STATISTICAL PREVIEW: Hartlepool (H)

Introduction

Scunthorpe welcome Hartlepool to the Attis Arena on Saturday.

The Iron are coming off the back of a 1-0 loss away at Hornchurch last week, where Ryan Inniss’ goal was the difference-maker.

Hartlepool are also coming off the back of a loss, losing 3-1 at home to Worthing last Saturday.

The experts at Andy’s Bet Club will be reviewing each of our games for the 2026/27 season, and you can find their daily free betting tips on their website.

Match Preview

Scunthorpe currently sit 22nd in the National League after back-to-back defeats to Hornchurch at top-of-the-league Boreham Wood.

Hornchurch centre-back Ryan Inniss scored the only goal of the game after 70 minutes in a game where they controlled it in large parts.

Hartlepool have lost five of their last six in the National League, and currently sit 19th in the table.

They lost 3-1 at home to Worthing on Saturday, in a game where they only racked up 0.79 xG.

Scunthorpe United Form Guide

The Iron had more shots than Hornchurch, having 18 shots (4 on target) to the hosts’ 11 (2 on target).

Scunthorpe’s PPDA (passes per defensive action) was 9.6, meaning they made a defensive action for roughly every ten Hornchurch passes compared to the hosts’ figure of 20.8.

The control Andy Butler’s side had on the game is also reflected in their possession, having 68% of the ball last Saturday.

Danny Whitehall was the biggest threat to the Hornchurch goal, having five shots with one on target for an xG of 0.44.

Hartlepool United Form Guide

Hartlepool only racked up 0.79 xG in their loss to Worthing, compared to the visitors’ 2.17.

They only mustered half (8) of Worthing’s (16) shots total on Saturday.

Hartlepool’s PPDA against Worthing was 8.5, and they won the ball back 33 times in the visitors’ half.

Almost the entirety of Hartlepool’s xG came through their only goalscorer, Will Harris (0.78 xG).

Tactical Insight

The most interesting contest could be Scunthorpe’s build-up from the back against the Hartlepool press.

Against Hornchurch, goalkeeper Maison Campbell made 22 successful passes inside his own third, and 18 of them went to Will Evans or Stan Ashbee at centre-back.

Hornchurch mostly sat off, with a PPDA of 20.8, which gave the two centre-backs time on the ball, and Evans completed 71 of his 89 passes while Ashbee completed 50 of 63.

Hartlepool went after the ball much higher up against Worthing as reflected in their PPDA of 8.5, and they recovered possession 33 times in the Worthing half.

If Scunthorpe can break the Hartlepool press, there will be plenty of space to exploit and create chances.

Conclusion

A result here would surely lift Scunthorpe out of the bottom four, and form is not on Hartlepool’s side.

Hartlepool’s hopes will rest heavily on Will Harris, and on whether United can keep their former striker away from goal.

Check out Andy’s Bet Club for more match analysis like this, alongside free betting offers from top UK-licensed bookmakers.