We face Hartlepool tomorrow at Vale Park who have had four league defeats on the bounce coming into the game.
In the Dugout
Former Hartlepool United midfielder Antony Sweeney is the current interim manager at Hartlepool after Dave Challinor left for Stockport County. He was caretaker manager in 2019 for five games and has had six games this time around winning two, drawing once and losing three.
Sweeney on the game tomorrow ‘Another tough game, another team I expect to be in and around the mix. Had a really good run, faltered a little bit in the last couple of games. I suppose like ourselves, our runs a little bit longer than theirs in terms of not winning in the league but I know Darrell very, very well’.
Man with the Armband
33-year-old Nicky Featherstone is captain of the Pools. He spent his youth career at Hull City and went onto make eight appearances for Hull. Whilst there he went on loan to North Ferriby United, Grimsby Town and Hereford United who he later signed permanently for. He would later go on to play for Walsall, Scunthorpe United, Harrogate Town and now Hartlepool.
This season the midfielder has made 21 appearances, scoring twice with one assist and four yellows in all competitions. His first goal of the season came in August against his former club Walsall and his second came last Saturday in a 3-1 defeat to league leaders Forest Green Rovers.
Star Man
Right-back Reagan Ogle spent his youth career at Accrington Stanley and moved to the first team in 2016. He made four appearances for them and whilst there he went on loan to Ramsbottom United where he scored his only career goal so far. He also went to Wealdstone, Southport, Fylde and Altrincham. He joined the Monkey Hangers this summer.
Ogle has made 16 appearances this season getting two assists and picking up one yellow card in all competitions. His most recent assist came in the Pools last match, a defeat to Swindon. His other in a 3-2 home win over Harrogate Town setting up David Ferguson to score.
Top Scorer
Matty Daly is the Monkey Hangers top scorer with six goals in all competitions scoring twice in the league and four times in the Papa John’s Trophy. His two league goals came against Swindon Town on Tuesday and Harrogate Town in October scoring the winning goal. In the Papa John’s Trophy his most notable game was getting a brace at home to Morecambe in a 2-2 draw.
Last time out and recent form
In the Pools last five games they have lost three games, drawn and won once. Their three defeats all came in the league losing to Swindon Town 3-1, Forest Green Rovers 3-1 and Newport County 2-1. The draw came against Wycombe Wanderers in the Emirates FA Cup before winning the replay away 1-0 thanks to Mark Cullen.
Their last game was a defeat to Swindon Town on Tuesday night. A quiet first-half but Swindon made the breakthrough on 52 minutes through Jonathan Williams. Hartlepool equalised with star man Ogle linking up with top scorer Daly nine minutes later. Tyreece Simpson put the hosts back in front after 69 minutes and Jack Payne sealed the win in the 94th minute.