By Albatross
February 20 2004

Hartlepool United should be on a mission tonight; the away fixture against Blackpool saw us hammered 4-0 following possibly our worst performance of the season. Cooper has to make changes in the midfield tonight - but revenge is on the cards. Blackpool are currently four points and five places behind Pools, and they know that a few quick wins are essential if they are to make any sort of challenge for a playoff place. Recent form suggests that they may well have to settle for another middle of the road season.

Only one win in their last eight league games - a 3-0 victory at Wycombe five games and one month ago - has seen them decline from a season's high point of 10th. Although they have picked up a few draws in those games, some of those results have cost them - and it now looks a lot like their only chance of visiting the Millennium Stadium this season is the LDV Trophy, where they hold a 1-0 lead over Sheffield Wednesday after the first leg of the Northern Section final.

Home form has been a major part of the problem - they have lost seven times at Bloomfield Road - and the root of it is not really scoring enough. Away from home they have scored eighteen - just one less than at home - and while their defence hasn't exactly been poor, it's not been especially remarkable either.

Their leading goalscorer is Scott Taylor, with a more than healthy tally of 27 - but 11 of those have been in cup competitions, and support is conspicuous by it's absence. John Murphy is the next highest scorer - but he has just four in the league, and will almost certainly miss the game against Pools through injury; beyond that, their leading league scorers are Jonathan Douglas with three - although his loan period expired in November; Neil Danns with two, also now back at Blackburn; and Danny Coid with two. Up front with Taylor tonight is likely to be either Mike Sheron - just one league goal and three in total this season - or Richard Walker - so highly thought of that he's spent three months on loan at Northampton, and yet to score in six appearances in Tangerine this season - though he did net eight in about 20 appearances for the Cobblers. The implication is clear - stop Taylor scoring, and Blackpool will struggle for goals.

Blackpool are struggling in other areas too at the moment, with injury and suspension severely restricting their options tonight. As well as Murphy, Tommy Jaszczun, Kirk Hilton and Steve Davis will all miss out through injury; while Richard Wellens and Mike Flynn are both suspended. Tony Dinning (on loan from Wigan) will play in midfield, and he may be partnered by Keith Southern, who is returning from injury. Chris Clarke may also return to the Blackpool lineup after missing most of the last two months.

Pools meanwhile have something of a dilemna in the midfield. Strachan is missing for a month, and there's no shortage of candidates for his place; Darrell Clarke is the favourite to get the nod, but Ryan McCann's brace for the reserves has caught the eye of a few and he is another option. Shuker could move into the centre, so could Humphreys.... Some of the noises coming out of Pools seem to indicate that Richie is under threat for his place - especially with the arrival of Carson - but I expect Humphreys to start on the left, with Clarke in the middle and McCann and Carson among the substitutes. Beyond that, it's likely to be the same team as against Sheffield Wednesday.

Pools will feel they have a point to prove after the debacle at Bloomfield earlier this season, and Paul Robinson in particular will be hoping to break his scoring drought; he was released from the Seasiders last Summer as McMahon (who's son may well play tonight) brought in Sheron. A couple of goals would certainly show them what they've missed out on!

Pools are yet to lose two in a row in the league, and tonight we're facing a side not in great form and missing a couple of important players. If Nelson and Westwood can keep Taylor quiet (something they failed to do in the away fixture, he got a hat-trick) then Blackpool look unlikely to score elsewhere; and with players having to prove themselves in midfield with the increased competition, this should be a game we're up for. 2-0 to the Hartlepool then, Robinson and Clarke to get the goals.