By Albatross
August 15 2003

After two away victories, Hartlepool United play their first game of the season at Victoria Park. Tranmere Rovers are the opposition, and it's likely to be a tough game against a side that Pools Online predicts will do well this season. Tranmere's record towards the end of last season was exceptional - they didn't lose any of their last 15 games, won their last five, and finished with a points tally that normally would have seen them well up in the playoffs. Despite this they missed out, but have started this season pretty much where they left off.

Their first game of the season saw them cruising past Brentford 4-1, and the Carling Cup saw them chalk up another home win, this time over Bury. The Shakers put up much more of a fight though, and it took a late goal from substitute and summer signing Eugene Dadi to take them through in 90 minutes. Tranny are getting very close to their all-time record for an unbeaten run, and will be looking to extend that - and their run of seven victories - against Pools.

The main goal threat against Pools is likely to come from Simon Haworth. The former Wigan striker hit the target 22 times last season, and opened his account this time with the third goal against the Bees. He's likely to be partnered in attack either by Canadian international Iain Hume, or Ivory Coast-born Frenchman Dadi. Leading scorer for Rovers though is currently Shane Nicholson with two - both from the spot. It sounds like the Ref had more than a little to say about the Brentford game, with a sending off after 12 minutes, three penalties, and four bookings.... Nicholson however impressed for more than just his coolness from the spot - both of the other goals came from his crosses, and the left sided player is likely to be a danger from set pieces.

So far, Ray Mathias has been playing 4-4-2 - whether he will continue with this formation in what pretty much everyone on both sides thinks is going to be a tough match remains to be seen. Keeper John Achterberg was in good form on Tuesday to keep Bury at bay, and Ryan Taylor - scorer of a superb goal at the Vic last season - is likely to start as well. Midfield is likely to see Gary Jones (no, not the one that played for us), but Mathias is likely to check on the fitness of Tyrone Loran before deciding whether Micky Mellon will start.

Pools have fitness worries of their own. Paul Arnison is likely to be missing again, and although skipper Barron will probably be fit to step in following his appearance as a first half substitute at Hillsborough, the player he replaced - Mark Tinkler - looks highly likely to miss the match. And Cooper himself has been on the treatment table after damaging his hamstring celebrating our victory on Wednesday! Having had to play 90 minutes in stifling heat last Saturday, and 120 minutes in midweek, it's a big test of the condition of the squad. There were few signs of tiredness on Wednesday night, but it has to have taken quite a bit out of some players.

What formation will we play? I would guess it will be 4-4-2, at least to start with, and that leaves Cooper with the decision of who to leave out from a defensive unit that looked very good in Sheffield. Jordan may be the man to give way, or he may ask Chris Westwood to play on the right again. Midfield could be a problem, as without Tinkler it's not clear who may play in the centre with Strachan. Sweeney is a possibility, or maybe moving Clarke inside and giving Istead his first start may be the way to go. Of course, if he sticks with 3-5-2 then the centre three pretty much picks itself - Strachan, Clarke, Humphreys. Up front I don't expect changes, and after his terrific performance in goal it would be a major surprise if Jim Provett isn't between the sticks again.

Pools-Tranmere fixtures used to be a regular occurence in the League, but this will in fact be our first meeting outside of cup competitions since 1989. We played them in the League Cup in 1997, going out 4-3 on aggregate - a 3-1 defeat at Prenton Park after performing well for an hour proving too much to come back from at the Vic, and again last year in both League Cup and LDV; the 2-1 defeat in the first competition being far more representative of the strength of the sides than the LDV 5-0 game, where Pools fielded a reserve side against Tranmere's full strength eleven.

It's all set for a tough encounter then, and I can see this ending all square. 1-1, with Robinson to continue his scoring run.