Joey Barton's side look to climb the table in this tough League Two fixture
After what is generally seen as a dire first half of the season for Rovers following their relegation to England's fourth tier last season, Joey Barton's side will be desperate to continue the recent slight upturn in form against Graeme Lee's Hartlepool team.
Having gained promotion back into League Two last season after a miserable few years in non-league, Hartlepool United have surprised and are currently sitting midtable under Lee's stewardship. With this in mind, The Pirates will be hoping to show what they are made of in this fixture; particularly after their 1-0 away defeat in September thanks to Jamie Sterry's second half strike.
The last time the two sides met was as long ago as 2016, the last time Hartlepool found themselves in the Football League. A Matty Taylor hattrick and Rory Gaffney grabbed one on that night - what Rovers would do for a striker of Taylor's quality these days.
About Bristol Rovers
Nicknamed The Pirates and The Gas, Bristol Rovers Football Club were established in 1883 and currently play in the EFL League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club plays its home matches at the 12,300 capacity Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of Bristol. Having been bought by billionaire Jordanian Waed al-Qadi and his family in 2016, Rovers have struggled to live up to expectations and will be looking to prove doubters wrong in the 2021/22 season.
Bristol Rovers have played in the English football league since 1920, with their best-ever finish being in both 1956 and 1959 when they secured sixth place in the second tier of English football, then known as Division Two. Having suffered relegation to League Two in 2011 and then into the Conference in 2014, they managed to bounce straight back with two consecutive promotions in 2014/15 and 2015/16 to regain their League One status in 2016/17, where they remained for 4 years before their relegation back to League Two last season.
The club's honours include the 1990 Football League Third Division title when they finished 2 points ahead of arch-rivals and that seasons Runners-Up, Bristol City. Find Bristol Rovers' full 2020/21 fixture list here.