Report: Fair Result As Swindon Hold Hartlepool

Hartlepool United and Swindon Town played out an enjoyable draw on the opening day of the league season.

Neale Cooper responded to last week's Capital One Cup drubbing at Crewe with a solitary change as Paulo Di Canio's Swindon Town arrived at Hartlepool.

Luke James was the one to miss out, with James Poole taking his place alongside Steve Howard in attack.

It was the visitors who started the better at a blistering Victoria Park, rallied by the effervescent Di Canio on the sidelines.

A slick move by Hartlepool created the first opening of the game, with James Poole breaking from the centre of park before finding Jonathan Franks on the left side. The busy winger whipped a great ball in for Andy Monkhouse, only for the former Swindon man to lose his footing and fail to connect with the ball.

Scott Flinders was soon in action at the other end as Swindon searched for an opener, Matt Ritchie powered the ball towards goal after an Alan Navarro cross but the big keeper was on hand to pull off a quality save.

The game continued to go from end to end in the second half, with Pools creating two great opportunities in the early stages of the second period.

Neat play by Monkhouse sent Poole hurtling towards goal with just one defender for company. But Poole, perhaps looking a little short of confidence, ran the ball out wide where the away defence were able to regain possession all too easily.

But Pools continued to rattle Swindon, with Steve Howard smashing a headed effort back off the post, the rebound fortunately falling into the palms of keeper Wes Foderingham.

The visitors had a golden chance to take the lead when the ball hit Peter Hartley's hand in the area, but a woeful penalty from former Pools star Tommy Miller kept the scores level. Miller blasting the ball way over the bar in front of the travelling fans in the Rink End.

In the dugout, Di Canio continued to seethe as substitute James Collins made space for himself in the area, before driving an effort wide of the target.

The home side continued to throw testing balls into the area, with Foderingham looking shaky when coming for crosses, but were unable to find a way through.

Both sides will look at chances missed to win the game, but will ultimately be happy with a good point.

FT: Hartlepool 0 Swindon 0 Hartlepool: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley (Baldwin 90), Horwood, Monkhouse, Walton, Sweeney, Franks (Luscombe 84), Poole (James 76), Howard
Subs not used: Murray, Humphreys, Holden, Nish

Swindon Town: Foderingham, Devera, McEveley, McCormack, Archibald-Henville, Navarro (Ferry 59), Miller, Ritchie, De Vita (Rooney 54), Benson (Collins 68), Williams
Subs not used: Bedwell, Flint, Thompson, Risser

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