FIXTURE DETAILS

 Hartlepool United vs Oxford City

Vanarama National League

Victoria Park Stadium   Saturday 6th January, 15:00

Referee: Richard Aspinall   Assistants: Alan Hull & Wayne Cooper  Fourth Official: Neil Howlett

RECENT FORM

Oxford City - L L L W L

Despite a run of just one win in their last five league games, perhaps take the form with a pinch of salt when you look at Oxford City.

A 4-0 defeat at home at Maidenhead can only be described as disastrous, but since that day in early December, performances have picked up.

A positive performance away at Boreham Wood was wiped out by two early goals from the hosts, then City took promotion-chasing Solihull Moors all the way to the final minutes before Christmas.

On Boxing Day a long-awaited win finally came at Dorking Wanderers, before City were punished again on New Year's Day for not taking their chances.

Hartlepool United - L L D L L

Statistically, Hartlepool come into the weekend bottom of the form table. Only one point in five games (a 4-4 draw away at Wealdstone) has lead to the departure of John Askey, so now Lennie Lawrence will have a select few matches to steer the Poolies away from the drop zone.

However, like City, perhaps take United's run with a pinch of salt.

Yes, they've only picked up one point in their last five. However, defeats have come against three of the strongest teams in the division in Bromley (1-4), Chesterfield (0-1) & Oldham (1-3 & 0-2).

Injuries may have hampered their progress too, but there is good news for the United fans as Lawrence confirmed that both Tom Crawford & Luke Hendrie are both back in contention for the weekend's clash.

ONE TO WATCH - Joe Grey

In the absence of star striker Mani Dieseruvwe, Joe Grey will be leading the line for Hartlepool.

The young striker is a fans' favourite at Victoria Park after progressing through the youth ranks with the club. Oxford City fans will have bad memories of Grey after he scored the first goal of the game in the reverse fixture.

Since then, he's gone on to score five goals for the club.

The versatile forward was snapped up quickly by United after impressing in local football and has gone on to play over 100 times for Hartlepool since signing professional terms in 2019.

He scored on his 100th appearance for the club on Boxing Day in the 3-1 defeat to Oldham Athletic.

HAVE WE MET BEFORE?

Once, this season... and how could any City fan forget?

City's second ever victory in the fifth tier was something very special as the Hoops ran out 5-2 winners at the RAW Charging Stadium.

Joe Grey opened the scoring before Olly Sanderson's equaliser. However, Hartlepool went into the break ahead thanks to Callum Cooke's goal five minutes before the interval.

But what followed was an incredible second-half.

Canice Carroll equalised just after the hour mark, before the Hoops turned the game completely on its head just seconds later through Josh Ashby.

Furthermore, substitute Pierre Fonkeu made sure the points were staying in Oxfordshire with a fourth just five minutes after Ashby's goal to stun the visitors. Fonkeu went on to score his second five minutes from time to put the icing on top of the cake.

THE MANAGER - Lennie Lawrence

Lawrence, who joined Pools as a non-executive director in November 2022, will be assisted by first-team coach and former caretaker Antony Sweeney.

Lawrence, who turned 76 last month, was manager of Middlesbrough for a three-year spell between 1991 and 1994.

In his first season as manager, he guided Boro to a second-place finish in the Second Division, securing promotion into the top-flight for the inaugural season of the Premier League.

Boro were relegated from the Premier League the following campaign though, and Lawrence was removed from his position 12 months later after failing to win promotion at the first attempt.

He went on to manage at Bradford City, Luton Town, Grimsby Town and Cardiff City, and was briefly in joint caretaker-charge of Crystal Palace following the departure of the Eagles’ manager, Dougie Freedman.



Consultancy roles at Newport and Stevenage followed, before Lawrence was offered a director position at Pools by chairman Raj Singh.

HOW TO FOLLOW

TICKETS:

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LIVE COMMENTARY ON BBC SOUNDS

This match will have LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds curtesy of BBC Radio Oxford. Simply tune in to BBC Radio Oxford on the BBC Sounds app, or head to the non-league commentary page HERE.