At the Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead are set to face Hartlepool United in a National League encounter where pride and points are fiercely contested. Both teams desperately need a win to galvanise their respective seasons.
Gateshead’s recent form has been inconsistent; a five-game winless streak has somewhat dampened spirits. However, they have managed to find the back of the net in their last two matches, hinting at a latent attacking threat. Hartlepool United also arrive in search of a morale-boosting victory, having failed to win in their last six outings. Of particular concern for Pools supporters is their team’s recent struggles in front of goal, drawing blanks in their last three games.
The head-to-head record between these two clubs paints a picture of a tightly fought rivalry. Over the course of their last four meetings, both Gateshead and Hartlepool United have recorded two victories each. Last season witnessed two high-scoring contests: Gateshead narrowly secured a 4-3 win at home, with Tyrelle Newton scoring twice, while Hartlepool responded with a 3-2 victory at their ground, Luke Charman and Reyes Cleary both scoring in the first half. Across those four games, Gateshead have notched 14 goals compared to Hartlepool’s 9.
In the league table, Hartlepool United currently occupy 9th position with 14 points from their opening 10 games. Gateshead reside further down the standings in 15th, having amassed 11 points from the same number of matches. They have scored 14 goals, but their porous defence has shipped a worrying 25, resulting in a goal difference of -11. Hartlepool’s defence has been considerably more robust, conceding only 4 goals and boasting a goal difference of +5.
A victory for Gateshead could inject a significant dose of confidence and pull them closer to the mid-table cluster. Conversely, a defeat would compound their problems and intensify the pressure to reverse their fortunes. For Hartlepool United, a win would revitalise their ambitions of reaching the play-off positions and alleviate concerns regarding their recent goal-scoring woes. A draw would likely leave both sides feeling underwhelmed, while a loss could see them begin to slip down the league standings.