Pools Swing Swindon for a duck! Sweet revenge for Monkhouse.
3rd February 2007
Swindon 0 Hartlepool 1
Andy Monkhouse extended Hartlepool's unbeaten run in League Two to 14 games as he fired the ultimate snub to his former boss Paul Sturrock. Monkhouse was rejected by Sturrock when he took charge at the County Ground in November and was sent to Hartlepool on loan without making a single appearance. But now with his loan deal made permanent Monkhouse headed Richie Humphreys' second-half corner past Phil Smith to show Sturrock just exactly what he had rejected.
Despite proving revenge for Monkhouse, the game was difficult for Pools.
As early as the sixth minute, Lee Peacock found himself in a space after good work from Sofiane Zaaboub but the striker stabbed his side-foot volley just wide. Minutes after the half-hour mark a mistake by Monkhouse allowed Zaaboub a clear sight on goal but his goal bound effort was headed off the line spectacularly by Nelson. The rebound dropped for Andy Nicholas in unfamiliar attacking territory, but his well-struck half-volley smashed off the inside of the post.
After the break Monkhouse headed Pools into that so needed lead. The winger showed his pleasure at scoring to the thousands of Swindon fans who had booed him all afternoon.
Swindon threatened as they tried to redress the balance by playing four strikers for the final 15 minutes, but the defensive wall of Nelson and Clark stopped everything that was thrown their way.
Pools had done it again. Who said promotion was dreaming? Many of us after the first four games!!!
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