[themaclad]

What better way to kick start the season by winning a League Cup tie although in years gone by this has not always happened.
Hartlepool have not been visitors at Deepdale since September 2012 when if memory serves me right Danny Mayor scored the only goal after coming off the substitutes bench to score a late winner.
After flirting with relegation from the league a couple of seasons ago, Pool will be looking towards the other end of the table under newish manager Craig Hignett. Squad wise veteran Billy Paynter leads the forward line and scored yesterday against Colchester, they have signed Padraig Amond who scored plenty of goals for Grimsby last season.
From the brief highlights on Channel five they looked slightly iffy at the back but you could say the same about us.
Expect numerous changes from Grayson, game time for Doyle, Robinson and Makienok, plus run outs for Maxwell, Pearson and Spurr, we should have enough to beat them but in the same competition we did once lose to Morecambe at home.

So far this season

PNE L 0-1

Hartlepool 1-1 D

Will make my seasonal debut so expect unbiased mathch report on Wednesday

[themaclad]

The relief around Deepdale was obvious when Doyle put the ball into the net in the last minute of injury time to give North End a narrow 1-0 win over Hartlepool at a chilly Deepdale.
North End were on top for the majority of the game but looked desined to be on the way to an extra half hour until Doyle struck, the result was a shade harsh on Hartlepool who battled well to keep in the game and could possibly have caused a surprise if they had taken the chances which came their way.
Grayson was obviously less than impressed with Saturday's display as he only made two changes to the line up with Doyle and Browne starting, the visitors made five changes.
It was all one way in the first half as North End stroked the ball around although if truth were to be told did not create a great deal, Garner had a goal disallowed, Pringle had a shot saved, whilst just before half time Browne looked to have scored with a header but the ball flew narrowly past the wrong side of the post. Hartlepool created nothing the closest they got was when Nsiala failed to get a touch to a free kick which was put intothe home defence.
The talk in the toilets at half time was that some folks were gutted to be missing an hour long episode of Emmerdale.
The second half was more entertaining, North End started well but in a brief 5 minute spell United looked dangerous, the impressive Laurent was denied by a last gasp clearance, they had a goal disallowed, Deverdics fired a free kick narrowly over, but the best chance fell to Laurent, clean through took his shot probably a shade too early bringing an easy save from Lindergaard.
This flurry of activity woke Northn End up Doyle hit the outside of a post, Huntington had a header cleared from the line. Then with what look to be the last chance of a wiin in normal time, Doyle had an effort blocked the rebound fell to Robinson who fired into the empty Town End, he should have scored.
Then the goal arrived a United attack was stopped by Lindergaard, he threw the ball to Humphrey who bombe3d down the wing, his cross found it's way to Doyle who did not miss, relief allround.
Wasn't a great night off the pitch, many missed the kick off due to North End's 18th century ticketing arrangements with no pay on the gate.
As for Hartlpool look a better outfit than in recent seasons, should do well in league 2, North End need to up their game with some hard games on the way.
Not convinced by Grimshaw at right back although the two runs he made when drifting into midfiekld show were his strengths are, early days but need to be better against better opponents.

Preston North End 1 Hartlepool United 0 Att 4509