Pools travel to Saltergate this coming saturday looking to bounce back after Tuesday nights defeat to Charlton Athletic in the second round of the Carling Cup.
On the other hand the Spireites are hoping to keep a good run of three wins in four matches going and a second consecutive home win.
Team news for the Spireites is that Steve Blatherwick is a doubt with a back injury picked up at home, expect Janos Kovacs to come back into the squad after a reserve run out against Derby County midweek behind closed doors.
Last Season Hartlepool made the playoff final losing to Sheffield Wednesday after extra time 4-2, in fact United have made the play offs in the last two seasons, they will be looking to go one better this time. But with ex-manager Neale Cooper leaving on the eve of the playoffs it will be interesting to see if Martin Scott has the same philosophies as the current Gillingham manager. Pools beat the Spireites 1-0 here last season in a generally poor game but thoroughly deserved win for Hartlepool, Adam Boyd was the scorer.
And last but no means least, Compton Street would like to thank all Mansfield supporters for............................sacking Carlton Palmer last weekend in your defeat to Rochdale. Cry baby Carlton just couldn't take it anymore by saying "I don't like them nasty people shouting things at me, please Mr Haslam let me go home" apparently. Meanwhile caretaker manager Peter Shirtliff (no jokes please) guided the stags first team to victory over Southampton reserves 1-0 infront of a bumper crowd of just over three thousand, Mansfield will be hoping for a home draw in the next round against Premiership opposition expect plenty of tickets to be available.
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