SM
Inter Milan vs. Como: 21 hrs 22 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
HU
League Two | Gameweek 11
Oct 9, 2021 at 3pm UK
Victoria Park
NT

Hartlepool
2 - 1
Northampton

Ferguson (53'), Molyneux (83')
Ferguson (56')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Hoskins (51')
Hoskins (66'), McGowan (79')

Preview: Hartlepool United vs. Northampton Town - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Hartlepool United vs. Northampton Town - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's League Two clash between Hartlepool United and Northampton Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Despite being two divisions apart last season, Hartlepool United and Northampton Town head into their League Two encounter on Saturday positioned just one point apart in the league table.

The hosts will be delighted with their return to the football league after the opening 10 fixtures, whilst the visitors will have mixed feelings of their start after suffering relegation from League One in 2020-21.


Match preview

Not many at Hartlepool could have dreamt of a much better start on their return to League Two following promotion from the National League last season.

Despite a recent return to reality in terms of results, the Pool still find themselves in 13th place in the table, largely thanks to the three wins achieved from the opening four fixtures.

David Challinor's men defeated Crawley Town, Walsall and Carlisle United early on but have since struggled to replicate that early season momentum, with no wins and just the one goal scored in the last four league encounters.

In fact, scoring goals has not been an easy task for this weekend's hosts so far, with just the nine scored in total from the 10 matches played, although a strong defensive foundation has seen Hartlepool concede just as few.

Last weekend saw the Pool fall 2-0 at Stevenage, despite a largely positive performance in terms of possession domination and a number of created opportunities.

Meanwhile, visitors Northampton have found things far from plain sailing since returning to the fourth tier following their relegation from League One last campaign.

In fact, although results differ slightly, the Cobblers have an identical record in terms of goals scored and conceded to their hosts on Saturday.

After halting the doom and gloom of last season's disappointments with victory in each of the opening three matches in all competitions, Jon Brady's men have followed a similar path to Hartlepool since, with form taking a turn for the worse in recent weeks.

One win in their last six games in all competitions has seen Northampton fall to 10th in the league table, although they remain just one point off fourth place in a tight group of teams around the playoff places in League Two as it stands.

The last league fixture saw the Cobblers lose 2-0 at home to newly-promoted Sutton United on home soil last weekend, in a frustrating and disappointing performance that resulted in a failure to manage a single shot on target.

Hartlepool United League Two form:
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • L

Hartlepool United form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • D

Northampton Town League Two form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • L

Northampton Town form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • L

Team News

Hartlepool will be checking on the fitness of Gavan Holohan and Gary Liddle ahead of Saturday's match. The key players just missed out on the midweek cup tie, so manager Challinor will be hopeful they will be able to play a part in this one.

However, fellow midweek doubt David Ferguson was passed fit to play and managed the full 90 minutes so is likely to retain his place at the weekend.

Tyler Burey remains a long-term absentee and Joe Grey is expected to be unavailable again following his recent injury.

As for Northampton, they remain without a number of defenders as it stands, although long-term absentee Dominic Revan managed to return in central defence in midweek after injury had kept him out since April.

Michael Harriman also made his first start since August in another welcome return to the back line.

On-loan Tottenham Hotspur striker Kion Etete retains the manager's backing despite failing to find the net in the league so far this season, although he may drop to the bench whilst his confidence levels remain low.

Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:
Killip; Sterry, Byrne, Francis-Angol, Ferguson; Shelton, Featherstone, Daly; Cook; Molyneux, Fondop

Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Roberts; McGowan, Harriman, Horsfall, Koiki; Connolly, Lewis, Sowerby, Pinnock; Rose, Hoskins


We say: Hartlepool United 1-1 Northampton Town

With the two sides arriving on Saturday in similar form and with an almost identical record so far, it is hard to separate them here. When you consider the tight defences and struggles to score goals from both as well, then a tight affair is to be expected so a draw appears to be a likely outcome.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__466777 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:54:25:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:54:25 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
David Ferguson named Blackpool captain
Game of the season: Leaders Liverpool tear Tottenham apart in nine-goal spectacular
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1York City23146347202748
2Barnet23153547262148
3Forest Green RoversForest Green22137240182246
4Gateshead23135545281744
5Oldham AthleticOldham21127238191943
6Rochdale21113731191236
7Solihull MoorsSolihull2310584236635
8Halifax TownHalifax239862623335
9AltrinchamAltrincham239773730734
10Yeovil TownYeovil2310492825334
11Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool238962625133
12Eastleigh228863028232
13Sutton UnitedSutton239593029132
14Tamworth228592538-1329
15Dagenham & RedbridgeDag & Red227783529628
16Southend UnitedSouthend236982427-327
17Woking2366112133-1224
18WealdstoneWealdstone225892732-523
19Aldershot TownAldershot2358103240-823
20Fylde2364132847-1922
21Braintree TownBraintree2355131933-1420
22Maidenhead UnitedMaidenhead2355132745-1820
23Boston UnitedBoston2236131937-1815
24Ebbsfleet2316161754-379
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Rashford's future 'takes a fresh twist' as 'new favourite' for Man United star 'emerges'

1

RF

Game of the season: Leaders Liverpool tear Tottenham apart in nine-goal spectacular

2

GO

Following in Sinner's footsteps: Next Gen ATP Finals champion crowned!

NEW

3

FI

Two birds, one transfer: Spurs eye 'dual benefit' January deal for Dortmund star

4

TB

'Everton draw better than Brentford win': Maresca delighted with Toffees stalemate

5

'D

No Rush? The maths behind Salah's pursuit of Liverpool record

6

NR

Kylian is back: Mbappe shines as Real Madrid beat Sevilla in six-goal thriller at Bernabeu

7

KI

How many records? Salah among history makers in Spurs-Liverpool thriller

8

HM

'Not a concrete option': Why will Liverpool not move for Frimpong?

9

'A

A favour from an enemy: Liverpool receive huge title boost as Everton hold Chelsea

10

AF


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .