By Albatross
March 19 2004

Hartlepool United have been in good form away from home, and will be looking to continue that as they take on Grimsby Town at Blundell Park. Grimsby though have any number of reasons to make sure that Pools leave empty handed.

Grimsby weren't exactly tipped to be amongst the top sides in the division, but their season has been much worse than they had been hoping for. Our 8-1 win may have been the most eye-catching result, but it was just one of a long line of below-par results that saw them gradually falling towards the wrong end of the table. Paul Groves was finally sacked early in February after a run of ten games without victory that included three heavy defeats in five games - 4-1 at Wycombe, 5-1 at Port Vale, and then 6-0 at Oldham.

When Groves was given the chop, Grimsby held on to his player's registration though; after a spell in limbo he was loaned to Scunthorpe. Meanwhile, having dropped dangerously close to the relegation zone, Groves' assistant Graham Rodger managed to win three of his six games in charge - including a 6-1 humiliation of Barnsley - to steady the ship somewhat and pull them into apparent safety. Then Nicky Law was appointed, refused permission to replace Rodger, and they have failed to win under his leadership to fall back into danger - just four points clear of the bottom four.

Recent form therefore is not good - they've lost three of their last four games. However, they've not lost at Blundell Park for three games, and will be hopeful of taking something out of the clash with Pools.

Grimsby suffered a huge blow a month ago when star striker Mickey Boulding finally joined Barnsley after a protracted transfer saga; his 13 goals still make him top scorer for the Mariners. Phil Jevons has been doing his best to fill the gap, and is now just one goal behind Boulding - he's netted seven times since the departure of Groves, although four of those came against Barnsley and he's not hit the net in the four games since. Beyond Jevons and Boulding, goals have been thin on the ground - midfielder Iain Anderson has scored five, Iffy Onura scored three during a loan spell but has now gone to Tranmere. Marcel Cas has also scored three times but went back to Holland a couple of months ago after falling out with Groves.... Grimsby will probably face Pools with a forward line of Jevons and John Rowan - who scored their goal against Pools.

Grimsby have a few injury worries. Isaiah Rankin - on loan from Barnsley - is out, Stacey Coldicott is also a doubt, and Jason Crowe has been out and although now fit is unlikely to feature. One player that may be lining up against us is the increasingly well-travelled Paul Warhurst; after a brief spell at Carlisle, he's signed up at Blundell Park and could achieve the unusual feat of facing Pools in three league games in one season - for three different teams.

Pools team news is generally good. Mickey Barron has recovered from his illness in midweek to be available and will probably return to the right back spot - and Mark Tinkler is available despite having to be substituted due to injury. After scoring for the reserves in midweek, and impressing for Whitby during his loan spell, Andy Appleby has also been added to the Pools squad; I expect the best he can hope for is a place on the bench though. Other than Barron coming in for Walker, I won't be surprised if Cooper opts for the same side as Tuesday night.

Grimsby will be after revenge, and they have a new manager to impress and a relegation battle to fight. This is unlikely to be a repeat of our 8-1 victory. I'm going for Pools to earn a draw - 1-1, with Porter scoring for the third match is succession.

Why not have a look at what Grimsby site Three-fish.co.uk has to say about their season?