Hartlepool United

Wilson praises Pools' character
Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson praised his side's resilience after their FA Cup shoot-out victory in their first round replay with Rochdale on Monday. Ben Clark scored the decisive penalty after 120 goalless minutes. Wilson said: \"It was important that we got the result. We knew it was going to be tough and we battled all the way. \"There was a tricky period in the second half when they came back at us but we pulled through and then put our penalties away.\"

Hartlepool v Wycombe
Hartlepool defender Darren Williams is a doubt after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring strain. But James Brown and Matty Robson, who were forced off with cramp in the FA Cup replay win over Rochdale, should be fit along with forward Darryl Duffy. Wycombe will welcome back midfielder Anthony Grant from suspension. Scott Golbourne has returned to Reading following the end of his loan spell so Stephen O'Halloran could come into the starting line-up.

Tinkler faces injury frustration
Hartlepool midfielder Mark Tinkler will be out for over a month after breaking his toe in a reserve match against Sheffield United. The 32-year-old had only just returned to fitness when he suffered the injury after being trodden on. But on the plus side, James Brown and Michael Proctor have resumed light training following knee injuries. Also, the knee injury captain Micky Barron suffered in Saturday's win over Bristol Rovers is not as bad as feared.

Wilson aims to add to Pool squad
Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson feels his side's promotion bid will help attract more quality players to Victoria Park. Pools are seventh in League Two and he told the Northern Echo: \"Hopefully we can keep it going into January. \"When you are on the top of your game it is the best time to strengthen and it also makes it easier to bring players in - they see you challenging. \"It makes them that bit more enthusiastic to come and join us.\"

Hartlepool 1-0 Rochdale
Darryl Duffy struck the fourth goal of his loan spell as Hartlepool recorded a fifth consecutive win. Pools dominated the early stages and took the lead on 18 minutes when on-loan Hull striker Duffy headed in following a Willie Boland free-kick. Antony Sweeney hit the post for Pools after a great run, but after half-time Rochdale came back into the match. Glen Murray headed over the bar for the visitors, while Morike Sako missed the target when he should have scored. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Barron, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys, Sweeney, Boland, Liddle, Monkhouse (Daly 69), Eifion Williams, Duffy. Subs Not Used: Provett, Bullock, Darren Williams, Foley. Goals: Duffy 17. Rochdale: Gilks, Ramsden, Stanton, McArdle, Goodall, Jones, Doolan, Warburton, Sako (Moyo-Modise 79), Barker (Murray 56), Dagnall. Subs Not Used: Mocquet, Cooksey, Boardman. Booked: Sako, Goodall. Att: 3,659. Ref: C Boyeson (E Yorkshire).

Hartlepool 2-0 Grimsby
Hartlepool made it seven successive wins with second half goals from Jon Day and Andy Monkhouse. Daly headed in from close range after 52 minutes, getting on the end of Willie Boland's dangerous corner. And Monkhouse made it two with eight minutes left, celebrating the extension of his loan deal from Swindon by sliding a finish from Bowland's corner. Hartlepool's sixth clean sheet on the trot means they have now gone 592 minutes without conceding a goal. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Barron, Nelson (Daly 33), Clark, Humphreys, Sweeney, Boland, Liddle, Monkhouse, Eifion Williams (Brown 57), Duffy (Gibb 83). Subs Not Used: Provett, Darren Williams. Booked: Barron, Clark. Goals: Daly 52, Monkhouse 82. Grimsby: Barnes, Croft, Fenton, Whittle, Newey, Till (Reddy 69), Pulis, Bolland (Hegarty 46), Harkins, Paterson, Rankin. Subs Not Used: Murray, Ravenhill, Boshell. Booked: Paterson, Pulis. Att: 5,290 Ref: R Booth (Nottinghamshire).

Mansfield v Hartlepool
Mansfield boss Billy Dearden may field the same XI that started the abandoned match against Accrington on Saturday when his side face in-form Hartlepool. Matty Hamshaw remains likely to miss out after suffering a hamstring injury on Boxing Day against Darlington. Jon Daly should be back in the Pool side after suspension as they look to extend their run of eight league wins. But Michael Nelson (knee) is again doughtful, while Michael Proctor and Joel Porter are still sidelined.

