Game 37 - Pools (A)

Team: Hartlepool United

Date: 10/04/2021

Where: Victoria Park

What line-up should Neal Ardley opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

This could be a good indication as to what type of manager we currently have at the reins of Notts, Hartlepool will be a tough team but defensively if we attack they could crumble. Their midfield controls games, they work hard to create chances and have plenty of players who can finish the game. If we start as we did against Wrexham or just slow in general - I can easily see them assuming instant control.

It's going to be a difficult game, unless we approach it the right way.

First 20 minutes both teams will be wanting to feel each other out, so avoiding an early setback is a must.

i think it will be close, possibly a 1-1 draw.

tom crawford to play a blinder just because he can?

18 hours ago, liampie said:

tom crawford to play a blinder just because he can?

I thought this too but he hasn’t actually played for them for a month now, and he’s not injured so I’d be surprised if he played.

In terms of the set-up, they play 3-5-2, so do we continue and match them up or does Ian Burchnall think we’ll have more luck with a different formation? I think I’d stick, only change would be Wootton for Sam. And maybe even have Rodrigues in instead of Griffiths.

We’re good away from home and they’re unbeaten in their last 11 home games, you’d think it would be quite tight which would suit us at the moment. We'd get to bring on Roberts and Knight for the last 30 mins, the last thing Hartlepool defenders want! I think they'll be the ones that help us secure a positive result here.

Notts needs to dig deep to get a positive result, Hartlepool are hard to beat at home but I am hopeful we can go 3 games unbeaten.

I don't see many reasons for changing what has won us the last two games. Given the current injury/fitness status, this formation makes sense. Wootton comes straight in for Sam (obviously). Knowles starts due to Knight fitness status and hattrick last game. I'm assuming here that Cal Roberts isn't fit to start - otherwise you change everything to fit him in. 

Hartlepool will be a tough game. We can't play like we did against Woking otherwise we'll be beaten comprehensively. A massive step up needed and it does feel like this game is pivotal for our season; win and we can crack on and see where the season takes us, lose and in reality we'll be trying to stay in the play-off places and hope for a bit of luck/magic in the playoff games. 

Very impressed with Hartlepool. Did the simple things well. Took their chances. A very well managed side. Everything Notts weren't today. 

Gutted for Cal. 

If ever a game epitomises our season, it was that. First half was the tale of the of every first half when a team pressures us and pins us in, we just cannot combat it. No doubting the effort in the second half, it was better and we were positive but it just wasn’t too be. Another case of waiting for that moment of magic from an individual, a goal from out-of-nowhere to spark us into life.

And then Cal. Pretty much the one-man we’ve pinned this season’s success on… It’s just not going to be for him is it? IB was quite literally cursing his luck when the camera’s zoomed in on him. I’m fearing the worst as there’s clearly something still not quite right there.

I don’t and really didn’t feel too down after that result, we were beaten by a better team. I was hopeful we could win and I’d have absolutely taken a draw beforehand. For me that cements that play-offs will be the best we get and even then I think us going up will be reliant on a moment of magic.