Hartlepool United 1-0 Tranmere Rovers RECAP: Graeme Lee's side seal third straight win with narrow victory at the Suit Direct Stadium

Hartlepool United earned another big three points as they edged past high-flying Tranmere Rovers.
Hartlepool United secured a big win over Tranmere Rovers. Picture by FRANK REIDHartlepool United secured a big win over Tranmere Rovers. Picture by FRANK REID
Hartlepool United secured a big win over Tranmere Rovers. Picture by FRANK REID

Peter Clarke’s own goal in first half stoppage time was all that separated the two sides on a close encounter at the Suit Direct Stadium.

Clarke glanced in David Ferguson’s in-swinging freekick from the right beyond his own goalkeeper Ross Doohan as Pools made it three wins in a row in the league for the first time since April last year.

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The visitors, who arrived second in the table, enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half as Graeme Lee’s side were happy to soak up the pressure and look for threats in behind on the counter-attack.

Hartlepool United are back in League Two action as they host Tranmere Rovers. (Credit: Michael Driver | MI News)Hartlepool United are back in League Two action as they host Tranmere Rovers. (Credit: Michael Driver | MI News)
Hartlepool United are back in League Two action as they host Tranmere Rovers. (Credit: Michael Driver | MI News)

But for the second time in three outings as a back four, Pools held firm to see the game out 1-0.

Pools could have added a second themselves through substitute Joe White and Omar Bogle who each fired off target.

But Lee’s side also had Ben Killip to thank on his 100th appearance for the club as he made an excellent save to deny Kane Hemmings from close range.

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Sam Foley glanced wide in the closing stages from Josh Hawkes’ freekick but once again under Lee, Pools were able to hold firm helped by another man of the match display from Timi Odusina.

The clean sheet was their eighth under Lee as manager and they now move onto 40 points for the season and to within eight of the play-off places as Pools supporters can perhaps now start to look upwards in the table rather than over their shoulder.

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Hartlepool United 1-0 Tranmere Rovers RECAP: Pools seal third straight win in League Two

Key Events

  • Peter Clarke’s own goal gives Hartlepool the lead
  • Hartlepool United XI: Killip, Sterry, Byrne, Odusina, Ferguson, Featherstone ©, Morris, Crawford, Grey, Molyneux, Bogle
  • Subs: Bilokapic, Ogle, Liddle, Shelton, White, Fletcher, Carver
  • Tranmere Rovers XI: Doohan, Dacres-Cogley, Clarke ©, Davies, Macdonald, Hawkes, Warrington, Foley, Morris, Jolley, Hemmings
  • Subs: Murphy, Knight-Percival, McPake, Merrie, Burton, McManaman, Dieseruvwe

That’s it for tonight as Hartlepool United go marching on.

Graeme Lee’s side take a big three points and claim a third successive win.

We’ll be back on Saturday as Sutton United visit the Suit Direct Stadium.

Thanks for joining us.

Graeme Lee has explained the decision to leave out midfielder Gavan Holohan from the Hartlepool United squad who narrowly beat Tranmere Rovers.

“We’ve got a big squad and I’ve got to make decisions which aren’t going to please everyone, unfortunately,” said Lee.

“Tonight Gavan missed out, but that’s the strength of our squad at the moment and I’ve got to make decisions which I think are going to impact each game.” Holohan had been drawing interest from some clubs in the summer but Lee insists the decision to leave the 30-year-old out of the squad had nothing to do with any potential interest from elsewhere. “No, we’ve just got a squad of players and I want to make sure we get the right balance in the team and on the bench and unfortunately some players will miss out,” said Lee.

Some immediate reaction

It’s all over and Pools have secured another big win on home soil against a good Tranmere Rovers side.

Peter Clarke’s own goal the difference between the sides as Graeme Lee’s men earn their eighth clean sheet under his management.

90 - YELLOW FOR MACDONALD

90 - FOLEY GOES CLOSE

Hawkes’ freekick from the right is glanced just wide by Foley

Odusina is named man of the match

90 - THREE MINUTES ADDED

There will be three minutes added time

Molyneux is replaced by Liddle

As Foley is yellow carded for a foul on White

McManaman cuts onto his left and tries to curl one but Killip is equal to it and holds on well

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