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date/time
Tue, 4:00AM
few clouds
5.6°C
NNE 4mph
few clouds
5.6°C
NNE 4mph
 | Sunrise | 4:26AM |
| Sunset | 7:49PM |  |
Joseph Symes
Sports Correspondent
P.ublished 4th March 2023
sports
Looking At The Opposition… Hartlepool United
Tranmere are coming into this clash on the back of two victories in as many games. They travelled to second-placed Stevenage on Saturday, where a Josh Hawkes penalty earned his side an impressive 1-0 victory.
It’s been a turbulent few months for Hartlepool, with results meaning that they are deep in relegation trouble and a change of manager from Keith Curle to former York City and Macclesfield manager John Askey, so Pool fans will be hoping a change of personnel has the desired impact.
Here is a little insight about Tranmere’s next opponents:
Connor Jennings
Former Rovers man, Connor Jennings, will be looking to make an impression against his former employees on his return to Prenton Park.
A key figure in Tranmere's ascent from the National League to League One - including netting the winner in the League Two play-off final - Jennings is a recent arrival at Hartlepool after leaving boyhood club Stockport County.
He finally got off the mark in Saturday’s draw with Walsall, so he’ll be looking to replicate a similar feat on the weekend against Rovers.
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2022/23 - Hartlepool United 0-0 Tranmere Rovers
2021/22 - Hartlepool United 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Hartlepool United
2017/18 - Tranmere Rovers 1-2 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United 1-1 Tranmere Rovers
John Askey
Vastly experienced manager John Askey has shown he has a good pedigree at this level, and he’s been recently handed the reigns at Hartlepool in aim to keep them up in the Football League.
Askey worked wanders at Macclesfield Town, taking the Silkmen from mid-table dross in the National League North to serious promotion contenders before earning his move up the divisions, which didn’t work out as he would have wanted.
He returned to the National League, when he joined 6th-tier side York City, who at the time sat in a mid-table place following the departure of Steve Watson. Askey took the Minstermen from this position to the play-offs, and then manage to win it, earning York City their National League status back for the first time in 5 seasons. This season, after reaching a rough patch of form albeit just outside of the play-offs, Askey was inexplicably sacked by the Minstermen.
He now arrives at Hartlepool after replacing the departing Keith Curle, so he’ll be hoping his reign in charge of the Poolies will be an inspired one as they chase survival to cling onto their Football League status.