By Albatross
December 23 2002

Pools are the first visitors to Hull's new stadium for a competitive game on Boxing Day; and with the gap at the top just a single point, it's a game we need to get something out of if we want to stay there. A Match Preview and schedule for site updates over the Christmas period are here. Hull will no doubt want to do well in their first league game in their new stadium, and not just to get it off to a good start - you could argue that last week's friendly win over Sunderland did that pretty effectively. No, Hull's need is for far more than that; with £2million invested in players over the last two seasons, and a series of high-profile managers, Promotion is not so much expected at Hull as demanded. This has already cost Jan Molby his job this season, and although results have improved under Peter Taylor they are yet to break into the top 10, never mind the playoffs. There's currently a gap of seven points to the playoff zone and nine to the automatic positions from their current position of 12th.

Current form is less than impressive. Their last eight league games may only have seen one defeat - at home to Darlington in the last game at Boothferry Park - but they have also recorded just two victories, both at home, to Scunthorpe and Boston. Just six goals scored and four conceded in those games gives some indication of where the problems lie.

To say Hull's attack is misfiring at the moment is pretty accurate. They haven't scored for three games now, and their leading scorer - Gary Alexander - has hit the net just five times in the league this season, with the on-loan Stuart Green scoring the same number. Questions are being asked already about Taylor's team selection and tactics; particularly after Saturday's 0-0 draw at Bournemouth. While normally that might be considered a good result, Bournemouth lost their only fit Keeper to injury after less than 20 minutes and were forced to play a midfielder in goal; yet despite this Hull failed to even threaten to score in the following 75 minutes of play.

Some of the fans are laying the reasons for this firmly at the door of Taylor. Alexander is apparently right out of form, and yet he persisted with playing him with Phil Jevons, who is likewise a long way from his best; meanwhile, recent signing Marc Joseph has replaced Justin Whittle in defence in a move that a number of City fans find bewildering. Alexander was dropped for the Bournemouth game for Stuart Elliot, who put in a hard-working performance that may well see him continue against Pools in a 4-4-2 formation.

After another less than impressive performance on Saturday, Mike Newell is faced with some tough choices. He wasn't happy with the performance, and left the players with no doubt about that; despite winning 19 corners, Pools had to rely on a late goal from Kevin Henderson to snatch a point from the game.

The clamour for Steven Istead to be given a start is growing after he once again showed the value of having a proper winger on the right; whether a Boxing Day game in front of more than 20,000 fans is the right time to blood a 16 year old is another matter. Paul Smith didn't look like his normal self on Saturday, and there must be a suspicion that his fitness isn't all it could be; Ritchie Humphreys could therefore find himself asked to play wide left. The gap in the centre might be filled by Tommy Widdrington again, although if Istead is to start it might be better to bring Darrell Clarke into the middle.

Brian Barry-Murphy may also find his position under threat; even a number of people who have knocked Mark Robinson in the past are calling for his return after a series of displays from the Irishman that have shown little that Robbo can't already do linked with an unwilligness to get forward to support the attack - a lack that certainly doesn't help when Pools are struggling for width.

Hendo's goal and all-round performance after coming on a sub for Richardson look likely to win him a starting place; and it may be that feeling he has a point to prove will galvanise him into action. With Watson hopefully returning soon, Boyd on the bench and Richardson too angling for a place, he'll know that he'll only stay in the side if he's producing the goods.

Against a Hull side certain to be fired up for the game, I'd be more inclined to go for a 3-5-2 formation than 4-4-2; Lee, Westwood and Barron at the back, Robinson and Arnison as wingbacks, and Humphreys, Tinkler and Widdrington/Clarke in the middle. It may not be pretty, but we need to grind out a result and that may well be the way to do it.

Prediction time then, and I'm going for the draw; 1-1, with Hendo to score for the second game running. The question is, having clung on to top spot for Christmas, will Pools be dethroned before New Year?

As far as this site goes, I'm planning to do a report on the Hull game, a preview and report on Cambridge, and a preview of the New Years Day game against Carlisle; what passes for normal service will then be resumed in time for the game at Boston on Saturday 4th January.

A Merry Christmas to all our readers!