County head into the final day of the season still in with a chance of securing automatic promotion, as we prepare to take on already relegated Hartlepool United at Edgeley Park.
In our first season back in the Football League in 11 years, County sit just two points shy of 3rd place Northampton Town after their last-minute defeat at home to Bradford City last weekend. Our superior goal difference, now the best in the league after our 3-0 win at champions, Leyton Orient, mean that a County win coupled with Northampton failing to win away at Tranmere Rovers would see Dave Challinor’s side secure a second successive promotion, and a return to League One for the first time since 2010.
We have already secured a play-off spot, and that bumper goal difference of +28 means that County are likely to hold on to 4th place regardless of what happens at Edgeley Park on Monday, which would see us secure a home second leg in the play-off semi-final if it came to that.
Hartlepool came from behind to beat nine-man Barrow AFC 3-1 at the Suits Direct Stadium last weekend, just a ninth win of the season in League Two, but a point for Crawley Town elsewhere saw their relegation back to the National League confirmed with a game to spare, just two years after promotion to the EFL under Dave Challinor.
Things you need to know:
- Tickets in the home end for this game sold out within hours of being placed on sale. The game will be available to view live on Sky Sports.
- The statue of our legendary former manager, Danny Bergara is also set to be unveiled for the first time on Monday, with fans welcome to join us in the Cheadle End carpark at 9.50am to witness it. Click here for more information.
- Fan group Hatters 83 have arranged for a Tifo display to go up when the players emerge from the tunnel on Monday – we ask for fans to try and be in their seats for 12.15pm, to help make it a special welcome for the players.
- Please note that there will be spot checks taking place before the game, to detect any pyrotechnics being brought into the ground. Anyone found attempting to bring them into the stadium will be dealt with by the relevant authorities. Click here for more information.
- Don’t forget to turn up early to Edgeley Park to visit the County Courtyard, which will be opening its doors from 11.00am! For more information on all the food and drink on offer this week, click here.
Since we last met:
The writing seemed to be on the wall already for Hartlepool when we visited the Suits Direct Stadium back in December. On a day where the club had confirmed the permanent appointment of interim-manager Keith Curle, a Kyle Wootton double in the first-half set County on their way to three points, with further strikes from Paddy Madden Callum Camps and Will Collar securing a 5-0 win on the road.
County were clinical that afternoon; our biggest win of the season moving us into the top half of the table. For Pools though, it left them rooted to the bottom of the Football League with just 12 points from their opening 20 games.
Former Carlisle and Northampton boss Curle spoke at the time of desperately needing the January transfer window to strengthen his squad, although they actually finished the calendar year in decent form – beating relegation rivals Crawley and Rochdale, and claiming a 3-3 draw with Harrogate Town on New Year’s Day to climb out of the bottom two.
True to his word, Curle did use the transfer window to bolster his side by making five signings on deadline day – including Connor Jennings on a free transfer from County, and midfielder Dan Kemp on loan from MK Dons.
Those additions hinted at a fresh start for a struggling side, but less than a month later Curle became the second Hartlepool boss this season to be relieved of his duties. He departed the club having won eight of his 29 games in charge in all competitions, leaving the side hovering one point above the drop zone, but having played four games more than Crawley at the time.
John Askey, a promotion winner during his time with York City and Macclesfield Town, was chosen as their third permanent manager of the season; given just 13 games to try and salvage their EFL status.
The arrival of the 58-year-old has resulted in a lift in both performances and results, as the side went unbeaten in his first eight games in charge. Although six of those games were draws, back to back wins over Swindon Town and Grimsby Town in April had given them renewed hope of survival as they moved level on points with Crawley, who by this point had used up those four games in hand. Their survival bid was being led almost single-handedly by midfielder Kemp, whose hattrick in that win at Grimsby took his tally to nine goals in his first 12 appearances for the club.
Unfortunately for Askey and his side, their form then fell apart at the worst possible time with limp defeats at home to Newport County and away at Salford City, meaning they headed into a season-defining game at home to Crawley in desperate need of a win.
Defeat would all but confirm their relegation back to the National League with two games to spare, and so it proved to be as a Dom Telford brace secured a 2-0 win for the away side, to move them six points clear of the Monkey Hangers. The Red Devil’s 0-0 draw with Walsall last weekend proved to be the final nail in the coffin, despite Hartlepool securing a win in their last home game in the Football League.
One to watch:
Monday will see the return of promotion-winner Connor Jennings to Edgeley Park for the first time. The 31-year-old made 75 appearances for the club over two spells, scoring 18 times, and was part of last season’s title-winning squad in the National League.
His journey with the club will always be remembered fondly, as he battled his way back from a cancer diagnosis to return to football last year – scoring in his first game back, against King’s Lynn Town. Connor left County in January to make the move to the Suits Direct Stadium and has had a positive impact during his time there, notching up four goals for the club – including late equalisers against Walsall, Swindon Town and Leyton Orient.
Match Stats:
- Victory last weekend means County have now secured a top seven finish in each of the last six seasons, across three separate divisions. Our current points tally of 78 is the highest for a newly promoted side since Bristol Rovers racked up 85 in 2015/16.
- If County went on to secure promotion on Monday, Ben Hinchliffe would become the first player in the club’s history to secure three promotions at Edgeley Park. The goalkeeper will be looking for his 19th clean sheet in 36 league appearances on Monday.
- This will be the 141st meeting between the two sides, with County winning 58 previous encounters to Hartlepool’s 50.
