This weekend, Hartlepool United travel to Bradford City in a game that neither side can afford to drop points if they want to achieve their current goals. With each host of The Lower League Look sitting on opposite sides of the fence, this will definitely be a case of at least one of the hosts leaving disappointed.
Let’s break down the whole thing into questions, as Grant talks Pools and Liam talks The Bantams.
What would you tell your opposition to expect going into the game?
L: For me, it’s not to get too excited if you see your side with a lot of possession in the opening 15 to 20 minutes. It’s something we have done most of the season, sitting back and inviting teams to come at us in order to see what they’re about. Once we have an idea of how you’ll play you’ll see us start to push back slowly.
G: Don’t think that we are the same team as the first half of the season. We are in a fight that we shouldn’t be in, and we want to survive, so expect a game.
How do you expect to line up?
L: We are at this point where consistency is vital, so seeing an unchanged lineup is expected (obviously injuries may crop up, but changes will only be made if forced in my opinion). We’ve lost just two in 14 and both of those were just really out of character so I expect as close to the previous lineup as possible from Hughes. four at the back, three in midfield, and then Jamie Walker sitting just behind Cook & Costelloe.
G: I expect the team to be broadly the same as it was last week and I’m sure Callum Cooke will want to prove a point against his old club! Possibly a slight change at the back. Dan Dodds coming back from injury may make this happen to give us a bit more of an attacking push, as Dodds and Sterry offer more options down the right wing as they can switch roles, something we lack when we’re more defensive with Foran & Sterry.
Who would you consider the most significant danger in the team?
L: I think most people will expect me to say Andy Cook, but that is the easy answer. Jamie Walker is getting better game by game and was already one of the best in his position in the league to begin with. He will run at you with no fear and full confidence in his ability. Walker for me without a doubt is our biggest threat in terms of play, whilst Cook is always going to get his chance in front of the goal, and more often than not, he takes it.
G: It goes without saying, the powerhouse, Josh Umerah! I’m going to give an honourable shout-out to Dan Dodds if he starts though as he can bring so much quality down the right wing!
How will the result of the game impact your season?
L: We face Carlisle at home on Tuesday night, so this game is so important. Carlisle and Stevenage face off this weekend meaning someone is dropping points and we’re right behind both. If Stevenage goes on to win then Tuesday could see us leapfrog United. We’ve dropped a lot of unnecessary points this season and we simply cannot afford to drop more if we want to be seen as a top-three challenging side. The top three sides don’t drop points to teams in the bottom three or four.
G: I think if we get a win from this game it is huge. It’s three points gained, especially as we aren’t exactly going to be anyone’s favourites for this and anyone who picks Hartlepool for their accumulator needs to get their head checked.
Sum up your season so far.
L: I’d be lying if I said I was happy. I’m content. Maybe that’s my own fault because I saw the business done in the summer and expected a challenge at the very top. I don’t think many out there had us predicted much lower than that. We’ve been inconsistent at key points and have on multiple occasions let our concentration slip to concede late on. Teams like Rochdale & Crawley have struggled for points all season and both have come to us and left with something. That hurts to see when you’re expecting so much more.
G: Woeful, a series of bad decisions from our owner and first manager.
Pre-season expectations vs reality, how is it looking?
L: As I said, I predicted a top 2 finish, I think we have one of the strongest teams on paper, certainly the strongest team at Bradford since we returned to League Two. I don’t know what the club’s expectations were this season, but the fans I think will have wanted to be higher up challenging. If the club set out the expectation of promotion in any way possible then we’re still on target. I think that’s the difference. Fan expectations and club expectations never ever match up and it’s difficult for clubs to manage that. The players I thought would be star players have struggled to consistently perform to the level I thought they would.
G: I was hopeful of mid-table at the start of the season…need I say any more.
Finally, predict the result.
L: Last season we lost 3-1 at home to Pools and for me, that was the night I knew the season was a write-off – which is insane to think about because it was only October. I think that flipping that result would be poetic, however, I don’t think Pools will get past Harry Lewis. He’s a different breed. 3-0 to Bradford.
G: 1-1 (and I’d take that).
Bonus question for you both! Where do you think your opposition will finish this season?
L: I still think you’re going down. It’s not that I want you to, it’s just that I think you’ve been consistently in that rut and every time I’m told you’ve found an answer to the issues, another issue crops up.
G: I think Bradford will finish in the playoffs. Do I think they will go up? No. I think when they don’t go up this season that a large section of the Bradford fans won’t see that as good enough under Mark Hughes. The expectations will be even higher next season making it a tough gig going into 23/24.
I can see the first game of the season being Wrexham and Parkinson pumping Bradford 5-0 at Valley Parade.
