Text at top (next game etc)

Next Game: Home Against Farsley Celtic On Saturday March 23rd Kick-Off 3.00pm

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Preview: Hartlepool vs Bulls

The Bulls visit Hartlepool on Saturday looking for a double over the league leaders.

Back in August, the Pools visited Edgar Street and lost 3-1 as their first season back in League Two started very badly. Tim Sills, Rob Purdie, and Andy Williams provided the goals for the Bulls with James Brown scoring for the visitors. The last visit of Hartlepool to Edgar Street was a FA Cup match in November 1999. A Rob Elmes goal was the difference as the Conference side beat the League One side. Pools defender Mickey Barron is the only player to have played in both games.

Since that game, Hartlepool's form has dramatically improved. After failing to win any of their first five matches back in the basement, they are now 18 league matches unbeaten and have won the last six - keeping 13 clean sheets in the 18 match run. Nine goal top scorer Jon Daly departed for Dundee Utd in the transfer window and five goal loanee Daryl Duffy has returned to Hull leaving four players on four goals each.

The Bulls are unbeaten in four and, on their travels, have beaten every top five side they've played culminating in the 4-1 demolition of Lincoln last Tuesday. Alan Connell's late strike at Chester makes him the Bulls leading league scorer with eight, followed closely by Andy Williams with seven. With Stuart Fleetwood returning after a disappointing spell at Accrington, Graham Turner will have to decide the future of Steve Guinan after Saturday's match.

The referee for the game will be Mark Heywood from Yorkshire

Hartlepool United vs Hereford United, Victoria Park, Saturday 3rd March, 3.00pm.