Tamworth prepare to welcome Hartlepool United to The Lamb Ground for what is anticipated to be a keenly contested English National League fixture. With both sides aiming to solidify their league positions and build crucial momentum as the season progresses, the stakes are considerable.
In terms of recent form, Tamworth have endured a challenging spell. Their last five outings have yielded just one win and one draw, alongside three defeats. Their attacking prowess has notably faltered in recent matches, failing to find the back of the net in their last two encounters. This difficult run includes a heavy 7-1 away loss to Solihull Moors and a subsequent 1-0 home defeat against Sutton United.
Hartlepool United, meanwhile, have experienced a more mixed bag of results. They too have found wins hard to come by in their last five games, registering two victories, two defeats, and a single draw. Like Tamworth, Hartlepool have also struggled in front of goal recently, drawing a blank in their last two matches. Their recent results include a significant 4-0 away defeat to Woking and a 3-0 home loss to Aldershot Town. However, prior to these setbacks, they secured back-to-back home wins against Altrincham and Gateshead, demonstrating their potential.
Historically, the head-to-head record between these two clubs shows a slight edge for Hartlepool United. Across their last three encounters, Hartlepool have secured one victory, with two draws, whilst Tamworth are yet to record a win against their opponents. These previous meetings have been tight affairs, with Hartlepool scoring four goals to Tamworth’s three. In the current season, their encounter concluded in a 1-1 draw, with Oliver Lynch scoring for Tamworth and Vadaine Oliver finding the net for Hartlepool. Last season, Hartlepool secured a narrow 1-0 away win thanks to a Joe Grey strike, while their other fixture resulted in a 2-2 draw.
Looking at the league standings, Hartlepool United sit comfortably in ninth place with 44 points from 30 games played. They boast a positive goal difference of three, having scored 32 goals and conceded 29. Tamworth, on the other hand, are positioned 13th in the table, accumulating 35 points from 28 matches. Their goal difference stands at -14, with 33 goals scored and 47 conceded.
A victory for Tamworth could provide a much-needed boost to their morale and help them climb the table, potentially reigniting their season. Conversely, a loss could further entrench them in the lower half. For Hartlepool United, a win would solidify their promotion ambitions and provide crucial points to maintain their push towards the play-off places. A draw would offer a point but might be seen as a missed opportunity to gain ground, while a defeat could see them slip down the table and allow rivals to gain an advantage.
