Stevenage return to Sky Bet League Two action as Keith Curle’s Hartlepool United are welcomed to The Lamex Stadium tomorrow…
Steve Evans’ side have had a two-week break from league football, with the two domestic cups being the primary focus recently. First, Boro travelled to Gateshead and won 3-2 to progress into the Second Round of the FA Cup. Then, the side bowed out of the Carabao Cup after a penalty shootout with Charlton Athletic in Round Three.
Hartlepool United have a had a tough start to their second Sky Bet League Two campaign since promotion in 2021. The Pools have picked up just two wins from seventeen league games and have lost nine times, which sees the side sit 23rd in the table. They remain winless away from home after eight attempts.
Hartlepool’s most recent league fixture resulted in their second victory of the season. Two late goals contributed to a 2-1 win at home to Grimsby Town. The side’s top scorer is Josh Umerah with eight to his name in all competitions.
On the 18th of September 2022, The Pools parted ways with manager Paul Hartley, after just nine league games. Keith Curle was appointed soon after as Interim Manager and was handed the tough task of avoiding relegation. Curle has had a lengthy career in management, taking charge of many EFL clubs, such as Northampton and Carlisle over the last two decades. As a player, Curle wore the Manchester City shirt nearly 200 times.
Boro and The Pools have met on thirteen occasions in the past, with Stevenage possessing a 69% win-rate. Boro have won nine of these meetings, with Hartlepool winning just one. Stevenage’s highest-scoring victory over tomorrow’s visitors was in 2016 as goals from Dean Wells, Tom Pett, Michael Tonge, Tyler Walker and Matt Godden contributed to a 6-1 at The Lamex Stadium.
The most recent encounter between the sides was in January 2022 as Boro travelled to the Northeast in Sky Bet League Two. Luke Norris’ penalty was cancelled out by a Hartlepool goal to award both sides a point.
Carl Boyeson has been appointed as Match Referee for tomorrow’s game, with Daniel Bonneywell and Andrew Laver as his Assistants, and Kevin Howick as Fourth Official. Boyeson has been overseeing Football League fixtures for two whole decades.
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