By Albatross
September 23 2005

Short and sweet, but here is Pools Online's preview of the game at Saltergate between Chesterfield and Hartlepool United. Can Pools continue their recent improved performances of the last two or three games? Once again youth looks set to be an important part of the line-up. The Spireites season so far has been one of ups and downs. After winning at Blackpool in the opening day things looked promising - but they then lost five games in a row, including to Hudderfield in the Carling Cup, before finally getting back to winning ways at Yeovil. Defeat at Bradford followed, but they've since won twice, against Bournemouth and Walsall. Curiously, they have yet to be involved in a drawn game this season; and their games are great ones for the neutral, with ten games so far producing a total of 36 goals!

16 of those have been scored by the home side, and they've been shared around as well. Currently the leading scorer, with three, is the 36 year old Wayne Allison.

Injuries are causing the home side some concerns, with Steve Blatherwick struggling and doubts over Shane Nicholson, Reuben Hazell and Gareth Davies. Pools meanwhile have the usual list of long-term injured, and are boosted by the news that both Michael Maidens and Jon Daly are fit to travel to Saltergate.

It looks like the senior pros will miss out again, but with a couple of better performances recently there's not likely to be too many complaints; and if the players can continue in the same vein then there's no reason why we can't overcome a Chesterfield team that's leaking goals at anaverage of a couple a game. 2-1 to Pools, Daly and Sweeney to score the goals.