- Team form: Marine are on a run of four straight wins.
- Home form: Hartlepool are winless in their last three home games.
Pools in a slump
Peter Wild has headed Hartlepool United since 1st October 2026, and although they've not been terrible overall, his team appear to have lacked a bit of rhythm at home since he joined the club. The Pools play a possession-based 3-5-2 formation, pressing high up the field and trying to overload the opponent in the wide areas in order to create enough chances.
United have won just once in five home games across all competitions and are averaging just 0.40 goals per game at the other end of the field, which is a worry.
Marine in solid form
Recent form
Marine have won six of their last ten across all competitions, while Hartlepool United have won just twice in that period.
Manager and tactics
Neil Young has been in charge of Marine since 1st September 2020, and he's really got the club on a good path. Marine prefer to sit back in a solid block and press selectively, which should suit the visitors in this clash.
They're a side who know how to nick a game on the break or from a set piece, and they've shown they have the mental fortitude to see out tough games over the past few weeks.
Stick with the visitors
Over 2.5 goals is 1.62 for Saturday's game and it should be a decent cup tie with chances at both ends.
This is the game that should suit Marine most, and the away side are taken to edge it.
- However, Marine to win is the call here at 5.5, as the Mariners have won their last two without fanfare, beating Warrington Town 2-0 in FA Cup Qualification 2026 and Spalding Utd 1-0 in National League North 2026.
- Both Teams to Score – No is 1.95 and that's appealing too, as Marine are unlikely to give much away, while Hartlepool may lack the punch to do the damage themselves.
