The lowdown on Saturday's opponents
LAST RESULT: Hartlepool United 1-2 Chesterfield, Sky Bet League 2, Saturday 12th April
FORM (LAST TEN GAMES): Won: 2, Drawn: 1, Lost: 7
Hartlepool United have been on a horror run of late, losing seven of their last ten games and have gone from being an outside bet for the play-offs to being involved in a relegation dogfight.
THE GAFFER – COLIN COOPER
Colin Cooper is in his first permanent job in management with Hartlepool. Cooper has had spells as caretaker at Middlesbrough and Bradford City.
It was with Boro where Cooper got his first taste f management, as well as where he began his career. In an initial seven year period he played 239 times, scoring eight goals.
Moving to Millwall in 1991, Cooper made 87 appearances in the heart of defence and moves on two years later to Nottingham Forest, where he made his first appearance in the Premier League in 1994.
Cooper played over 200 times for Forest and in 1998 moved back to Middlesbrough for £2.5m. A further 186 appearances were made by Cooper before he finally retired in 2006. Throughout his career, Cooper made 725 club appearances, as well as playing twice for England in 1995.
After retiring, Cooper served at the Riverside Stadium as reserve team manager and assistant manager until he left in 2010.
Cooper also had a spell as assistant and caretaker at Bradford before returning to manage Middlesbrough’s under-18 team, although he departed to take up the reins at Hartlepool over the summer.
HEAD TO HEAD:
Burton Albion wins: 0
Draws: 1
 Hartlepool United wins: 1
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LAST TIME WE MET:
Saturday 21st December 2013, Sky Bet League 2, Victoria Park
Hartlepool Unite 1-1 Burton Albion
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Albion spent Christmas in 5th place after earning a 1-1 draw away at Hartlepool United.
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In the first ever League meeting between the two teams, Phil Edwards’ goal put the Brewers ahead, although Brad Walker equalised after the break to ensure the Brewers went back south with a point.
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ONE TO WATCH – LUKE JAMES
Luke James is a highly rated prospect who has come through the Pools’ academy in recent years.
Currently 19 years old, James became Hartlepool’s youngest ever player when he made his debut against Colchester United in 2011, aged 17 years and 94 days.
His first senior goal came against Rochdale in a 2-0 win in January 2012, and he’s gone on to score 22 goals for the club in all competitions, including 16 this season.
With 93 appearances under his belt already, many are predicting that it won’t be long until James makes the step up.