Happy Hartlepool enjoying life on the road
Dec 27 2010 The Journal
ONE-NIL to the Hartlepool – it’s becoming the moniker for Mick Wadsworth’s side. The transformation the coach has engineered in recent weeks was taken to a new level yesterday, as Pool won at Huddersfield.
It was their third successive win on the road by the same scoreline in League One – and their fourth if you include the FA Cup replay triumph at Vauxhall Motors.
But none were as eye-catching as this one at the Galpharm Stadium where big spending, free-scoring Huddersfield have their sights set on automatic promotion.
Leon McSweeney’s close range finish on half-time proved enough, but it was mainly thanks to a sterling second-half defensive display that they triumphed to move within a point of the play-offs.
“I think any away win, 1-0 especially, are sweet victories and we have a few of them now,” said Wadsworth. “If you set the team up and they play to their potential and instructions and add a bit of their own then you have a decent chance.
“Jake Kean (goalkeeper) was great again. When he came here I didn’t know him from Adam – it’s all down to Gary Walsh (goalkeeping coach) and he was behind it all. Since he came he has been great. We would like to extend his loan and we will talk about that.”
The Pool boss added: “We have trained once on grass in five weeks, we are training on a wooden floor and it seems to be working for us.” Tomorrow’s game at Victoria Park is subject to a morning pitch inspection – but the enforced break doesn’t seem to be affecting Wadsworth’s side.
This was their first game in a little over two weeks, but it ended in the same scoreline.
James Brown, matchwinner at Bournemouth in their last outing, had Pool’s first chance but after intercepting Peter Clarke’s pass he shot straight at keeper Alex Smithies.
Pool were defending well, with Sam Collins and Neil Austin dominant as Lee Clark’s side looked for an opening.
But that goal came from Pool. Evan Horwood and Andy Monkhouse teamed up on the left flank and the left-back crossed for right winger McSweeney to pop up at the far post and tap in. And from then on, it was backs -to-the-wall stuff for the visitors.
