Hartlepool vs Portsmouth Preview

Last updated : 29 April 2016 By Jim Bonner

Pompey fans make the long journey to Hartlepool tomorrow knowing that victory will secure at least a top six finish in League Two.

Team News

Paul Jones has a thigh injury which will keep him out for the rest of the season and with Ryan Fulton still sidelined, Brian Murphy will start his first Pompey game since the FA Cup replay with Ipswich. Conor Chaplin is fit again after missing Tuesday's win at Wimbledon with a groin strain whilst Paul Cook has claimed that Adam Barton will continue at centre back.

Pools top scorer Billy Paynter has recovered from a hamstring injury and is likely to return to the starting eleven.

The Match

With the play-off place now secure, Paul Cook says he hasn't given up on the prospect of winning automatic promotion although that is just fantasy thinking as Accrington and Oxford can't be caught by his team if they pick up a single point (the U's have a far superior goal difference) from their last two games.

Even then, Bristol Rovers only need a win against either York or Dagenham whilst Plymouth would also have to fail to win both of their games. It's just simply not going to happen but a win at Victoria Park would ensure that Wimbledon in seventh couldn't catch Pompey.

The "injury crisis" deepened at Kngsmeadow on Tuesday night as Paul Jones was replaced by Brian Murphy at half-time and plenty of fans will simply be hoping that the Portsmouth squad suffers no more casualties ahead of the play-offs when they begin on the 12th or 14th of May.

As for the match, Hartlepool are no longer the useless side that came to Fratton Park and got thrashed 4-0. Ronnie Moore was replaced as manager by Craig Hignett and an excellent run of form steered them clear of the drop. However, they have lost their last two matches against fellow promotion candidates Oxford and Accrington.

Therefore Pompey have a fairly good chance of winning this game, especially if they show the kind of character they did at Wimbledon when many expected them to crumble. It'd be nice if Michael Smith could sign off with a goal before he returns to Swindon, too.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Hartlepool

GK: Trevor CARSON

RB: Carl MAGNAY

CB: Matthew BATES

CB: Adam JACKSON

LB: Jake CARROLL

RM: Lewis HAWKINS

CM: Lewis FEATHERSTONE

CM: Michael WOODS

LM: Jake GRAY

CF: Luke JAMES

CF: Billy PAYNTER

Pompey

GK: Brian MURPHY

RB: Kieron FREEMAN

CB: Christian BURGESS

CB: Adam BARTON

LB: Enda STEVENS

DM: Michael DOYLE

DM: Danny HOLLANDS

RM: Gareth EVANS

AM: Gary ROBERTS

LM: Kal NAISMITH

CF: Michael SMITH

Last Time: Hartlepool United 0 Portsmouth 0 (League Two - 27/09/2014)

Absolutely nothing happened in this dire encounter between two dire teams on the day.

My Prediction

Barton at centre back and Murphy in goal is slightly worrying although both did their part in keeping a clean sheet on Tuesday. Pompey have enough up front to score but this is most likely going to be another draw.

Hartlepool United 1 Portsmouth 1