While I can understand RLC looking for the positives, particularly after a disappointing weekend, goals from the penalty spot count against us as much as any other kind of goal. We seems to be conceding a fair few spot kicks this season. I'd like to forget about the Forest Green hammering too, but teams like struggling Oldham and promotion rivals Sutton managed to get a point out of their games with the Vegans. What is encouraging is that Rovers remain in an automatic promotion spot and our future progress still remains in our hands.
Pools have come out of the doldrums after Challinor's departure and gone on a decent run. The recruitment of Bogle, who's certainly at decent striker at this level has helped. The other player who stood out in their slightly unfortunate defeat at PP was right-back Sterry, who hit the post. While Pools might be an outside contender for the play-offs their primary intention is to secure L2 status for next season, so not expecting them to be significantly more adventurous than Walsall.
Finding it hard to see how Micky will set us up for this one. Jolley is short on confidence and think the home defence is physically strong, but Nevitt/Hemmings is a fairly similar pairing, which hasn't looked like delivering much in goals. So Hemmings as lone striker with 3 behind; McPake Warrington Morris? Although after his stellar debut, it didn't sound like young Lewis was much different from the rest of the midfield at Walsall. O'Connor and Foley protecting the same back four and Doohan, injury permitting? I'm less comfortable with a 4231 in Spearing's absence, but 442 doesn't seem to be delivering for us in the away games.