Reasons to be Cheerful - Hartlepool v Argyle

HADEN Tye takes his regular look at why we should be feeling suitably festive this week...

Beating the Blues 
If Argyle were to beat Hartlepool this weekend, then it wouldn't be the first time on December 19 that the Pilgrims have beaten a home team playing in blue on that date. In 1973, Argyle beat Birmingham City 2-1 in the League Cup. Alan Welsh and Steve Davey scored the goals for Argyle, with the victory putting the Pilgrims in the League Cup semi-final. The semi-final was against another side in blue; Manchester City. It was a two-legged tie, and Argyle drew the first leg 1-1 at Home Park, with Davey scoring the goal for the Pilgrims. A week later however, Argyle lost 2-0 in Manchester, with City eventually losing the final to Wolves. 

Cruising on the Road 
In 1994, Argyle humiliated Hartlepool, beating the Pools 8-1 away from home. The goal scorers on that day for Argyle were Richard Landon with a hat trick, Paul Dalton with two and Dwight Marshall, Steve McCall and Steve Castle all grabbing a goal each to assert Argyle's dominance. It was for nothing, though, as the last-day win did not propel the Greens into the promotion positions, and they would ultimately lose in the play-offs to Burnley. 

Double Victory 
Argyle's most recent victory at Hartlepool was in 2004. The Pilgrims won 3-1, with Lee Hodges and Nathan Lowndes scoring for Argyle, and a Hartlepool own-goal also adding to the Pilgrims success. It was Argyle's final away game of the 2003-2004 title winning campaign, in which the team ended the season with 90 points.