By Albatross
October 22 2004

Hartlepool United go back to where last season's fun and games started: London Road. Can we start improving our away form by beating Peterborough there for the second year running? Can Mickey Nelson score another screamer? Or will Ben Clark make his debut? How times change. Last season we were the new kids on the block, and our surprise victory over Posh was, we were told by numerous Peterborough fans, undeserved and we would struggle to survive. The rest is history: Pools were never out of the top half and reached the playoffs, while Posh failed to win at home in the league until just before Christmas and finished two points and three places above the relegation zone. Not many eyebrows will be raised in the division if Pools win this one.

The inimical Barry Fry, now an immovable object at the club, continues to manage the team and Posh are not yet prospering under his ownership. Currently they sit in 19th place with 13 points from 13 games, and the initial hope that came from their start - seven points from four games including wins in their first two home games - is fast evaporating.

Their last win came at Swindon on 11th September, and they have lost three of their five league fixtures (plus an LDV game) since then, including last weekend providing bottom club Stockport with their first home win of the season. Five home league games have come and gone since the win over Brentford on 21st August with just three draws forthcoming - and while their performance in drawing with Sheffield Wednesday in midweek was much improved, Pools fans can be forgiven for thinking that this is a real opportunity to put some more away points on the board.

As usual, Barry Fry's interpersonal skills are providing much of the entertainment at London Road - at least for their opponents. Having brought in Bobby Gould to work with Fry, Posh then made headlines of the wrong sort when Gould departed at half time in their LDV defeat at Bristol City; meanwhile Fry's revolving door approach to management is again in full swing. A few of the recent highlights include: having a go at Leon Constantine for turning down a loan move to Boston this week (after telling Fry he wanted to stay and fight for his place and scoring twice in a reserve team game, Fry responded by saying that he would not be involved against Pools and should have gone); informing goalkeeper Mark Tyler through the press that he will be offered less money when his contract comes up for renewal in the summer; and placing veteran player/coach Andy Legg on the transfer list after he reportedly was involved in an altercation with three Posh fans in the City Centre. Meanwhile, Danny Sonner and Chris Plummer have arrived since the start of the season to try and shore up the defence.

Ironically, it's not been the defence that's the major source of the problems. Fifteen conceded in thirteen games isn't that terrible - only three teams have let in less - but just fourteen scored leaves them with the second worst attack in the division. Clive Platt has scored three times, a total matched by 37 year old Andy Clarke - but beyond that, only Curtis Woodhouse has scored more than once - and even then he has missed a penalty. Clarke may find himself on the bench though with Fry looking set to keep faith with the side that started in midweek - meaning that Caullum Willock is set to partner Platt.

Pools will feel they have a point to prove after a last minute defeat at Brentford, and will aim to do that by taking all three. With Nelson not suspended after all and Ben Clark to add to our options in defence, Cooper has more options in defence than he may have expected - and even if Clark doesn't start the game, Nelson and Westie will know that there's some pressure on them to perform. Possibly the main question for Coops is whether to give Porter another chance to impress or to restore Eifion Williams to the starting lineup.

This is a game that Pools should be looking at as the ideal opportunity to improve their dismal away form. Our defence has been strengthened - and we're playing against a side that has managed just six goals in eight games and with a poor record at home this season. I reckon it will go to form - 1-0 to Pools, Boyd scoring the goal.