Reborn in Football to Build Top Clubs from English League Two

199: The cruise to the top of the list and the ”big gift package” againAt Victoria Park on September 27th, autumn was deepening. Sunlight filtered through the clouds onto the pitch, and the fans in the stands were still enthusiastic. The afterglow of defeating Arsenal was still lingering, and everyone’s faces were filled with pride.

“Today’s opponent is Leicester City,” Old John said, giving his final motivational speech in the locker room. “Don’t underestimate them because of previous victories.”

Vardy tied his shoelaces, his eyes focused and determined. Consecutive goals had boosted his confidence, but the deep-seated desire for victory never waned.

Henderson patted his teammates’ shoulders: “Guys, we need to prove that beating Arsenal wasn’t luck.”

The match was a stalemate from the first minute. Leicester City had clearly done their homework, using dense midfield defense to restrict Hartlepool United’s attack.

De Bruyne frequently dropped back in midfield, trying to find space for passes. Every time he received the ball, he was tightly marked by opponents, but the young Belgian talent displayed a calmness beyond his years.

In the sixty-eighth minute, the opportunity finally arrived. Coutinho completed a brilliant dribble on the wing, then delivered a precise cross. Vardy got to the ball in the penalty area and calmly slotted it into the net.

1-0.

Victoria Park erupted in thunderous cheers. This goal was not easy to come by, but it was precisely this difficulty that made the victory even more precious.

“This is the performance expected of a Championship team,” Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler exclaimed. “In the most difficult moments, they always find a way to win.”

Three days later, Nottingham Forest’s home stadium. The red stands were packed with local fans, who greeted the visiting team from the North with boos.

But Hartlepool United’s players were already used to this treatment. Vardy opened the scoring for his team with a brilliant long-range shot fifteen minutes into the match.

Henderson’s performance in midfield was perfect. His every interception was precise, and every pass was threatening. This young English midfielder was proving his worth with his actions.

In the second half, De Bruyne’s through ball once again tore apart the opponent’s defense. Vardy scored his second goal, sealing the score at 2-0.

The away victory made the entire Championship take notice. Hartlepool United’s dominance had reached a new height.

On October 4th, Norwich City came to Victoria Park. This team, known for its technical football, caused Hartlepool United quite a bit of trouble.

The match was exceptionally intense. Both sides engaged in fierce battles in midfield, with sparks flying in every tackle.

It wasn’t until the eighty-third minute that substitute Snodgrass broke the deadlock with a brilliant free-kick. The ball arced perfectly over the wall and into the top corner of the goal.

The 1-0 score was maintained until the final whistle. This victory further extended Hartlepool United’s lead in the League standings.

On October 7th, Derby County’s home stadium welcomed the unstoppable visiting team. The match was one-sided from the start.

Coutinho opened the scoring for his team with a long-range shot in the twentieth minute. Subsequently, Vardy and De Bruyne’s brilliant collaboration added two more goals.

Although Derby County pulled one goal back in the second half, the 3-1 score was enough to say it all.

The post-match statistics shocked everyone. Hartlepool United had established a huge twelve-point lead in the League standings.

The front-page headline of the Daily Mail was particularly striking: “Can the Northern Dragon set a Championship winning streak record?”

The media began to analyze the team’s performance with various data. De Bruyne and Coutinho’s assist statistics led the entire League, and Vardy’s goal-scoring efficiency was astonishing.

Even more impressive was the defensive line composed of Smalling and Shawcross. This young center-back pairing provided the most solid guarantee for the team’s offense with their steady performance.

At Phoenix Training Center, Lin Feng was guiding the team through new tactical training.

“We need more variations,” Lin Feng said, pointing to the diagrams on the tactics board. “Both the false nine and three-at-the-back systems need to be mastered.”

Old John diligently recorded every detail: “Boss, is this to prepare for stronger opponents?”