Hartlepool United up for the challenge ahead of York City test - Nicky Featherstone
Hartlepool United face National League title contenders York City at the LNER Community Stadium on Wednesday night.
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone has delivered a warning to his players ahead of Wednesday night’s visit to National League title contenders York City.
The Minstermen have lived up to their pre-season tag as one of the favourites to secure promotion back into the EFL and are currently leading the chasing pack behind current leaders Rochdale. Wednesday’s hosts will have one eye on events at Spotland as the frontrunners host fifth placed Forest Green Rovers and any slip-up from Rochdale would allow York to move to the summit if they can collect all three points against Pools.
However, Featherstone’s men also have their eyes on securing a spot in League Two next season and are sitting just two points outside of the play-off places ahead of their visit to the LNER Community Stadium. The Pools boss is looking forward to the challenge that lies in wait and is adamant his players will be ‘bang up for this one’ as they look to avenge a home defeat they suffered against York in October.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Pools boss said: “It’s a tough game, one of the best two teams in the league with Rochdale. They have a really obvious style of play, they’re really good at what they do, they have a good budget but they’ve spent it well this year and they’re the division’s top scorers by a long way and have a decent defensive record on top of that as well so a team that scores a lot of goals and doesn’t concede a lot of goals is a very good one. It’s a tough game for us and one that takes care of itself because the lads should be bang up for this one.”
Atmosphere
Pools are expected to be backed by an impressive travelling support at the LNER Community Stadium as fans take advantage of one of their shorter trips this season. However, the Pools faithful will also be aware of the threat their side will face on Wednesday as they look to see off another of the promotion contenders following a win at current leaders Rochdale in late December.
Featherstone is relishing the prospect of watching his players go into battle in front of a strong crowd and believes the Pools supporters will more than play their part in ‘a really good occasion’.
He said: “We will be ready for tomorrow, it’s a massive game, a really good fixture and a fixture that everyone should be looking forward to including players, fans and staff. It’s a chance to test ourselves against one of the best teams in the league and I am really excited for this one. It’s very much like the Rochdale one where it takes care of itself in terms of the mentality of the lads and the group. It’s a nice stadium with a nice pitch, it should be a good atmosphere in terms of under the lights on a Wednesday night and hoping we bring our numbers well. It’s one to look forward to massively.
“When I returned, I think we played York, John Askey was the manager at the time, I scored in that game and saw what it was like to have 1,500 fans behind the goal and down the side so hopefully we can bring a load of fans again tomorrow and create an atmosphere for a really good occasion. Winning these kind of games, getting results against these types of teams, should give you a belief to kick on.”
Your next Hartlepool United read: Hartlepool United attacker hoping Landon Smith's takeover will be 'a very exciting time for the club'