Bristol Rovers Vs Hartlepool United, Memorial Stadium, Bristol, Sky Bet Division 2, Saturday 21st September 2013, 3:00pm Kick Off please log in to view this image Vs please log in to view this image [video=youtube;YoID1C5Xn3E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoID1C5Xn3E[/video] [video=youtube;rCN_fdjQPSw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCN_fdjQPSw[/video]
This will be a close game IMO both teams sucking hairy balls I think we will just nick it 1-0. Harrold to score.
Bristol Rovers striker Ryan Brunt will not be available to face Hartlepool on Saturday because of an ankle injury. Midfielder Seanan Clucas is nearing a return from a long-term knee injury, but is not yet fit for his comeback. VIEWS FROM THE TRAINING GROUND Bristol Rovers manager John Ward told BBC Radio Bristol: "We've started pretty well at home with two or three good performances. "We've got to make this a strong place for us to play because at the moment our away form isn't up to scratch. "I've looked at the Hartlepool side and will give them respect. "But at the same time I've got to focus on my team and players and make sure we are better than we have been."
Colin Cooper has once again made sure that perfect preparations are in place ahead of Pools’ 270-mile trip to face Bristol Rovers. The Pools squad will set out bright and early from Victoria Park on Friday morning and the boss has revealed that he has called on another friend in football for a favour. “When we went to Torquay we trained at Leicester and we ended up getting to the hotel quite late in the evening,” Cooper explained. “This time we’re going to get there and train – I’ve been able to speak with Bristol City manager Sean O’Driscoll and he’s kindly allowed us to do some work at their training ground on Friday afternoon. “That’s great for us because it gets the journey out of the legs and then we can get across to the team hotel fairly quickly after that. “It’s really important we get the preparations right for such a long trip so we’re happy with what we’ve been able to put in place.”
A look ahead to Saturday's game The Opposition: Hartlepool United make the long journey to Bristol this weekend looking to pick up their first three points on the road. The Pools have won just once in the league this season, beating Accrington Stanley 2-1 at home last weekend. At this early stage in the season, the visitors sit three places and two points behind Rovers in the league table, having picked up just five points so far this campaign. Several Pools players will be back in contention for the game after recovering from knocks and niggles. Neil Austin (hamstring), Matty Dolan (ankle) and Andy Monkhouse (groin) could all feature. John Ward’s Comments: “They have picked up their first win, but we now have to make things hard for them, we have found that one win doesn’t make your season, you have to keep it going. “I am glad they got their first win out of the way, as they are not coming here looking for that. “I have looked at the Hartlepool side and we will give them every due respect. But at the same time I have to spend a lot of time with my team saying we have to be better than we have been.” Opposition View: Manager Colin Cooper told the Hartlepool Mail “John (Ward) knows what he’s doing and I know he’ll have his team prepared. “We must be 100 per cent on our game, we can’t afford to even switch off 10 per cent. But I know we have the quality to get something from the match. “I know we’ve got people who can create chances. I like us to get on the front foot but sometimes playing away from home that can be difficult. “I know John will be trying to play on the fact we’ve had a long journey and he will look to start quickly to try to shake us. “But I also know we are good enough to get on the front foot and play football and I know we are good enough to frustrate them as well. “Hopefully we will get the chance to put an impression on the game and ensure we don’t lose.” Last Meeting: Pools last visit to The Memorial Stadium came in January 2011, with the game ending in a 0-0 draw. Pools have failed to win in any of their last four trips to The Memorial Stadium – their last win against us at home came back in December 2006. Team News: Ryan Brunt is set to miss Saturday’s game, but is expected to be back in contention for next weekend. The game also comes a bit too soon for Seanan Clucas, who is due to play in the Gloucester Cup match next week. Tickets: Fans have until 5pm on Friday to get their Early Bird tickets for the game. Supporters can save £2 on normal match day prices by buying their tickets in advance. Tickets are still available from either of the clubs' two retail outlets - Pirate Leisure at the Memorial Stadium and the Supporters Club shop in Kingswood.
Hartlepool boss Cooper said: “You call on contacts and friends in football and I’ve spoke to Sean O’Driscoll, who is allowing us to use their training ground at Bristol City on Friday. So, they have help?
If they're training at ****s stinking hell hole I hope they get disinfected before we allow them to enter the hallowed Mem. My glass is half empty at present so I think 1-1
Awful in first half...a well-taken goal by Harrold following attacking run down the left by Brown. The first time we'd actually gone at them! They equalized straight from k.o. within a few seconds. We stood like dustbins as they ran around us. They took lead seconds before HT from bluddy sloppy defending. Instead of hacking it away we allowed it to bounce around until they popped it in. Better in second half...but then we couldn't be worse! More purpose and drive...a bit like when we played City. JJ had had a shocker but he put the ball away well. Perhaps we deserved the draw on second half performance, but it was relief on everyone's face as we came away.
frustrating to watch. i was not impressed with our performance at all. although there was a slight improvement in the 2nd half. i didnt think we were going to get back in it especially after we hit the bar. under ward last season our defensive was our best asset. this season the same keeper and defenders are a very big weak link. they lack concentration and are making very big mistakes which seems to always go against us.
I would suggest that that the second half performance was a vast improvement on the first one CJ.The defence are being exposed by poor midfield support and dead ball situations corners free kicks.For some reason every one is back in and around the box but absolutely no one takes responsibilty for making or clearing the ball. Either they need to (a) have less players behind the ball leaving players up front to pick up the ball when cleared (hopefully) (b) Try man marking one player per opposition player at least everyone knows who they should pick up! Simples (c) Practice deadball situations more thatn they currently do. (d)Get the wide midfielders to support the two defenders Brown and Smith that would help a lot. COR View attachment 26472
Something I really could not understand v Hartlepool is that whenever they had a corner both Parkes and McChrystal took up positions on the edge of our penalty area. Now I suppose they were man-marking, but surely as a defender you want to be attacking the ball rather than charging towards your own goalmouth. But then, what do I know?....................................
