Hartlepool United 1-0 Tranmere Rovers RECAP: Graeme Lee's side seal third straight win with narrow victory at the Suit Direct Stadium
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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Hide AdThe 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.
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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Hide AdSam 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
Reaction
Our Pools writer Joe Ramage shares his view on Graeme Lee’s starting XI:
“Just the one change from Graeme Lee for tonight’s game with Tranmere Rovers and not too surprising to see captain Nicky Featherstone return to the line-up following his suspension.
“Featherstone returns for Newcastle United loanee Joe White who drops to the bench.
“Lee keeps faith in the 4-3-3 system which has served him well over the last seven days as we get a first glimpse of Featherstone in tandem with Bryn Morris in midfield.
“The bench could play an important role for Pools this evening as Lee’s side face their third game in seven days.
“Quite surprisingly however there is no place for midfielder Gavan Holohan on the bench.
“Marcus Carver is included in the matchday squad and could be in line for a home debut at some stage this evening.
“It’s hard to change a winning side, despite the number of fixtures and Lee will be hoping a return to home soil can continue their good form.”
And here is how the visitors line-up with former Pools loanee Josh Hawkes included in the starting XI
𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙓𝙄
Graeme Lee has hinted at possible changes this evening as Hartlepool United host Tranmere Rovers.
Pools are in the midst of a busy schedule owning to a number of postponements and their cup exertions earlier in the season with Lee admitting he will need to manage his squad over the coming weeks.
Nicky Featherstone is available once again after serving his suspension and could return to the starting line-up.
Meanwhile Marcus Carver has been improving his fitness over the last fortnight as he looks to be involved at the Suit Direct Stadium for the first time since his arrival last month.
Gary Liddle came off the bench in Saturday’s win over Crawley Town and could be used if Lee opts to revert to a back five once more against a team competing at the top end of League Two.
Ben Killip is set to make his 100th appearance for Pools.
Predicted XI: Killip, Sterry, Byrne, Odusina, Ferguson, Featherstone, Morris, Crawford, Grey, Molyneux, Bogle
𝙇𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙪𝙥
Much of the talk for Hartlepool United in recent weeks has been about which system Graeme Lee should opt to use with his squad.
And despite claiming back-to-back wins in the league for the first time since October using a 4-3-3 system, Lee admits he still has a decision to make heading into a double header at the Suit Direct Stadium this week, beginning with the visit of Tranmere Rovers.
“I was tempted [to change it at Crawley]. But I just felt the performance we had against Barrow, I wanted to stick with them,” Lee told The Mail.
“Tuesday night was an unbelievable win so do you want to change that? It sort of made my job a little bit easier when you have performances like that.
“I’ll have to look at it because it’s a great win but we’ll have to reassess what we’re going to do on Tuesday night in the sense of bodies if we need to freshen it up.”
Graeme Lee to consider freshening things up ahead of Tranmere Rovers visit
Much of the talk for Hartlepool United in recent weeks has been about which system Graeme Lee should opt to use with his squad.