By Albatross
August 29 2004

After succumbing 3-0 to Swindon, Hartlepool United have a quick opportunity to make amends with a home match against Colchester United. A much more convincing performance will be expected at Victoria Park. Pools could have wished for easier opponents to bounce back against: Colchester won their first three games of the season, and although they then lost at Chesterfield, Saturday saw them emphatically back to winning ways with a 4-1 defeat of Doncaster. Add in a win over Cheltenham in the Carling Cup, and the current second placed team in the division will provide plenty of opposition.

Craig Fagan has been the main danger for the Us so far, hitting the net four times; defender Gavin Johnson has notched three, while Wayne Andrews - available for selection after attending the birth of his child - has netted twice and will hope to get back into the side in place of Ben May, currently on loan from Millwall.

Liam Chilvers should be fit to take part despite having needed stiches in a head wound on Saturday, while Bobby Bowry is also hoping to be fit to resume his place in midfield after missing a couple of games through illness.

While Pools don't appear to have any further injury worries, Cooper will be facing plenty of temptation to shuffle his pack. A combination of some farcical defending and incisive play from Swindon finished the match as a contest before half time on Saturday, and Pools simply couldn't break through to even bag a consolation. Eifion Williams is still looking out of place when playing wide right, but it may be Joel Porter that makes way with Willo switching to his preferred forward role and Betsy playing on the right.

One thing is for certain though: Pools will have to up their game if we are to take anything from this fixture. Colchester are in good form, and will fancy their chances - and if we aren't on the top of our game, they will punish us.

Prediction time then, and I reckon that although Cooper will be able to rally the troops, it won't be enough for a win. 1-1, with Betsy scoring to earn us the draw.