Wadsworth hoping for Boxing Day win

Dec 24 2010 by Matthew Leslie, The Journal

HARTLEPOOL boss Mick Wadsworth claims his troops will deserve a big “well done” if they pull off a Boxing Day win at Huddersfield.

Wadsworth takes his side to the Galpharm Stadium on the back of three straight wins and although confidence is high, the United gaffer recognises how tough a task the Terriers match will be.

The fact that Huddersfield lie third in League One knowing a win over Hartlepool could propel them into one of the automatic promotion spots is made even tougher given how the weather has affected both clubs.

While Lee Clark’s men have benefited from their heated pitch facility, Wadsworth and Co. have had to make do with going indoors and trying to replicate match-type conditions as best they can. He said: “If we get three points down there then it will be a job well done by the players.

“First of all, because of the quality of opposition we’re facing. They’re third in the league and Lee Clark has used all the resources made available to him brilliantly – he’s done a fantastic job there.

“Obviously the heated pitch they’ve got there will no doubt have been used by them to prepare for this game. We on the other hand had to go indoors and try the best we can to prepare.

“In fact, over the last four weeks, I would say that we have only trained on grass on two occasions. We do our best to recreate what it is like to play outside but you can’t kick a ball 20 or 30 yards as you can do when training outside.

“Naturally it is tough to re-adjust back to outfield conditions come match-day. We did look rusty early on in the recent match with Bournemouth but thankfully we got a good win.”

With the weather hampering training, Wadsworth has also found it hard to get injured goalkeeping duo, Andy Rafferty and Scott Flinders, back to full fitness.

He added: “They are both getting there. The great problem for them both is the inability to do the rehab work they desperately need to do on grass. Goalies need the right kind of training and it is hard to do when the weather forces you indoors.

“Jake Kean, who has been covering for them, has done a great job and I will need to look at whether or not to extend his loan deal (from Blackburn Rovers) as he might be needed a while longer.”