Hartlepool United 2-2 Rotherham United RECAP: Shootout heartbreak for Pools as Rotherham head to Papa John's Trophy final

Our Hartlepool United writer Joe Ramage shares his views on the Pools starting XI for tonight’s Papa John’s Trophy semi-final.

“Graeme Lee names about as strong a starting XI as he can with Neill Byrne returning after missing two games through suspension.

“He replaces Gary Liddle in defence after his 700th career appearance at Harrogate in what is the only change from Saturday’s League Two victory.

“Lee hinted he would pick the team he felt strongest for the occasion after using this competition as an opportunity to rotate his squad in recent rounds.

“Lee made seven and eight changes in the previous two rounds but has signalled his intentions of helping Pools reach Wembley for the first time here.

“Joe White will be a miss on the bench as one of three who are cup-tied and miss out altogether.

“But Pools will have their work cut out with the Millers naming Michael Smith in their starting XI - one of League One’s leading scorers.

“But Pools know who to raise their game as an underdog and the stage is most certainly set for that in front of a sold-out Suit Direct Stadium.”

And here is how the visitors line-up

Team news is in at the Suit Direct Stadium as Graeme Lee makes one change to the side who beat Harrogate at the weekend with Neill Byrne returning to the defence

The calm before a very loud storm at the Suit Direct Stadium...

Graeme Lee will be without defender Jake Hull and midfielder’s Joe White and Bryn Morris with the on-loan trio all cup tied for tonight’s Papa John’s Trophy semi-final with Rotherham United.

Morris has been struggling with an ankle injury but is forced to miss out anyway while Zaine Francis-Angol continues to recover from a hamstring injury after being a regular in this competition.

Captain Nicky Featherstone could make his first start in the competition while defender Neill Byrne is available for Lee once again following his suspension in the last two League Two fixtures.

And here at The Mail we predict just one change to the starting line-up from Saturday’s win over Harrogate Town with Lee confessing ‘I want to make sure we’re as strong as I feel we need to be.’

Predicted XI: Killip, Sterry, Byrne, Odusina, Ferguson, Featherstone (c), Shelton, Crawford, Grey, Molyneux, Bogle

For Luke Molyneux the opportunity to go to Wembley will give him the chance to lay to rest his only memory of the national stadium.

Molyneux, 23, has yet to taste what it’s like to walk out at the home of football as a player with his Hartlepool United side now just 90 minutes away from being able to do just that as they get set to host Rotherham United in the Papa John’s trophy semi-final.

But the Pools striker has been to Wembley as a fan, which harbours his only memory of the venue, and it was a memory to forget.

“As a fan I have [been to Wembley]. But not as a player,” said Molyneux.

“I went to watch Sunderland play Portsmouth so that was the only time I’ve really been. It was packed.

“That was when I was on-loan here from Sunderland. I remember we had Eastleigh away and I just stayed down after the game so I could go to Wembley.

“It was really good to be honest, obviously the result wasn’t.

“So just to make it to Wembley would be a dream come true.”

David Ferguson is hoping he can continue being a part of the success story at Hartlepool United ahead of their semi-final showdown with Rotherham United.

The fullback was on hand to grab the winning goal in Pools’ League Two win over Harrogate Town at the weekend, his fifth goal of the season, with Graeme Lee’s side clinging onto the coattails of the play-off places in the league following a bright start to 2022.

And for Ferguson, the recent success appears to be the norm for him at the Suit Direct Stadium as the majority of his time with Pools has been positive.

“For me, since I’ve joined Pools it’s been nothing but positive,” said Ferguson.

“The club is going places and hopefully we can continue that and I can be a part of it.

“As a team we work for each other and we back each other.

“It’s a happy place to be. Nelse and the gaffer, Sweens and all the backroom staff, it’s a pleasure to play under them. I’m really enjoying my football.”

Ferguson added: “I’ve never been to Wembley. It would be a first in my career so I’d love to get there.

“What a weekend it would be, or week leading up to it, and if you got there you’d want to win it of course.

“Hopefully we can take what we’ve done into Wednesday night.

“It’s nice to have over 7,000 coming, I think it’s the first time we’ve had 7,000 in a long time, so I cannot wait for it. I hope we all turn up on the night.”

Hartlepool United’s Papa John’s Trophy semi-final tie with Rotherham United has sold out.

Over 7,000 supporters will be packed into the Suit Direct Stadium as Graeme Lee’s side look to book their spot at Wembley for the first time against League One leaders Rotherham.

Pools have enjoyed a memorable cup run already claiming a number of scalps from League One having beaten Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic in previous stages of the competition.

And Lee’s side are now just 90 minutes from a Wembley final where they will be backed by a sellout crowd.

“It’s exciting. The whole cup run, both the cups, the FA Cup and the Papa John’s has been exciting for the club and the fans and everyone associated with it,” said Lee.

“It’s a challenge against Rotherham. They’re top of the league. But to go to Wembley would be amazing and to have that trophy sitting there in our trophy cabinet would be even better.”

Nicky Featherstone admits the excitement surrounding Hartlepool United’s Papa John’s Trophy semi-final tie has taken him by surprise.

Featherstone is no stranger to big games with Pools having experienced their successful play-off camping last season.

But while the 33-year-old concedes tonight’s semi-final is not as significant as that occasion at Ashton Gate, he has been surprised by the heightened buzz around the town heading into the game.

“I don’t think it is [our biggest game]. I think the play-off campaign last year was massively important for this club to get back into the Football League. That tops this,” explained Featherstone.

“But it’s a nice distraction away from the league. The cup run, and the money that comes with it, you don’t account for at the start of the season so it’s a nice bonus for the club financially as well.

Featherstone added to The Mail: “There’s a connection with the fans that I’ve not had, with the club and the fans. You can quite clearly see that.

“To have a sell-out, it’s the first one I’ve had, is massive.

“I was at an appearance this week and the buzz around the place and the excitement of this game is massive, probably more than I thought to be honest.”

Rotherham United assistant manager, and former Hartlepool United striker, Richie Barker has previewed tonight’s Papa John’s Trophy semi-final tie.

The League One leaders are looking for a league and cup double this season but the Millers’ assistant has acknowledged his time with Pools in the build-up to tonight’s game.

“I had a really good two years there. I arrived around Christmas time and we had a rise up the league from 16^th to automatic promotion, of course that wasn’t all down to me!

“It is a fantastic place, with some great people and one I made some really great friends at. The two groups I speak to most from my career are the ones I gained promotion with.

“My standout moment was scoring the winner that got us promoted away at Wycombe, from an Andy Monkhouse cross! It was a special time there.”

Barker added: “First and foremost, as a player, the chance to play at the most famous stadium in the world is one not to be sniffed at.

“I unfortunately never go to play their myself.

“They won’t need any motivation for that and neither will the players from Hartlepool, either.

“It is a nice welcome distraction but it is about ensuring we come away with a result that will give everyone at the football club a memorable day at Wembley.

“We had some illness in the camp last week, Shane was a big one last week, struggling with training but he seems okay now.

“So far, from what I’ve heard this morning, I’ve not been told that someone is missing training through illness, which is positive.

“The game being on Wednesday impacts our thinking a little, fortunately, we have five substitutions.”