and they had a goal difference of +7; their points total was enough to eclipse even those teams that played five games during January. Swindon proved to be their closest challengers with a point less from a game more - three wins and two draws, while Plymouth (10), QPR (9), and Sheff Wed (8) all obtained more than Pools' seven points in part due to playing an extra game.

It's been a bit of a strange month in some respects, with one team playing six games (Blackpool), while Luton managed just two in the league thanks to playing two FA Cup rounds and Saturday's Postponement. Luton were one of four teams unbeaten during the month, joining Bristol, Swindon and Oldham - but were also one of three sides without a win, after drawing both of their league games. Colchester and Grimsby were the other two, with the Mariners having the worst record in the division after three defeats in four games. They now are starting to drop worryingly near to the relegation zone, and Paul Groves must be under pressure; the speculation surrounding their star striker Mickey Boulding can't be helping maters either. No win in eight games, and they've plummeted into the bottom six - and are within striking distance for three of the teams below them.

The division is really starting to take shape now, and a quick look at the table now and at the end of December reveals that very few teams have made major movements in the table. The top five is exactly the same, while only four teams have moved more than two places - Luton have dropped four, in part due to a lack of league games played, Colchester have dropped five, Swindon have gone up six into the Playoff places, and Grimsby have dropped three into the relegation battle.

While it's still pretty tight over much of the division, we're starting to see who's playing for what now. Bristol City have managed to get right onto QPR's tail, and while Plymouth still look set for automatic promotion it's now a fight for the other place; those three have broken away from the chasing pack, with a six point gap from Bristol to Barnsley immediately below them - and City have a game in hand as well. Ten points behind Barnsley are Sheff Wed and Tranmere, in 15th and 16th places; they are maybe the last two sides that can realistically feel they can make the playoffs with a good run. Behind them are Oldham and Brentford on 33 points, and they are at the make or break point for their season - a few decent results and they'll pull into relative safety in mid-table, a few bad ones and they'll be pulled into the relegation fray.

At the bottom, Wycombe have shown signs of improvement but it still looks like too little, too late - they are eight points and a double figure goal difference away from safety; Notts County may have a few more points but are still deep in trouble. After them are Stockport (27), Chesterfield (28), Peterborough (29) and Grimsby (30). Grimsby have a couple of games in hand, and desperately need points from them to avoid being sucked into the mire.

Notts County were the only team to change managers in January; Billy Dearden finally gave up the struggle early in the month, and has been replaced by former Magpie defender and Coventry first team coach Gary Mills.

And what of Pools? Well, January has seen us run Sunderland close in the FA Cup with over 9000 fans backing us - more than many Poolies will have seen before in their lifetimes - our second home defeat, and then a remarkable away victory in the snow at Vale Park supported by, as Neale Cooper described, "95 nutters". Eighth in the table, an experienced left back just arrived - this particular nutter remains happy with what's going on at the Vic.