By Albatross
August 15 2004

Monday Night Football isn't what we're used to - but with the Sky Cameras in attendance Hartlepool United will be looking to get three points in a live televised game for the first time. Will we break our Sky duck at last? Promoted via the Playoffs last season, Huddersfield got off to a great start back in Division 2 by winning at Stockport County on the opening day of the season. After going in at half time ahead, they fell behind before two goals close to the end saw them take all three points with a 3-2 victory.

However, they followed that up with a 0-0 draw with unfancied Chesterfield at the newly-renamed Galpharm Stadium - and a performance that certainly didn't inspire the home fans. Chesterfield had a well-executed gameplan, never allowed the Terriers to settle, and were apparently good value for their point.

Currently the partnership at the front seems to be Junior Mendes and Andy Booth. Booth, once the subject of a £2.7million pound transfer with Sheffield Wednesday (and they wonder where the money went!) scores consistently at the lower levels if not quite prolifically - 14 last season - and provides a considerable threat in the air. Also a potential danger when coming off the pench is Pawel Abbot - it was in fact he who scored the winner against Stockport, and some Poolies may remember him scoring against us while on loan at Bury in our promotion season.

Other familiar players in the Huddersfield lineup include Nigerian International and sometime Macclesfield player Efe Sodje (anyone remember "He's got a Tea Towel on his head" at Moss Rose a few years ago?), and former Darlo midfielder Tony Carss. To be honest Huddersfield's squad looks a little on the thin side - but they have already shown that they are not to be taken lightly this season.

On the team news front, Huddersfield will hope to have Rob Edwards back after a thigh strain, while Phil Senior will continue in goal - with Ian Gray injured, it may well be that the Terriers will not have a substitute keeper on the bench.

For Pools, the injury news is still the same - Mickey Barron remains on the sidelines as he recovers from his Hernia Op, and beyond that there don't seem to be any doubts. The question for Neale Cooper is whether to change things around after a disappointing result at Tranmere; and the key to that question quite possibly lies in the fitness of Kevin Betsy. Eifion Williams has struggled on the right of midfield - he would no doubt much prefer to be playing centrally - and Betsy in many ways looks the prime candidate unless Cooper decides to give Istead a start. However, Betsy is still probably behind the rest of the squad after a frustrating pre-season at Barnsley and it's open to question whether he'd be fit enough to last a full 90 minutes. Certainly he showed signs at Tranmere that he's got the ability...

Prediction time is here then, and after the defeat at Prenton Park Pools will want to get back on track. On paper at least the Terriers should not provide as stiff opposition. However, only Doncaster had a better home record in Division 3 last season, and Huddersfield look like nu mugs. I'll go for a 1-1 draw then, with Hugh Robertson to have the commentators drooling with another super Free Kick.