Matty Robson - goal

By Clarence Rode
July 20 2008

So far so good ... that's the verdict from Hartlepool United after three pre-season friendly games, the latest a 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Premiership Newcastle United. The scoreline was not a really accurate reflection of the way the game went, and the Pools management have declared themselves happy with the progress made to far in the pre-season campaign.

After beating Greenock Morton and drawing with SPL Falkirk in Scotland, the Victoria Park game againt a strong Mags squad was always going to be a tough one for Pools.
But they started well, and Matty Robson's goal was the least they deserved for the way they dominated most of the first half.
But Damien Duff led a Barcodes fightback with the equalizer, and he went on to score a hat trick, with new signing Danny Guthrie notching the fourth for a scoreline that makes it look more comfortable than it really was for Kevin Keegan's team.

Pools had their moments, but so did Newcastle and their class told in the end. Whether that class will be enough in the Premiership remains to be seen, and it's also open to question whether Pools have enough to make any impression on League One.
There's some healthy competition in the middle of defenmce with Ben Clark, Sam Collins and Michael Nelson competing for two places. The fact that Collins (left) was captain against the Mags ahead of Richie Humphreys probably tells a story there. But what's going on at full-back?
There's also competition in midfield, but whether there's enough quality and pace we don't know yet. Up front, James brown should do well - but will ghe get kicked off his game with somebody like Richard Barker to take some of the knocks?
And while we're here - are there going to be any more new signings? If the answer is no, it could be a long, hard winter.

Pools: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie (Foley 55), Humphreys, Clark, Collins (Nelson 67), Sweeney (Power 82), Liddle, Jones (Boland 54), Robson (Monkhouse 75), Brown (Mackay 845, Porter (Barker 76). Subs not used: Rowell, Budtz. 
Gate: 4,249