By Albatross
September 2 2002

The first month of the season is over and Pools are flying high at the top of the table. Albatross takes a look at how things are shaping up. It's been a good month to be a Poolie. After the first six games of the season, Pools are sitting pretty at the top of Division 3 with 13 points, ahead of York on Goal Difference.

The table is starting to take shape now, and what a strange shape it is. If you'd asked most fans to name the only club not to win a game at this point, you'd have got answers like Lincoln, Boston, and maybe Bury. In fact, it's pre-season favourites Hull City that have failed to break their duck, languishing in 22nd after four draws and two defeats. The pressure is already starting to build for Jan Molby, another month like this and he could be in serious trouble.

The fortunes of the relegated sides have been mixed. Cambridge are currently best placed in 4th with 10 points following their 4-1 defeat of Rushden; while Bury, Wrexham and Bournemouth are in 11th, 12th and 16th respectively. Bournemouth only notched their first victory on Saturday, away at Macclesfield.

Of the other teams expected to be challenging, Rushden are in 3rd despite their mauling by Cambridge, Rochdale have dropped to 6th following a defeat by Southend, and Shrewsbury are 14th.

Surprise packages at the top of the table are York - which has earned Terry Dolan the Manager of the Month award - just behind Pools, Lincoln in 5th and Torquay in 8th. Meanwhile Boston remain at the bottom, but at least in credit now with 2 points, with Macclesfield 23rd on 4, level with Hull.

The division is proving to be fairly even at the moment: every team has lost at least one game, and it's not always proving to be the game you might expect. Pools loss came at home to Macclesfield, York lost at Scunthorpe (in 20th currently) and Lincoln lost away at Boston and at home to Carlisle. Eight teams have at least 10 points, with every team down to Carlisle in 18th having at least 7.

Southend are currently in very good form having won their last three games - two of which were away at Oxford and Rochdale. They are currently in 7th, and if they can continue in the same vein in September could well be challenging in the top 3.

Pools currently have the best defensive record in the division, having conceded just four goals. Much credit therefore to the whole defensive unit, and in particular Chris Westwood who has been by all accounts a real pillar of strength so far this season.

Possibly the most encouraging thing for Pools though is that we're picking up the points without necessarily hitting the heights of the end of last season. Even though we can play much better, we're doing enough to pick up points - always the sign of a good team.

Finally, a quick mention to Darlington. Currently they are handily placed in 9th, they will be expecting to go higher with new signing Tin.... oh, hang on! He's gone already.... Never mind, it all adds spice to the up-coming derby!