By Albatross
April 2 2004

Hartlepool United travet to Brighton knowing that this is a crunch match in our playoff campaign. We're up against the form side in the division, missing our most influential defender, and our opponents are desperate for points as they try and bounce back from relegation last season. This is quite possibly as tough a test as they come for Pools in what's left of this season: Brighton are on form having just won Mark McGhee Manager of the Month, are in the playoff places, and need points to stay there. With one of our most influential players missing, it will be that bit harder.

Brighton's home record this season stands comparison with pretty much everyone - they have lost just two games at the tumbledown Withdean Stadium that remains their home while they wait in hope for a positive decision from John Prescot about their proposed stadium at Falmer. Fourteen wins gives them the third best home record in the division, and they are looking to extend a winning streak at Withdean that currently stands at no less than six in a row. In fact, they've not lost at home for ten games, winning eight, including a victory over runaway leaders Plymouth.

Leon Knight is the man that's caught the eye up front, having already grabbed 24 goals - all but one of them in the league. Midfielder Craig McPhee has reached double figures, but after that things have been spread around somewhat - Trevor Benjamin has hardly been prolific with just five, and to add more options up front McGhee has recently brought in Chris Iwelumo on loan from Stoke. It's a move that is already paying dividends, with Iwelumo notching twice in three games.

Brighton will have to reorganise at the back though, as Danny Cullip's thigh injury saw him substituted at half time in last week's defeat at Sheffield Wednesday - and Cullip looks set to be out for at least a couple of weeks. Currently McGhee's most likely choice seems to be to move Adam Virgo across from right back with Adam El-Abd taking his place at full-back. Sometime Pools loanee Ben Roberts is set to be in goal.

Pools of course have injury problems of their own. Nelson is in most eyes our player of the season, and when he had to go off last Saturday we looked distinctly makeshift at the back - not helped by Nelse's regular central defensive partner Chris Westwood having to play at right back. Mickey Barron has been included in the squad, and hopefully he will be able to return to the side to allow Westie to partner Walker. Another alternative would be to bring in Darren Craddock, possibly on the right. Still another option would be to go with a back three, possibly Walker, Westwood and Barron or Craddock - but that leaves another problem, namely who would play on the right flank......

Tinks could of course drop back again, although I'd prefer us to play with three if that's the case - and with Gavin Strachan set to come back into the starting eleven in any case, we may see Neil Danns asked to play on the right. Meanwhile, up front Cooper has the somewhat nicer problem of how to accomodate Eifion Williams, Adam Boyd and Joel Porter - all of whom have shown themselves worthy of a place recently. I'm half expecting Coops to go with Boyd and Williams, leaving Porter to come on late in the game to provide fresh legs to run at the Brighton defence.

This may not be the game that makes or breaks our season - but it's nevertheless crucial. If we can take a point or even all three, then we would have to be seriously considered as playoff challengers - especially as we still have games to play against some of the sides above us. Defeat would not end our hopes, but it would make things that much harder. Much as I'd like to see Pools take the win - and let's face it, we're well overdue one against the Seagulls after winning just one of our 23 encounters over the years - I can't see it, and so I'm going for a 2-1 defeat for Pools, Eifion Williams to grab a consolation goal in the second half.