Hartlepool vs Salford City Predictions

• Seven of Hartlepool’s last ten home league games have seen both teams score
• Both teams have netted in six of Salford’s last seven outings
• Salford are unbeaten in ten games

Hartlepool have little to play for

It has been an impressive return to the Football League for Hartlepool, who sit firmly in mid-table and have still suffered just three defeats in 19 games at Victoria Park.

They do have a tendency to concede a few too many goals though, failing to keep a clean sheet in eight of their last ten on home soil, with both teams netting seven times.

Graeme Lee’s side will not go down and nor will they trouble the top seven, but they have won just one of their last six and only three of their nine victories in the North East have come against sides in the promotion race.

Salford creeping into the play-off picture?

Salford’s last three games have all been on home soil, and they have won each one, meaning they sit just four points outside of the play-off positions with a game in hand.

Gary Bowyer’s side will fancy their chance of reaching the top seven, but they could do with improving an away record which has seen them win twice in six, despite being unbeaten in ten outings at all venues.

They too have a bit of an issue in defence, with two of their last three on the road seeing both teams score, as well as six of their last seven home or away.

My initial selection for this game is for both teams to score, but it is quite hard to split the two sides, especially after Hartlepool’s comeback from 2-0 down against Mansfield on Tuesday, so I predict a 1-1 draw.