Where do we go with this one? it seems our only hope is that football never fails to surprise , and the occasional 10-1 shot to win away, wins away.

The interesting thing will be what team Bates names and the formation he uses. Are we going to win the tie or throw it , I would like to think the former.

One thing for certain is Magnay needs to have a good game to shut out in form poor mans Andy Carroll , Tom Eaves.

Noble needs to be on his game, as does Loach who has escaped any flak so far but needs to up his game imo.

Then again Gillingham may rest a few players and underestimate us, we can only hope.

3-1 defeat
James 79
3009
110 away fans

fancy a bit of a shock myself. 1 all draw with them equalising late on.

Gillingham is one of those places where Pools rarely get a result. Can't see that changing unfortunately.

2-0 defeat.

Only won there once, in around 17 attempts, our record there makes for very grim reading, funnily enough it was our last visit there in 2009, James Brown scored, a game I have no memory of. I've seen us draw down there twice 0-0 and get beat 3-0.

Don't think we ever won at Priestfield when Brighton played there either

If I remember rightly James Brown scored an absolute stunner. Picked the ball up on the edge their box, swerved past a defender and curled the ball into the top corner. The Gillingham manager said they were beaten by a goal of 'Premiership quality'. The most amazing thing of all is that Brown was set up by a superb pass from . . . Denis Behan! I'd love a similar result tomorrow but we have no one remotely of James Brown's class.
1-3 (Donaldson)
4055
131 Poolies

Gills 8-0 Pools....206 Poolies.

Gills 7 Pools 0 (3675 - 65 poolies)

doom, gloom, disaster plagues of frogs and snails, dead rise up from their graves, Michael Jackson sings again ...

3-1 defeat
James 78
3008
111 away fans

Its on youtube, some goal that, typical of Brown, nice orange away strip as well

I feel this going one of two ways... we defend for the duration of the game with no shots on target,
0 0. or We get turned over by 4 or more goals, watched by 150 Poolies who should have there traveling expenses paid for by the club

PS could have a sponsored Coach push back from Gillingham.

A 7 goal Thriller then?

The only think I feel confident about is our inability to score from open play.
Pools nil Gills anything from 0 to 7

In my lifetime there have been some FA cup embarrassments: Rhyl, Boston, Altincham, Frickley, Dagenham maybe this will top the lot....

Gills 8 EIGHT Dockers 0

Noble sent off
57 Poolies
Tyrone starts and does OK

Even worse I will be in attendance. God help us

My lad was the Pools mascot that day James Brown scored his superb turn and strike. Tony Sweeney was a top guy to my lad that day.

1-1

The overconfident Gills think they only need to turn up to win but a dogged Pools defensive performance sees them go into the break just 1-0 down. Gills have their backsides kicked at half-time and quickly go 2-0 up. Bates is enforced to change his tactics as Pools go onto the offensive thus leaving huge gaps at the back that the home side exploits with ease. Final score 6-0, 123 Poolies.

6-0 defeat

Pools: Loach, Richardson, Anderson, Magnay, Kitching, Donaldson, Noble, Featherstone, McLaughlin, James, Dinanga.
Subs: Catterick, Murphy, Woods, Newton, Hawkes, Muir, O’Neill

Bit surprised Niko is out, maybe a rest for him.

Replay! Ha'way the lads!

Bounce back ability.
Well done lads.

Delighted with this result and that, finally, Bates is showing a bit of flexibility in formation and tactics. Let's hope we keep it going.

Excellent result down in Kent but how did we lose the previous week when we can keep a clean sheet against league one opposition?

There'll be a few disappointed on here tonight.

Because it's football.

Dunno. But you know all the answers so tell us.

You'll be well gutted. All day waiting hand poised above the pad, excitedly waiting for the bad news ready to strike the 'told you so button' and fate decides to have a laugh.

Keep them for the replay, cut it half and switch the halfs round. Sell them then.
Home team first accuracy.

Yes, but he got the right score. And predicted us not scoring from open play. Mystical.

True, he covers his tracks, but the number 7 indicated he expected the worst.
Mystical? ...... surely critical?

Certainly knew what Pools were capable of. Had no idea about the Gills.

Certainly knew what Pools were capable of. Had no idea about the Gills.

Good result, could of done without the replay, but great to be in 2nd round draw with a chance of progressing. Defence sounded like they played well, with what sounded like decent performances from Kitching , Richardson and Anderson. Sounded like we missed some sitters like and reckon it would be still goalless if we were still playing now. Gillingham sounded dreadful, final ball letting them down on numerous occasions. Two poor teams on the day , and cant see replay being any better on the eye.

I was really impressed by us today and we deserved to win on chances created. Noble certainly should have scored.

We showed a lot of quality at the back, Magnay and Anderson I thought were superb. Didn't put a foot wrong against their big no. 9 who could have been a nightmare if not dealt with. Thought Kenton Richardson played very well too in an unfamiliar position. I think someone said it earlier in the season but you really have to feel for Myles Anderson if Davies gets his place back.

Best I've seen our midfield in a fair few weeks as well, Noble, Featherstone and particularly McLaughlin looked sharp and we actually had a good midfield presence going forward.

Up top both James and Dinanga put in good shifts, I thought Dinanga looked the sharper and more likely to make something happen, but I was also very impressed by Tyrone O'Neill. He looks a player.

I wouldn't change anything for next week. Play like that against Barnet and we'll win.

I predicted 7-0
I blame Horden for misleading me ...

I thought we were shit now and wanted the board out?

Fantastic performance and result - shame on me how could I have had any doubt? Let's get them back to the S6 and murder them 6-0. Seriously, all eyes on tge Barnet game now. Remember that an excellent second half with 10 men at Wrexham was followed by the Muppet Show at Bromley. Let's hope that Bates gets his team selection and tactics right next week which is one of the most important games so far given recent poor league results.

Definitely my fault Though I'm taking the credit for Bates playing that prehistoric 4-4-2 formation

Where did Richardson play?

Right back.

I'm not surprised we did ok with their No 12 on Spice.
www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2018/no ... ch-report/

Mclaughlin doing his best aeroplane impression in that article


NNNEEEEOOOOOOOOOWWWW

How fat is that ref? And one of his legs is a lot longer than the other!

90 second highlights....https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46080668

looks like someone who refs. in a sunday league. even i,m slimmer than that with my diet of chips.

Going by highlights and comments of those there, we could easily have won the game. No doubt in front of our own, very critical fans we'll struggle to get a shot on goal. Maybe Bates' tactics are just too good for non league?

Quality in front of goal wins games and therein lies the problem. Kitching , Donaldson, Noble and Featherstone had good chances yesterday, if just one of them had went in. Nobles was a particularly bad miss by all accounts. I suppose yesterday it was all about keeping Eaves quiet and Magnay especially did that , as did having some height in defence, though listening on radio Gillinghams final balls were very poor so that helped.

Even I have no complaints with our away form (Bromley excepted) and getting a draw at a league one club confirms that it is no fluke. However the home performances have generally been poor. I tend to blame Bates for not trying a more attacking formation but it may be that he feels that he hasn't got the players for that. The cup replay will be a real test of the manager's tactics. We performed well at Gillingham and were probably the better team but if we do not put up a good show at the Vic, it will suggest that changes must be made.