Accrington v Hartlepool United: Stanley will be very hard test says Ronnie Moore

And that means Ronnie Moore’s team are braced for one of their hardest assignments of the season.

Tonight’s game was in serious doubt after Stanley’s home match with Portsmouth at the weekend was frozen off – despite the great efforts of groundstaff, fans and volunteers.

Accrington boss John Coleman spoke to Moore and told his fellow Scouser that he was confident they would finally get to fulfil a home fixture – the promotion-chasers have not played at the Crown Ground since November 14.

“I rang John first thing and he said deep down he thought it would be off,” Moore told SportMail. “But when we talked later, the pitch had thawed and unless there’s a heavy frost he reckoned it would be on.”

Despite having their last five home games lost to the weather and being three matches behind most of their rivals at the top, Stanley are riding high.

They will be even more dangerous opponents this evening as they look to make up for lost time by beating Pools.

But Moore says Pools can approach the game in good heart following the 1-0 win over Wycombe at Victoria Park.

“We’ll go there with no fear,” he said. “Accrington are a top side, there’s no doubt about that.

“But we’ve played some good football on Saturday and given a really gritty performance against a top team.

“I know they were on the front foot for the last 20 minutes but until then there was nothing in it, if anything I think we were probably on top.

“I’m not sure what game their manager was watching after reading some of his comments!

“But we played football and we there was some great defence and we’re going to have to do the same tonight.

“John [Coleman] has done a fantastic job at Accrington, especially when you look at the budget he’s got.

“But while we respect them, we don’t fear anyone.”

Moore is expecting a different kind of test to the one his side passed on Saturday against the Chairboys.

“It will be hard, without a doubt,” he said.

“We go in good heart, we know we can defend well at this present time and we are always positive on the counter-attack.

“They are a different type of side to Wycombe, the ref let them get away with it.

“You look at them and expect a bit more football from them – they were a bit like the old Stoke City.

“But we had our crash helmets on and dealt with it and won it!

“We saw it out and we hope it’s a catalyst for us. The togetherness was tremendous.

“But the lads know how well they’ve had to defend.

“We are just hoping to kick on now, confidence comes from wins, that’s the big thing.

“We are capable of having four, five wins – this league is wide open.”