164: The dominance of blitzkrieg and suffocation

Cheltenham Town's home ground was shrouded in drizzle.

The dark clouds above the stadium hung low, and raindrops drummed a dull rhythm on the stands' roof.

The home fans' shouts were particularly harsh in the damp air; they waved their red and white scarves, trying to drown out the visiting team's morale with their cheers.

Lin Feng stood in the visiting team's box, hands clasped behind his back.

His gaze cut through the misty rain, locking onto the white spot in the center of the pitch.

The main referee was checking his watch, preparing to blow the whistle to start the match.

"Gentlemen, it's time for our show to begin."

Watching everything on the field unfold precisely according to the script, Lin Feng's index finger tapped lightly on his palm, his hands still clasped behind his back.

The starting whistle became the signal for Hartlepool United to launch a full assault; all eleven players, without any hesitation, pushed forward across the entire field.

They charged towards the opponent's half with an almost savage intensity, like a pack of cheetahs receiving the same command.

Walker and Robson, the two full-backs, were astonishingly fast.

The moment the whistle blew, they began a frantic forward run, completely abandoning the caution of traditional defenders.

Maloney, Vardy, and Snodgrass, the three forwards, formed an inverted triangle attacking formation.

The five-man shock wave instantly panicked Cheltenham Town's defense.

"What kind of play is this?"

Cheltenham Town's center-back shouted, trying to organize the defense.

But his voice was quickly swallowed by the footsteps of the Hartlepool United players.

In the fifth minute, Walker received a long pass from Henderson.

Without any pause, he sprinted wildly along the right touchline.

Cheltenham Town's left-back, following his usual experience, retreated, attempting to block Walker's cut inside.

But the data analysis provided by the [Eye of the North] had already told Lin Feng that this defender's fatal weakness was his turning speed.

Walker suddenly accelerated, directly overtaking him from the outside.

Before the left-back could complete his turn, Walker had already reached the byline.

The cross arced gracefully, accurately finding the center of the penalty area.

Vardy's shot was miraculously saved by the goalkeeper, but the ball rebounded to Maloney's feet.

The young Irishman instinctively tapped the ball into the empty net.

"Goal!"

The Sky Sports commentator's voice became sharp.

"Just eight minutes into the game, Hartlepool United has achieved a dream start!"

Maloney ran towards the corner flag, arms outstretched, embracing his teammates who ran from all directions.

Walker was the first to reach him, and the two embraced tightly.

"Perfect cross!" Maloney shouted into Walker's ear.

Rain streamed down their faces, but everyone's face glowed with excitement.

The Hartlepool fans in the away stands erupted in thunderous cheers.

They jumped wildly in the rain, scarves flying in the air, forming a blue and white ocean.

Cheltenham Town's players stood still, their faces filled with shock and helplessness.

They had completely underestimated the opponent's fierce opening.

Coach Johnson frantically waved his arms on the sidelines, trying to calm his players down.

But it was too late; Hartlepool United's tactical objective had been achieved.

After taking the lead, Lin Feng's team displayed a completely different temperament.

They did not continue their frantic attack but began an elegant passing and possession display.

The ball was passed back and forth between the Hartlepool United players, each touch appearing effortless.

Henderson became the commander on the field, every one of his passes accurate.

Sigurdsson and Tinkler constantly moved on both wings, creating passing space for their teammates.

Cheltenham Town's players frantically chased the ball, but always a beat too slow.

They were like dogs being walked, tirelessly running after the ball on the field.

By the twentieth minute, Cheltenham Town's forwards were already panting heavily.

They had expended too much energy in the opening stages, and now even running became difficult.

"Possession rate seventy-three percent."

Lin Feng's assistant coach reported the real-time data beside him.

"The opponent only had two shots, and neither was threatening."

Lin Feng nodded, his expression still calm.

This dominance was exactly what he expected and the ability a truly strong team should possess.

For the remainder of the first half, the match completely turned into a Hartlepool United solo show.

Their passing accuracy reached an astonishing ninety-two percent.

Cheltenham Town's players had very few chances to even touch the ball, let alone create threats.

When the halftime whistle blew, the away fans once again erupted in warm applause.

