By Albatross
April 28 2004

Hartlepool United's form during April came at just the right time and vaulted us into the top six - arguably at just the right moment. Neale Cooper for Manager of the Month? For those that believe that the award is cursed, the good news is that the answer is "probably not"... Despite chalking up five wins on the bounce, Neale Cooper is not the favourite for the Manager of the Month award that will be announced on Saturday Morning. Instead, Brian Little is set to take that title after Tranmere not only won five times but drew their other game as opposed to Pools loss at Brighton. In fact, Little has lead the side from the Wirral to seven wins in their last eight games, only QPR managing to withstand their onslaught. Tranny fans will be a little rueful though; had their run started a couple of games earlier they might have still been in with a shout of the playoff place that is tantalisingly just beyond their reach.

Other than Tranmere, Pools gained at least four points on every other team in the division - and with matters reaching a critical stage at both ends of the table, those 15 points have made a huge difference. At the start of the month we were in 9th place, still only three points behind a playoff spot but knowing that we'd have to pull something out of the bag to get into the top six. Since the defeat at Brighton, we've lit the afterburner and left teams that were ahead of us trailing in our wake. Luton went from a point ahead to nine behind, Bournemouth from two ahead to seven behind, Port Vale from three ahead to five behind.... We're ahead of a team that were six points ahead of us, level with another that were eight in front, and have reduced double digit gaps to Bristol and QPR to four and five points respectively. While those around us have wobbled, we've kicked on at just the right time and now look set to comfortably make the playoffs. Even automatic promotion isn't quite out of reach yet!

In terms of the sides fighting at the other end of the table, Stockport have had the best month with eleven points from their five games; Oldham also reached double figures and are almost certain to be safe, and Brentford's unbeaten run since appointing Martin Allen has given them fresh hope. Dropping into danger though are Rushden and Diamonds: just one point from five games - the worst in the division for the month - has left them in a precarious position just above the drop zone. Meanwhile Sheffield Wednesday have fared only marginally better with just two points from five games. Although relegation is highly unlikely, it's still a possibility and Owls fans are looking nervously over their shoulders.

A number of issues have been settled over the month, and with two games to go it's clear who will be playing for what. Plymouth already have the title, and QPR and Bristol City are guaranteed to at least make the playoffs; any of the top six could potentially claim the other automatic slot, although it would be a major surprise if Swindon, Pools or Brighton did make it. No side lower than Bournemouth in 8th can make the Playoffs, and Pools are guaranteed to finish in the top 7 for a fifth consecutive season. At the other end, it's Division 3 for Wycombe and Notts County next season, while there's still a desperate struggle to avoid relegation that could in theory reach as far as Oldham in 15th - but in practice concerns (from the bottom up) Grimsby, Chesterfield, Rushden, Peterborough and Brentford who are all covered by three points, and possibly Stockport who are just one further ahead.

There's still work for Pools to do before we look forward to the playoffs though; a win over Plymouth would secure our place, and might even guarantee us a top five finish - although given that would mean already relegated Notts County winning at Brighton that's a bit of a forlorn hope. One incentive is that probably our best hope of advancing in the playoffs is to avoid playing QPR or Bristol City at the semi-final stage - and that almost certainly means finishing higher than sixth.

Whatever happens, this has to be right up there challenging 1956/7 in terms of our best season ever. That year we finished second in Division 3 (North) - just missing out on promotion to the old Division 2 by four points. Looking at the records of the two sides, the 56/7 side had a better record - under three points for a win they'd have won 84 points, had a goal difference of +27 and scored 90 goals - but this is still our best season in terms of final league placing since then, and makes this the best Pools side in almost 50 years. Let's enjoy the ride, and who knows - it may get even better yet!