'It will be closer than last time' - Hartlepool United expert provides lowdown on Chesterfield's next opponents

We spoke to Hartlepool United journalist, Dominic Scurr, of the Hartlepool Mail, to give us the lowdown on tomorrow’s opponents and here’s what he said….

What are Hartlepool's expectations for the new season?

There's always plenty of expectation at Hartlepool going into a new National League season. It's Dave Challinor's first full season in charge, a manager who has never finished a campaign outside of the play-off places during his career so expectations would be for his Pools side to at least challenge for and potentially secure a top seven place.

How did pre-season go?

It was a very disjointed pre-season in terms of matches with three called off at the last minute due to coronavirus concerns. Still, Pools were able to play six matches, all against either lower-division or under-23 opposition. They managed to get through the matches unbeaten with three wins and three draws and 26 goals scored so fairly solid overall given the circumstances.

Who did Hartlepool sign in the summer?

It's been a bit of a transition period for Hartlepool over the summer with 15 departures and 13 arrivals since the end of the 2019-20 campaign. Given the significantly reduced playing budget, Pools look to have done some smart business on the whole. Big players like Luke James, Gime Toure and Gus Mafuta, who all scored on Pools' previous visit to Chesterfield, departed during the off-season. It is hoped that the arrivals of players like Rhys Oates, Mason Bloomfield and Tom Crawford will be more than adequate replacements.

What style of play can we expect from Hartlepool on Tuesday?

Based on what we saw last season and on the opening day of the 2020-21 campaign, Pools are an aggressive side who like to play high and push forward whenever they can. They may lack a bit of cutting edge and can be exposed at the back at times but the players are comfortable in possession and they play with an intensity and intent to win.

Who are the key men to watch out for?

Gavan Holohan netted nine goals from midfield last season and got off the mark with a goal and assist during Saturday's opening day win against Aldershot Town. Despite being a midfielder, he's arguably the side's biggest attacking threat. Nicky Featherstone and Mark Shelton alongside Holohan in the midfield have the ability to dominate matches and Hartlepool's performance will be dictated by how they perform on the night.

What is your verdict from Saturday's win against Aldershot?

Challinor's side were excellent during the opening 45-minutes and should have had the game wrapped up. But a defensive mistake allowed Aldershot to draw level and it came close to finishing all square before a late winner saw Pools grab three points which was ultimately deserved. Aside from taking their foot off the gas for the first 20-minutes of the second half, Pools were slick and controlled in possession but just lacked a bit of ruthlessness in and around the penalty area.

Any early team news/injuries?

Luke Molyneux has recently recovered from coronavirus so will be a doubt as he's not trained for the past week or so. Sheffield United loanee striker David Parkhouse is linking up with the Northern Ireland under-21s squad this week so is expected to miss out. Barring any late withdrawals, everyone else should be available to play.

Score prediction?

I'm expecting a much closer game than the last time the two sides met in the National League (1-5). It will be interesting to see if the weekend off for Chesterfield will benefit the home side or whether Pools' playing and getting off to a winning start will work in their favour. While Hartlepool have a bit of momentum behind them, I'll play it safe and go for a 1-1 draw.