They had witnessed a truly dominant performance.

In the locker room, the Hartlepool United players were in high spirits.

Old John had a satisfied smile on his face as he checked his phone for instructions from Lin Feng.

"The boss said, continue to control the game, enjoy the game."

Old John relayed Lin Feng's words to the players.

"If possible, let our scorers rack up some more stats."

This remark caused a ripple of laughter among the players.

Vardy spoke up, "I don't want to be outdone by Maloney."

"Then it depends on who has better luck," Maloney retorted.

This relaxed atmosphere was the best reflection of the team's excellent form.

After the second half began, Hartlepool United continued their performance.

Cheltenham Town tried to launch a counterattack with the encouragement of their home fans, but with little effect.

Every one of their attacks was easily defused by Hartlepool United's midfield.

Henderson was like a wall, standing between the opposing forwards and defenders.

In the sixtieth minute, Sigurdsson successfully intercepted the ball near the center circle.

He did not rush to pass forward but patiently observed his teammates' runs.

Vardy raised his hand for the ball at the edge of the penalty area, but Sigurdsson chose another direction.

Snodgrass cut in from the right wing, creating an excellent shooting angle.

Sigurdsson's pass accurately found the Scotsman's feet.

Snodgrass did not waste the opportunity, scoring with a low right-footed shot.

"Two-nil!"

The commentator's voice once again echoed through the stadium.

"Hartlepool United completely controlled the pace of the game!"

This goal completely crushed Cheltenham Town's fighting spirit.

The home players' running became slower and slower, and their passing began to falter frequently.

Lin Feng watched the opponents being toyed with and running ragged on the field, slowly exhaling. The sense of control from the perfect execution of his plan, deep in his chest, intoxicated him more than any victory.

This overwhelming advantage was not accidental but the result of systematic planning and meticulous preparation.

From tactical formulation to player execution, every aspect reached a near-perfect level.

For the final twenty minutes, the match completely lost its suspense.

The Hartlepool United players played at will on the field, with various exquisite combinations emerging one after another.

Their passing success rate consistently remained above ninety percent.

Cheltenham Town's goalkeeper became the busiest person on the field, but his efforts only delayed the inevitable goals.

When the final whistle blew, the score was 2-0.

Hartlepool United once again conquered the away ground with a perfect performance.

The players embraced in celebration on the field, their faces beaming with the joy of victory.

This was their twelfth consecutive win of the season, just one step away from equaling the League One consecutive win record.

The fans in the away stands sang the team song in unison, their voices spreading throughout the entire stadium.

Even some neutral fans were won over by their performance, spontaneously applauding.

At the post-match press conference, Cheltenham Town's Coach Johnson appeared very dejected.

"We tried our best, but the opponent was simply too strong."

His voice was slightly trembling, clearly not yet recovered from the blow of defeat.

"They are not only technically excellent, but their tactical execution has also reached the top level of professional League."

Meanwhile, Hartlepool United's team bus was already on its way back.

The players discussed the just-concluded match on the bus, everyone appearing excited.

"Next game, we can equal the record," Henderson's voice was full of anticipation.

"Not just equal, but surpass it," Vardy added.

Lin Feng sat in the front row of the bus, quietly listening to the players' discussion.

He knew this confidence was built on strength and was an important sign of the team's path to success.

His phone suddenly rang, the screen displaying an incoming call from Richard Arnold.

"Boss, the League Cup fourth-round draw results are out."

Richard's voice sounded both excited and nervous.

"Our opponent is Everton."

Lin Feng's eyebrows subtly raised when he heard this news.

Everton, a mid-table Premier League team, their strength was definitely not to be underestimated.

"Interesting," Lin Feng said softly.

"This will be a true test."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Feng fell into thought.

Facing Everton would be the team's biggest challenge this season.

But it was also the best opportunity to prove their strength.

If they could defeat a Premier League team in the League Cup, Hartlepool United's prestige would reach a whole new level.

The rain outside the window had stopped, and a few rays of sunshine appeared in the sky.

Lin Feng looked at the distant horizon, already beginning to plan the tactics to deal with Everton in his mind.