Pools fate rests on the last day of the season


Denis B - goal

By Charlie Summerbell
May 1 2010

They say the League table doesn’t lie – but in Hartlepool United’s case at the moment it does, because they look far better off than they really are. Pools might look safe on 52 points, four clear of fourth bottom Tranmere, but with points set to be deducted in the next week, Saturday’s last game of the season at Brentford is going to be a tense affair. Let’s get the maths out of the way after Pools needed a goal made and scored by subs Adam Boyd and Denis Behan respectively to rescue a point in their  1-1 home draw with Exeter.
With one game left, Pools have 52 points, with fourth bottom Tranmere and fifth bottom Exeter on 48, Gillingham on 50, Orient on 51 and Oldham on 52.The last-day fixtures are:
 

Brentford (nowt to play for) v Pools
Colchester (nowt to play for) v Orient

Exeter v Huddersfield (play-off place assured) 
Oldham v Charlton (play-off place assured)
Stockport (doomed) v Tranmere
Wycombe (doomed) v Gillingham
 

Basically, Pools need a result at Brentford, but there’s always a chance that when the decision on Liddlegate (playing Gary Liddle in the home win over Brighton when he should have been suspended) is announced they will be docked less than three points.
But not much of a chance.

Pools can expect to go into the Brentford game on 49 points, one ahead of Tranmere and Exeter, needing a result of their own and at least one other result to go their way. At least their goal difference is better than the others, so that is worth a point to them - and they might need it.Will Stockport beat Tranmere? On form, no – but you never know.Will Exeter beat Huddersfield? On form, no chance – but, again, you never know.The biggest question is, will Pools win at Brentford? Again, forms says no … Pools have been rubbish away this season and have not demonstrated they can fight when the chips are down.the chips are definitely down next Saturday and it all adds up to a very gloomy outlook. Pools are in the clarts, and they have only themselves to blame for it.
They have dropped too many daft points this season and they have broken the rules, for which they will be punished. The level of the punishment depends on how well Pools put forward their mitigating circumstances, but if they do it as well as they have been doing a lot of other things this season, on and off the pitch, it would be unwise to expect them to have any success.One again, Pools go into the last game of the season with their future uncertain.

It’s the same old story and it's getting boring.

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Pools fate rests on the last day of the season
Discussion started by The Box of Kippers , 01/05/2010 20:23
The Box of Kippers
01/05/2010 20:23
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SportNetwork HQ
04/05/2010 11:56
Well there's one sure way out of this mess. The lads need to rall roud the club and Liddle and get a win at Brentford . Simple as that.

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Rift House
05/05/2010 13:27
Easier said than done - this season's away record is pants.

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Aidan11
07/05/2010 12:46
I'm hoping the points deduction will act as a kick up the backside and they go out and get us a rare away win.

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Rift House
10/05/2010 16:34
It seems the deduction did fire everybody up ... but it was close.

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SportNetwork HQ
11/05/2010 12:55
It surely must sharpen everybody up for next season and that means backroom staff who are responsible for official dealings with league affairs, coaches and players.

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Aidan11
15/05/2010 15:11
I must admit I was nervous knowing that a Brentford goal at the death would send us down. It didn't happen though and Pools will spend a record 4th consecutive season in the third tier.

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Rift House
15/05/2010 17:45
We don't want any more nervous last days though.

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