By Albatross
August 23 2005

Round 1 of the Carling Cup isn't usually a big attraction - but this season Hartlepool United have drawn Darlington. It will be our first meeting at Victoria Park for almost three years, and a big turnout is on the cards. So here we go then, the first Vic Park Derby since the 4-1 win back in 2002 that saw Pools consolidate at the top end of Division 3, Gordon Watson break his leg, and hastened the demise of Tommy Taylor as Darlington manager. Since then Darlo and Pools have had very differing fortunes: Pools have gone up and thrived, while the Loids have finally moved to their new stadium only to face a season of struggle and administration before recovering last season to finish just outside the playoff places.

While some Darlo fans would have you believe this isn't a big game for them, there may be an element of getting the excuses in early going on given that their tickets for the Rink End may not sell out. The reality may well be that knowing that Pools have finished a full division ahead for the last two seasons, some fans fear the worst and would rather not see a defeat - particularly if it's likely to be a heavy one. One person who won't of course be seeing things that way is David Hodgson. Love him or (more likely for Poolies) hate him, one thing Hodgy is good at is making sure his players are up for a derby game; our opponents are likely to be fired up and looking for a result against us. Pools can't afford to be complacent if we want the win.

Darlo currently sit in 7th place in Division 3, although there are signs that inconsistency could be a problem. An opening day draw at Rushden was followed up by a 2-0 win over Stockport: but then a poor performance saw them beaten at home by Orient before Saturday's win at Grimsby that saw keeper Sam Russell with plenty to do, one penalty out of two awarded scored, and the home side down to 9 men by the final whistle. The combination of Clyde Wijnhard and Simon Johnson (total goals this season: one) isn't really working yet, and on Saturday Hodgson ended up going for the unsubtle approach of Akpo Sodje and Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu up front in the second half.

Pools meanwhile are currently in mid-table with five points - and there's a growing feeling that things still aren't quite working on the pitch. Humphreys is doing a job at Left Back but doesn't look like a long-term solution there; the Bullock/Sweeney partnership is yet to really look effective, particularly defensively; and Adam Boyd has been on the bench for three games, a sight that must be giving opposition sides a big boost when they know that last season's top goalscorer is kicking his heels on the sidelines at the start of the game. Proctor has yet to show much form, and the only forward to have scored so far is Daly at Doncaster. Meanwhile although Daly is doing nothing wrong, Pools are tending to play the ball long towards him too often for the fans who have grown used to a more expansive passing game in recent years.

All of this adds up to a cup tie that could go either way. Pools should win if everyone plays to their potential - but we've yet to really hit our stride; Darlo will feel they have a chance if Pools are anything less than their best and they can find their top form.

As far as team news goes, the only new doubt for Pools is Eifion Williams, who didn't make it to half time on Saturday. We do have options should Eifion not be available: one is to push Proctor wide and play Boyd up front as happened after Williams went off; another is to play Llewellyn there, while still another is to move Sweeney out wide and bring someone such as Strachan into the centre. The clamour is growing for a recall to Boyd in any case, so the option of bringing him in and switching Proctor out wide might prove to be the most likely option. Darlo's main worry (unless Hodgy is trying a few mind games, which is entirely possible) is keeper Russell: apparently he's likely to miss out tonight with a calf injury, and so Bertrand Bossu has been recalled from a brief loan spell at Accrington although this may be one to file under "seeing is believing" - it wouldn't be the first time Hodgson has tried playing tricks. That's the only new concern for Darlo: Appleby will still be missing, but after Ashley Peacock performed admirably in his place on Saturday it's debatable whether he would have come back into the side in any case.

So will this be a stroll in the park for Pools, or will Darlo cause an upset? Unlike some, I'm not about to predict that Pools will hand out a thrashing - Hodgson cares too much about results against us to tell his side that this is just another game, and they're by no means a bad side now. On the other hand, HUFC go into this game as firm favourites for a reason - not only are we at home, but we're a competitive side in the division above them. I expect a tight game, but Pools greater quality to show through in the end - 1-0 to Pools, thanks to a strike from Boyd.