A trip to Hartlepool United, first time since 1984, we emerge to the rain from the one working platform rail station, we have Police waiting.

We have Police offering welcoming advice, directions to the best pubs, helpful suggestions, smiles abound. We choose.

We choose a pub, it’s closed, the Police said it might be, they recommended tapping on the window and going in the back way. We tried, they wanted “ten more minutes” evidenced by the hard working cleaner still behind the bar. We promise to come back and move on.

The Clarendon calls. Immediately we are treated like long lost friends, names exchanged all with “Y’s” and “I’s” we refrain from the obvious comment.

We sink pints of Camerons Trophy, they go down well. We lose at pool to the landlord and his red shirted Newcastle United oppo (who was getting the expected stick that we, as Rams fans, would for wearing anything the colour of our rivals), we exchange views on McClaren and we revel in memories of Clough. We could be blood brothers although ours has less alcohol in the stream, theirs fortified from the 07:30 early morning opening.

We return to the Jackson Arms, we have been warned it’s “a mans pub”. It lives up to its description. Good ale, good company, food, we are fortified.

Team News, we work out a formation, Jonathan Mitchell, returning to his home ground, in goal, a back four of Ryan Shotton, Alex Pearce, Jake Buxton and Stephen Warnock. Central midfield of Craig (thought he was injured) Bryson, Chris Baird and Jamie Hanson. Debuts for wide men Nick Blackman and Abdoul Camara and Darren Bent Up front.

The sojourn ends, we emerge and we wander in the general direction of the Victoria Ground.

Two turnstiles, narrow pinch points inside too, we take our seats and stand.

For the Rams it’s different players but same style of play, we play possession football, sideways, backwards, probing. Pearce and Buxton look solid and reliable at the back. When we lose the ball then Pools show they can play. Scott Fenwick displays a Jamie Ward attitude and comes close.

Both teams are trying to get the ball down and play on the deck. It’s a tribute to their manager Ronnie Moore that they do this on a pitch that isn’t the best.

Isn’t the best, isn’t intended as an insult but rather a tribute to the hard work of the ground staff in getting this game underway. It’s the first match that Pools have played since the 19th December. A staggering stat.

If the first forty minutes are drab, as dull as dishwater you might say, then the froth comes in the last five as we work up a lather and bombard the home side goal, Blackman twice forcing great saves from keeper Trevor Carson.

Second half and Hanson who was like a rudderless and de-masted rigger, such was the waywardness of his direction is hauled off and the sprightly Johnny Russell enters the fray.

Derby direct football, accurate long balls, switching play, deep crosses into the box, the game has woken up. Camara quickly becomes a fans favourite, he lashes a thunderous shot which thumps the crossbar so hard that the rebound goes past the penalty spot before touching the ground. Right behind the goal we duck as an inch or so higher and it would have caught us smack in the face.

Then it was a wakeup call of a kind we didn’t want. Michael Woods is given space on the Rams right, a cross is whipped in high and central, Buxton and Warnock not man marking. One goes to the man, the other to the line, neither of which matter as Jake Grey volleys’ an unstoppable shot past Mitchell into the back of the net. The Rams trail, an hour gone.

Clement changes it. Bryson gives way to Jacob Butterfield. He’s been on barely a minute, he receives the ball thirty five yards out, it sticks beneath his feet, we watch as he digs in out in slow motion. A maze of twisty movements and three Poolies are left dazed as Butterfield jinks his way to a shooting opportunity, he lets fly and the ball finds the far corner of the net.

One all and we leap with joy in the nine row stand behind the goal.

Andreas Weimann adds to the attack at the expense of Blackman who had seen little of the ball, the Rams seemingly playing as close to 4-4-2 as possible.

End to end entertaining football, both sides giving their all in search of a winner.

Eventually it comes, that man Camara with a deep cross and Bent at the far post turns the ball home to win the tie 2-1 and book the Rams a place in the Fourth Round draw of the FA Cup on Monday.

It was harsh on the home side who had matched Derby for long periods of the game, they played exceptionally good football, just as neat and precise as that shown by the Rams, it belies their status as relegation battlers in Division Four, or League Two as it is now known.

All that was left was the trip back to the station, the squeeze into the “Rat Race” before the shutters come down as the windowless room reaches its capacity and is locked to safeguard those present.

Reflecting over Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild at a literally staggering 6.0 ABV, the day is remembered for the genuine warmth and friendliness of the people of Hartlepool, if only all football away days were this good.

As the banner proclaimed at the Victoria Ground; “Born A Poolie…. Live A Poolie…., Die A Poolie”, I can think of far worse things.

Poolies you did your town credit as indeed your Team did you.

Now play like that till the end of the season and move up that table. We want to play you again, in the highest possible league. Thank you for being "You" and displaying that famed North East attitude.

Match Highlights:

Post Match Interviews:

Paul Clement was happy that this week his sub move paid dividends!

Jonathan Mitchell on making his Rams debut in his home town.

COYR!!!!

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls