By Albatross
May 15 2005

At this point in the playoffs, the traditional cry is "It's only half time!" Both Hartlepool United and Tranmere Rovers seem to be saying that - and we the fans need to keep our feet on the ground as well.... So for the first time Pools have won a match in the playoffs - indeed for the first time scored more than once in a playoff game - and for the first time go into the second leg as favourites to win the tie and reach the final. I'm sure plenty of Poolies are already starting to look at ways of getting to Cardiff over the Bank Holiday Weekend - but we can't take anything for granted on Tuesday Night. I'm sure that I'm not the only Poolie that found a leaflet on my car on Friday Evening - offering transport and hotel rooms in Cardiff to Pools Fans for the Playoff Final; I just hope it's not tempting fate.

Tranmere are after all one of the best home sides in this division, having lost just four games at Prenton Park this season; and, when the mood takes them, they can score goals. They matched our 5-1 scoreline at Wrexham, put five past Peterborough, and scored four against Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford (although they lost that match!) and Torquay.

You'd hardly expect Brian Little to concede the tie at this point, and sure enough he's talking about how few sides have enjoyed their visit to the Wirral this season. The Rovers fans, while frequently highly critical of Little's tactics on Friday, also don't see themselves as out of this contest - after all, an early goal for them would put everything back in the balance again.

Martin Scott is also not getting too carried away. Interviewed on Sky after the game, his response when it was suggested that we are now favourites to reach Cardiff was "You're joking, aren't ya!" He's staying very focussed on the matter in hand - getting a result on Tuesday - and that surely has to be the best approach. Hopefully he can keep the players minds on the job as well - and he'll have been delighted to see that Adam Boyd, also interviewed on Sky as he collected his Man of the Match award, also didn't seem to have got caught up in the triumphal atmosphere.

For the Pools Fans it was a different matter - and with the majority staying not just to enjoy our victory, but to pay tribute to the players on their lap of honour, the mood was jubilant. "Never Say Die" and "Two Little Boys" rang out over the PA, and the squad was rightly cheered to the rafters. However we now need to put that behind us and concentrate on cheering the lads on in the away leg; and with any luck, we may have much more to celebrate before this season is finally over.