Preview: Pools Face Southampton For First Time

Hartlepool face Southampton for the very first time in tonight's League One clash

Hartlepool squad and management will have mixed feelings going into their first clash with Southampton. On one hand Hartlepool put in a massive amount of effort against Huddersfield a performance that they should not be ashamed of by any stretch of the imagination.

However, on the other hand you could forgive them for feeling a little disappointed with the outcome. If Hartlepool had taken their chances in the first half the game well could have been out of reach for Huddersfield before they started their second half fight-back.

Hartlepool's home form has looked like it has turned the corner in recent weeks Chris Turners men are now unbeaten in 5 at home and the Hartlepool faithful will be hoping this continues. Turner was full of praise for his team despite the result and will be hoping for an equally committed performance on Tuesday against Southampton.

''We got our noses in front and had a chance to go two goals up but it didn't quite go in for us. I've no complaints really from our point of view and I was impressed with Huddersfield.''
- Chris Turner (HUFC)

Anyone could be forgiven for thinking Southampton are struggling with life in League One. However that is far from the truth, without the 10-point deduction they received for going into administration last season they would be sitting just above Hartlepool in 11th place.

The Saints did take a couple of months to adjust to League One, however they have been in promotion form the last couple of months racking up an impressive 7 wins, 2 draws and only 1 defeat since the beginning of October.

Confidence is high at St Mary's and Pardew will be hoping his troops can keep this form up well into the new year, which could see them catch the play-off pack. Their excellent run is mainly down to the deadly three-pronged attack with Ricky Lambert, youngster Adam Lallana and former Sunderland striker David Connolly seemingly bagging goals for fun at this level. After the weekends 2-2 draw with Norwich Saints boss Alan Pardew was disappointed with the result but felt the game was a great spectacle and would not have looked out of place in a higher division.

''We are disappointed we didn't win but it was an absolutely brilliant game, it was a game that would have graced a higher division. We're trying to get a team here that understands how to win games but you can't fault the quality of the game.''
- Alan Pardew (Southampton)

Once again Chris Turner has a few hard decisions to make in the build up to the Southampton game. It is unlikely that James Brown will start a 3rd game in a row especially with only a few days after his last outing. If Brown is rested and moved to the bench, then it is almost certain that Dennis Behan will start in his place. Some good and bad news from the Huddersfield game for Turner.

Leon McSweeney came of the bench and did not have any re-occurrence of his foot injury that has kept him out the last few weeks, however he did replace Colin Larkin who went of with a Hamstring injury that could see him sidelined for several weeks. With Steve Haslam and Matty Tymon are the only other injury concerns, Turner will once again have to decide who fills the gaps on the right wing and up-front.

Ritchie Jones has put in a string of top performances for Hartlepool this season and is quickly developing into the player Sir Alex Ferguson thought he could be when on the books at Manchester United.

The young midfield has the ability to control a game and gives the Hartlepool midfield an extra dimension.

It is unlikely that Alan Pardew will change his starting 11 from the 2-2 draw with Norwich at the weekend when his Saints side takes the long trip to Hartlepool. Joseph Mills will miss the long trip north after picking up an illness over the weekend, but Paul Wotton may return to the squad having missed Saturday's 2-2 draw with Norwich City.

Kayne McLaggon, Jake Thomson, Olly Lancashire, Jamie White, Simon Gillett and Anthony Pulis continue to pursue loan spells away from St. Mary's. Ricky Lambert and David Connolly will most likely continue to spearhead the Saints attack.

Ricky Lambert was the 1st signing of new owner Markus Liebherr and new manager Alan Pardew for a fee in excess of £1 Million. The 6ft 3" Striker scored 29 league goals last year for Bristol Rovers that included a final day destruction of the Hartlepool United defence.

If the Hartlepool defence has not learned its lesson it could be another glories day for the free scoring Lambert who has already notched up 12 goals this season.

History will be made at Victoria Park on Tuesday night as Hartlepool play Southampton for the very first time. In fact the two clubs have rarely crossed paths on or off the field.

Only 5 players have played for both teams including former Pools favourites Paul Baker, Tommy Widdrington and Gordon Watson.

Hartlepool United 1 - 3 Southampton

Both sides are in good form and both teams like to get the ball down and play. Although Hartlepool's home form has improved in recent weeks I think The Saints will have too much firepower over the 90 minutes.

The Hartlepool players would have preferred a longer rest after the hard work and effort they put into the Huddersfield game and that might take its toll in the latter stages of this mid-week fixture. However this will be the first time the saints have visited Victoria Park and a big question mark will remain over their heads, until after the final whistle, if they can deal with the long trip to the North East.

One of the shorter trips for travelling Hartlepool fans is up next, as Chris Turner takes his Hartlepool United team away for a tricky trip to Carlisle. The Pools boss and fans will be hoping former Poolie Matty Robson does not come back to haunt them.