Crawley Town v Hartlepool United RECAP: Omar Bogle earns Pools back-to-back wins in League Two

Here come the teams!

The two teams have completed their warm-ups and head back down the tunnel.

Kick-off just over 10 minutes away

Our Hartlepool United reporter Joe Ramage shares his views on Graeme Lee’s team news:

“It’s a positive move from Graeme Lee to stick with the XI who performed so well in midweek. I think it’s fair the all deserve another crack at it.

“With that said, I’m a little surprised in that this is the third game of the week and yet another long trip.

“Add in Pools’ indifferent away form and you wouldn’t have been surprised had Lee reverted to a back five to be a little more pragmatic this afternoon.

“But, as it is, it’s a positive move from Lee against a team who are vulnerable on home soil so this represents a good opportunity to seal back-to-back wins for the first time since October.”

Some initial reaction to Graeme Lee’s team selection this afternoon

And here is how the home side line up with one change from their win over Harrogate Town in midweek.

The team news is in at the People’s Pension Stadium as Pools are unchanged from their midweek win over Barrow.

Graeme Lee changed formation in the midweek win over Barrow and it will be interesting to discover whether the Hartlepool United boss sticks with those tactics and personnel which proved so successful on Tuesday night.

Pools have had a lot of travel in recent weeks and with this their third game in a week Lee may be tempted to revert back to a more pragmatic approach this afternoon.

Predicted XI: Killip, Sterry, Byrne, Liddle, Odusina, Ferguson, Morris, White, Crawford, Molyneux, Bogle

Crawley Town manager John Yems has warned his side not to underestimate Hartlepool United this afternoon.

The Red Devils secured an impressive win over Harrogate Town in midweek and are unbeaten in their last four League Two fixtures ahead of this afternoon’s game.

Pools have found life on the road difficult this season whereas Crawley have struggled on home soil and Yems admits you can’t read too much into each teams form.

“We don’t read into that because we’ve got one of the worst home records. So if you read into theirs, you’ve got to read into ours,” Yems told the Sussex World.

“It’s crazy because when we first took over we weren’t beat for something like nine months at home and we couldn’t win a raffle away from home.

“Don’t underestimate Hartlepool. They’re very, very good footballing people up there. I like the club, I always have liked Hartlepool.

“Anywhere where Brain Clough could go and cut his teeth, and with the people who are around there, the philosophies don’t change it’s a good football environment.”

Graeme Lee is expecting a tough afternoon when Hartlepool United visit Crawley Town this afternoon.

Pools are making their third long trip in as many weeks following games at Exeter City and Crystal Palace but Lee believes he has the quality within his squad to deal with the tough demands of the fixture list.

“They’ve just come off the back of a 3-1 win away at Harrogate so it’s another challenge for us,” said Lee.

“They’re a tough team they’ve proved they can score goals. We’ve got to be confident and have belief from Tuesday nights performance.

“We know it’s going to be tough and there’s going to be tired bodies. Our plan is you work the other lads to make sure they’re fit and ready.

“Opportunities will come, we know that but we’re very happy with the size of the squad so w should be ok even if we change things.”

Hartlepool United are aiming to make it back-to-back wins this afternoon as they visit Crawley Town in League Two.

Graeme Lee’s side arrive at the People’s Pension Stadium buoyed by their midweek success over Barrow after a double from Luke Molyneux and Omar Bogle’s first goal for the club helped Pools come from behind at the Suit Direct Stadium.

The win kept Lee’s side nine points above the drop zone with the Pools boss now hoping his side can look up in the table rather than over their shoulders.

“Its massive. You look at the two bottom teams who both won so those three points are massive for us to keep that distance and keep that gap,” said Lee.

“You can look both ways. Wins are going to make us look up, and that’s what we need to do, but we need to focus on us.

“We all look the wrong way at times but you start looking the other way as well and start thinking ‘can we pick a few off’ and you never know.

“There’s still 18 games of the season left, there’s a lot of points to play for. We’re in games and we look like a good team in this league.”