By Albatross
January 3 2003

The latest news is that the game is on - but it all depends on the weather overnight. If the match goes ahead, it's likely to be a heavy pitch - but will Pools mud-wrestle a victory from the Pilgrims? Boston were many people's tips to go down this season - and until recently that looked likely to be the case. With the handicap of starting four points behind the field, and the upheaval following the suspension of Steve Evans as Manager, they have struggled to get away from the relegation zone. Currently they sit in 20th, mainly due to their good form in October and December - November proving to be a complete washout - and are unbeaten in four games.

This run is actually their longest unbeaten sequence this season - although three successive wins in October gained more points - and was started by one of the most eye-catching results of the season. After losing six consecutive league games - and another two in the LDV and FA Cup - they demolished Shrewsbury 6-0 on 21st December. Another fine home win - 3-0 over York - has been followed by two 1-1 draws at Bristol Rovers and local rivals Lincoln. One of the things that's helped to spark this run is the loan signing of Richard Logan; the Ipswich striker has netted six times since arriving at the end of November, and in fact has scored in each of the Pilgrims last five games. Not bad when you consider he's only made five starts and a solitary sub appearance, and he'll definately have to be watched closely.

Until Logan arrived, goals had been in short supply at York Road; 32 in 25 appearances sounds reasonable, but given that six of those arrived in one match and they've conceded 38 times it's no surprise they're at the wrong end of the table. Their away record is one of the worst in the division, and their home record is merely average - four defeats from their twelve home matches tells it's own story. Logan is actually their leading marksman in the league; Simon Weatherstone's seven includes two cup strikes, as does Lee Thompson's six - although the on-loan Sheffield United player has not been starting recently.

Boston are likely to be making changes to the side that played at Lincoln. Forward Stuart Douglas - scorer of five goals so far - picked up a knock on New Years Day, and may well miss out; Midfielder Peter Costello is doubtful; and another midfielder, Alex Higgins, is certain to miss the game after blacking out on the pitch twice in recent games. The likely replacement for Higgins is former Walsall player Tom Bennett, but he too will need to pass a fitness test to take part in the game.

Looking at Boston's squad is reminiscent of looking at a Pools squad of a few years ago; there's a few youngsters, a smattering of players in their twenties, and a number of over 30s such as Bennett, Costello, Keeper Paul Bastock, Stuart Balmer (currently on loan from Oldham), and Neil Redfearn. Sometimes these squads gel - but more often they struggle, and on what is likely to be a heavy pitch you have to wonder how the aging legs of Bennett and Redfearn (now closer to 38 than 37) will stand up to 90 minutes of football.

For Pools, Paul Smith is unlikely to return, and although Mickey Barron is due to travel with the squad it would make more sense to continue with Jon Bass after his good display against Carlisle. Pretty much the only other question to be asked is whether Richardson or Henderson will start with Eifion Williams up front.

It's likely to be a tiring game, and Boston will be anxious to get a good result and increase the gap to the relegation places - but with their team disrupted I'm going for Pools to win 2-1, with Williams to continue his scoring run with a brace.