Hartlepool United v Sutton United RECAP: Tom Crawford strike earns Pools a point as winning run comes to an end
Pools fell behind inside three minutes at the Suit Direct Stadium when Joe Kizzi went unchallenged to head home Rob Milsom’s in-swinging corner.
And it led to what would be a sluggish opening 45 minutes from Graeme Lee’s side as they struggled to reach the levels of recent games.
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Hide AdAs it was, it was Sutton who forced the initiative and might have doubled their lead but for some instinctive defending from Reagan Ogle to block Omar Bugiel’s strike.
Ogle was one of three changes Lee was forced into with Jamie Sterry and Joe Grey missing out through injury as David Ferguson was replaced through illness.
Ogle and Zaine Francis-Angol took on the roles of fullbacks as Lee stuck with his 4-3-3 system.
Newcastle United loanee Joe White came in for Grey while there was also a return to the bench for Gavan Holohan.
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Hide AdAnd Ogle wasn’t the only one with some last ditch defending as Neill Byrne did equally as well to deny Donovan Wilson.
Pools came close to an equaliser themselves when Luke Molyneux latched onto a loose ball from Omar Bogle but his first-time strike came off the post and out for a goalkick.
Lee’s side did improve in the second half and were rewarded early through Crawford’s composed finish inside the area as he found himself unmarked from Francis-Angol’s cross to lift into the roof of the net.
But neither side were able to do enough to force a winner as it ended all square at the Suit Direct Stadium.
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Hartlepool United 1-1 Sutton United RECAP: Tom Crawford’s first goal of the season earns Pools a point
Key Events
- Tom Crawford equalises for Hartlepool
- Joe Kizzi heads Sutton in front
- Hartlepool United XI: Killip, Ogle, Byrne, Odusina, Francis-Angol, Featherstone ©, Morris, Crawford, White, Molyneux, Bogle
- Subs: Bilokapic, Liddle, Hull, Holohan, Shelton, Fletcher, Carver
- Sutton United XI: Bouzanis, Goodliffe, John, Ajiboye, Bugiel, Randell, Eastmond ©, Kizzi, Milsom, Wilson, Smith
- Subs: Nelson, Wyatt, Davis, Beautyman, Dundas, Korboa, Boldewijn
Warm-ups done!
The warm-ups are done at the Suit Direct Stadium. Just 10 minutes to go until kick-off
Fans react
Hartlepool United supporters have been reacting on social media to Graeme Lee’s team news as Pools host Sutton United at the Suit Direct Stadium:
@MickyWelsh_: Be interesting to see Joe White playing further forward, fingers crossed he has a good impact up there
@aynzw: No problem with ZFA getting a game
@RobbieMoore20: Over the moon for @ZFA3 take this chance lad
@Watsoncullen97: Happy for angol like was mint beginning of the year
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
Our Hartlepool United reporter Joe Ramage shares his views on Graeme Lee’s team selection:
“Three changes in total to Graeme Lee’s starting XI then and it will be a blow for Pools to lose both of their fullbacks.
“David Ferguson and Jamie Sterry have both performed well since the switch to 4-3-3 that has resulted in three successive wins as well as back-to-back clean sheets.
“Lee had suggested there could be changes when previewing the match with Joe Grey the mostlikely to have missed out as he was still with the physio on Friday morning.
“But Lee hinted at one of two other niggles in the squad with Sterry being one of those as Ferguson misses out through illness.
“Reagan Ogle and Zaine Francis-Angol are decent replacements for Pools while Joe White joins the attack in place of Grey.
“It’s a big chance for those coming in at fullback to show their worth to the manager, particularly Francis-Angol who has been out of the squad recently.
“There is also news on the bench as Gavan Holohan returns having missed out altogether on Tuesday night.”
𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩
Tom Crawford believes Hartlepool United can be confident heading into this afternoon’s fixture with bogey team Sutton United.
Pools arrive this afternoon in good spirits having earned their third straight win in midweek with a 1-0 success over Tranmere Rovers.
And Crawford, who is enjoying a strong run in Graeme Lee’s starting line-up recently, believes his side can go into the game without the fear of past meetings haunting them.
“We’ve got a bit more confidence than when we usually play them,” the 22-year-old admitted.
“It’ll be a bit more similar to the second half [against Tranmere] I imagine. They’ll put the ball on you and they’ll make you defend.
“They’re very good at what they do, you can’t really have any qualms about what they do because it’s clearly working for them because they’re in the play-off places so it’ll be exactly the same.”
Tom Crawford believes Hartlepool United can be confident heading into Sutton United test
Tom Crawford believes Hartlepool United can be confident heading into this afternoon’s fixture with bogey team Sutton United.
𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙓𝙄
Hartlepool United are looking for a fourth straight win in League Two this afternoon but manager Graeme Lee may have to alter his starting XI from those who have been successful over the last 10 days.
Lee revealed he is dealing with one or two niggles within his squad which lead to some changes on the teamsheet this afternoon.
With that said, we give our predicted line-up for this afternoon’s meeting with Sutton United.
Predicted XI: Killip, Sterry, Byrne, Odusina, Ferguson, Featherstone, Morris, Crawford, White, Molyneux, Bogle
𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
Hartlepool United may have to battle the elements when they host Sutton United at the Suit Direct Stadium.
Graeme Lee’s side welcome promotion chasing Sutton to home soil looking to seal a fourth straight win but may well be up against it both on and off the field as Storm Eunice continues to batter the country.
Pools boss Lee admits his side will have to be prepared to deal with any adverse weather conditions which may come their way and not use it as an excuse.
“We know what’s coming,” said Lee.
“Hopefully it might have settled down by kick-off time but it’s going to be hard.
“It’s going to be poor conditions for both teams and it’s about who can handle it really and adapt to what’s going to happen.
“Mistakes will happen because conditions will affect things. It’s just about making sure we’re anticipating things and we’re in the right position and working for each other like we have been in recent games.
“It’s never nice when winds affect games so we’ll see what comes but we can’t use any excuses. We’ve got to go out there and do whatever we can and adapt to the conditions.”
Hartlepool United preparing to battle the elements against Sutton United
Hartlepool United may have to battle the elements when they host Sutton United at the Suit Direct Stadium.
𝙅𝙤𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙮 𝙖 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙩
Joe Grey will be given every chance to prove his fitness ahead of Hartlepool United’s clash with Sutton United on Saturday.
Grey was forced off at the beginning of the second half of Tuesday night’s win over high-flying Tranmere Rovers having picked up a knock early in the game.
And Pools boss Graeme Lee was hoping for some positive news with regards to the teenager in training ahead of another tough test at the Suit Direct Stadium this weekend.
“He’s getting tested again today so we’re just waiting to see the physio to see if we can get him back out onto the grass and we’ll assess what he can do today,” Lee told The Mail.
“If we can get him out on the grass today then we know he’s got a chance tomorrow.”
