By Albatross
October 29 2004

After some torrid times away from home, including two defeats in a few days, Neale Cooper's men will be breathing a sigh of relief that it's back to the Vic as Hartlepool United take on Port Vale. Can we continue our good home form? The good news is Vale aren't that good on their travels either! Vale got off to a flying start last season, but this time round have found life a bit tougher under Martin Foyle's leadership. An opening day defeat at Walsall was followed by some promising signs, as the next six games yielded 13 points; however things then fell apart with four successive defeats and the departure of leading scorer Steve Brooker to Bristol City in a six figure deal. Things have picked up a little recently - they have two wins and a draw from their last four games - but the good news as far as Pools fans is concerned is that their away form is only marginally better than ours, as they have one win and one draw on their travels.

The departure of Brooker was a real blow to Vale, not least because their goalscoring potential had been weakened over the close season by the departures of Stephen McPhee to Beira Mar (Portugal) and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson to Stockport. Lee Matthews did come in from Bristol City, but he has never been a regular at any of his clubs; he did score three however before picking up an injury three weeks ago that has kept him out since. Foyle has had to resort to playing Billy Paynter (four goals) up front with former Stoke midfielder Mark Goodfellow in recent weeks; Goodfellow is on loan from Bristol City, where he scored one of the goals that knocked us out of the Playoffs, although he has yet to notch for Vale. Foyle though will have the luxury of being able to include another midfielder, Ian Armstrong, who has recovered from injury and has scored three goals. Beyond that, no-one has scored more than once. One of those who has netted is sometime Pools trainee Jeff Smith; the left sided midfielder joined Vale in the summer after leaving Bolton, but hasn't played since the heavy defeat at Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago.

Injuries have not done Vale many favours this season; along with Matthews, Andreas Lipa and keeper Mark Goodlad will miss out against Pools, and they will be joined on the sidelines by defender Micky Walsh; Walsh was sent off last Saturday against Stockport in only his second game of the season and starts a three match ban.

For Pools, the news is slightly more encouraging. Darrell Clarke and Hugh Robertson are still missing, but Jack Ross is well on the way to returning after playing for the reserves in midweek - although this game is probably a bit too soon for the Scot - and Richie Humphreys has recovered sufficiently from his nasty facial wound last weekend to be considered for what would be his 150th consecutive league appearance for Pools.

The transfer-listed Mickey Nelson, who is apparently attracting interest from Bristol City (seem to be mentioning them a lot today!), will of course miss out through suspension - and for his sake it's probably no bad thing, with many Poolies not exactly enamoured by the way things have happened. Into his place will almost certainly step Ben Clark for his first start for Pools, with Westie the safest bet to be alongside him and Barron and Robson set to continue as full backs. Eifion Williams could well be asked to play as a winger again, but Joel Porter is in danger of losing out to Jack Wilkinson in the battle to partner Adam Boyd.

This is a crucial game for Pools in a number of ways. For starters, our away form is such that winning games at home is more important than ever. The need to prove that we can win without Nelson is important too - partly to show we can cope if he does leave, and that he is not the indispensible part of the team his agent seems to think. Add in the fact that we need to win to avoid falling further down the table and defeat becomes unthinkable. I think this is a game we will win, 1-0 with Boyd to grab the goal and take the pressure off - at least a little.