Hartlepool snap up striker Barker
Hartlepool United have signed striker Richard Barker from Mansfield Town. The former Stags skipper, 31, has signed a two-and-a-half year deal at the Victoria Stadium for a fee believed to be around £80,000. "I am delighted to have a player of his experience and calibre," Pools boss Danny Wilson told his club's website. Barker, who has scored 40 goals in 95 league games for Mansfield since signing from Rotherham in 2004, had been a long-standing target for Wilson.

Hartlepool capture striker Mackay
Hartlepool have signed 24-year-old striker Michael Mackay from non-league side Consett. Mackay joined Consett from Durham City in October 2005 and is currently the Arngrove Northern League's top goal-scorer with 43 goals. In his time with Durham City he scored on 30 occasions and his goalscoring record made him a target of several league clubs. Mackay joins a month after forward Jon Daly left to join Dundee United.

Wilson collects award for March
Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson has been named as League Two's manager of the month for March. Wilson has won the award for the third time this season having collected it both last month and in September. Hartlepool lead League Two by six points and went through the month with three wins and two draws and have not lost in their last 23 games. The other contenders were Rochdale's Keith Hill, Shrewsbury's Gary Peters and Darren Ferguson of Peterborough.

Wilson begins League One planning
Hartlepool United manager Danny Wilson has said that the club's promotion means his side can finally begin preparing for life in League One. United were promoted from League Two after defeating Wycombe 1-0 on Saturday thanks to a Richie Barker goal. "It's great for the club, and now we can start planning for next season, and start looking at players." Wilson told SSB. "But we are still focussed on winning the title. It's ours to throw away." Wilson guided his team to promotion at the first time of trying since their relegation from League One last season. Along the way they broke a club record by going 23 league games unbeaten, a run that began in November and ended with the defeat at Barnet in early April.

Pools still hoping to pip Walsall
Hartlepool defender Michael Nelson believes his team can still beat Walsall to the League Two championship. Pools, who face Bristol Rovers on Saturday, can still claim the title but will need to better Walsall's result. "It would really do the fans and the club a lot of good to win the title," Nelson told the Hartlepool Mail. "Promotion was the big thing and we have got that, but we feel we have a really strong chance of winning the league," he said.

Pools manager suffers title blues
Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson admitted to feeling a bit flat after seeing his side miss out on the League Two title. Pools were beaten 2-1 by Bristol Rovers, meaning they were pipped to the championship by Walsall. "It was a bit of an anti-climax," Wilson said. "We possibly had the worst run we've had all season in the last four of five games. "But take away that disappointment and it's been a great season. We'll go for it again next season in League One."

Pools boss Wilson swings his axe
Craig Hignett and Eifion Williams are among 10 players released as Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson announces his retained list. John Brackstone, Darrell Clarke, Tony Davison, Carl Jones, Darren Williams, Michael Proctor, Mark Tinkler and Philip Turnbull are also released. Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Micky Barron and Jim Provett are given fresh deals. Pools take up options on Lee Bullock, Ben Clark, Ritchie Humphreys, Michael Rae, Anthony Sweeney and David Foley. Striker Proctor ended the season on loan at Wrexham, scoring his second goal in nine games in their crucial final-day win over Boston. The 26-year-old has already expressed his interest in joining the Dragons permanently. And Welshman Williams, who scored six goals in Hartlepool's promotion success, could also find himself on Wrexham's wish list this summer.

Wilson plays down N Ireland link
Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson has described reports linking him with the vacant Northern Ireland manager's job as "speculation". Wilson has been touted as a replacement for Lawrie Sanchez, who quit last week to become boss at Fulham. The Hartlepool boss guided his club to promotion from League Two this season. "No-one has contacted me so there is nothing to think about," said Wilson. Former Northern Ireland striker Colin Clarke says he would like the job. Clarke, who scored 13 goals for Northern Ireland, has been coaching in America for the last ten years, six in Major League Soccer with Dallas Burn. "I think I have a lot of good credentials to take the job and I am confident in myself and my own ability. "To manage Northern Ireland would be the pinnacle of my career and I would love the opportunity and relish the challenge." Wilson was formerly boss of both Barnsley and MK Dons. "As far as I am concerned it is no more than just speculation," Wilson told the Hartlepool Mail. "I have been asked before, a few years ago, but the time was not right for me, so maybe that is why my name has come up again. "I suppose it is flattering to be mentioned as one of the possibilities because I suppose it means that you are doing something right."

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