By Albatross
March 12 2004

Hartlepool United are looking to avenge our 4-1 defeat at Loftus Road back in December; and with Queens Park Rangers struggling with injuries at the back, we may be playing them at just the right time. QPR had faced travelling up to Pools without a goalkeeper, but have now been able to take Derby youngster Lee Camp - an England u20 international - on loan, and he is almost certain to make his first league start at the Vic. The 19 year old has made one substitute appearance for Derby, and had a loan spell at Burton last season. His record hasn't been too great - in five and a half games last season he conceded fifteen goals. He's been on the bench recently for Derby, but with Andy Oakes available again after injury Camp has been allowed to go out on loan.

Even with a recognised keeper, QPR will still travel more in hope than expectation. Their last three away games have yielded just a single point, and while they are still unbeaten at home there have been wobbles there too; when Eifion Williams notched our consolation goal in December, he scored just the third goal the home side had conceded on their own ground in eleven games. Since then, they have conceded seven in the same number of games, and had to come from behind in each of their last three games.

Their away form hasn't been exceptional this season. Four wins and five defeats leaves them in the middle of the pack in terms of away records, and to add to this their injury worries don't start and end with goalkeeping. Left back Gino Padula is suffering from a broken toe, and with Richard Edgehill also unlikely to be fit there's a bit of a crisis there too; and other defenders are struggling for fitness. Dan Shittu is out for some time with a , Arthur Knohere is a doubt after tweaking a hamstring last Saturday, Matthew Rose has missed games recently through injury.... Rangers have taken former Wimbledon player Des Byrne on trial, and he may well be registered in time to face Pools - but whoever is fit, the defence tomorrow is likely to be decidely makeshift.

QPR will still provide a potent attacking force though. Kevin Gallen has notched 14 times this season, Tony Thorpe has also made double figures, Paul Furlong has scored eight, so has midfielder Kevin Rowlands, recent signing Jamie Cureton has bagged a couple despite making just five substitute appearances...

Pools meanwhile have seen Paul Robinson playing in a reserve game, and he may be fit enough to take a position on the bench; other than the continuing injury problems for Gavin Strachan, Pools therefore have close to a full squad to choose from. One person missing from that squad though is Chris Shuker; as yet there has been no announcement of a permanent deal for the Man City player, and with Shuker having previously stated his desire to stay in the North-West it may well be that he wants to try and a win a deal a little closer to home.

That leaves Neale Cooper with a few decisions to make regarding the midfield. Humphreys will probably be asked to continue in the middle, while on the left there will therefore be a choice between Robson and Carson - with Carson possibly favourite to start after appearing at half time last week. On the right, it looks like a choice between Clarke and Istead - and it may well be that Istead finally gets the chance to start a senior game.

The rest of the side seems to pick itself; while Cooper may be tempted to replace Porter with Robinson up front, such a move is risky and Porter's approach play has been good enough to justify his place in my opinion.

This is a game that seems to have come at the right time for Pools. Three wins on the spin, and although QPR are ahead of us they are struggling with injuries at the back - we may not have a better chance to beat one of the top three. Rangers still offer a potent threat, but I think we can avenge our defeat at Loftus Road and so I'll go for a 2-1 win for Pools, Eifion Williams and Mark Tinkler with the goals.