Hartlepool bounced back from being hammered by Crewe in the Capital One Cup to record a goalless draw with Swindon in their League One opener.

Pools, beaten 5-0 last week, had a let off when former midfielder Tommy Miller blazed his second-half penalty over the bar following Peter Hartley's handball.

Home keeper Scott Flinders saved well from Matt Ritchie at the back post.

Steve Howard almost snatched victory but his header from Evan Horwood's free-kick came back off the post.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOMS

Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper told BBC Tees: "Everyone knows how disappointed I was last weekend after the Crewe game away: I was looking for a major response and I got it.

"It was a really hard-fought performance by our players against a very strong Swindon side coming here on the back of a 3-0 win against Brighton.

"I honestly couldn't have asked for more in conditions that made it hard enough watching from the sidelines - it was unbelievably hot.

"We had a good shape today, we tried something different and it's something to think about for the future."

Swindon captain Alan McCormack told BBC Wiltshire:

"I think it's a point gained, we weren't anywhere near what we know we can be.

"It was a terrible day, we can't accept that if we want to win the league.

"We've got to get back on the training pitch, watch the video and look at our mistakes.

"In this league you can't afford (to drop points). We have to be on our game every single game."

Catch up with all the latest highlights from League One on the Football League Show

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Hartlepool United

  • 01 Flinders
  • 02 Austin
  • 05 Collins
  • 06 Horwood
  • 29 Hartley (Baldwin - 90' )
  • 07 Franks (Luscombe - 84' )
  • 08 Walton
  • 11 Monkhouse
  • 15 Sweeney
  • 10 Poole (James - 77' )
  • 39 Howard

Substitutes

  • 18 Baldwin
  • 22 Holden
  • 03 Humphreys
  • 14 Luscombe
  • 20 Murray
  • 09 Nish
  • 33 James

Swindon Town

  • 01 Foderingham
  • 02 Archibald-Henville
  • 03 McEveley
  • 05 Devera
  • 06 Navarro (Ferry - 60' )
  • 10 Ritchie
  • 12 McCormack Booked
  • 18 Miller
  • 14 Benson (Collins - 68' )
  • 16 Williams
  • 23 De Vita (Rooney - 55' )

Substitutes

  • 30 Bedwell
  • 04 Flint
  • 15 Thompson
  • 07 Rooney
  • 08 Ferry
  • 13 Risser
  • 09 Collins
Ref: Brown
Att: 4,132

Match Stats

Shots

9 7

On target

2 5

Corners

3 6

Fouls

11 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:10 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:34

Inswinging corner taken by Matt Ritchie from the left by-line.

90:00 +0:45 Substitution

Substitution Jack Baldwin comes on in place of Peter Hartley.

89:37

Andy Williams takes a shot. Save by Scott Flinders.

89:18

The ball is swung over by Nathan Luscombe, clearance made by Alan McCormack.

88:19

Centre by Nathan Luscombe.

87:07

Corner from the right by-line taken by Matt Ritchie, save by Scott Flinders.

85:41

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke James by Jay McEveley. Direct free kick taken by Neil Austin.

85:14

Matt Ritchie takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Andy Monkhouse.

83:35

Direct free kick taken by Evan Horwood.

83:35 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Luscombe replaces Jonathan Franks.

83:35

Alan McCormack concedes a free kick for a foul on Luke James.

79:28

Inswinging corner taken by Luke Rooney from the left by-line, Neil Austin makes a clearance.

76:28 Substitution

Substitution James Poole leaves the field to be replaced by Luke James.

76:04

James Collins produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

69:34 Penalty

Penalty missed by Tommy Miller.

69:34

The referee gives a against Antony Sweeney for handball.

67:30

Inswinging corner taken by Luke Rooney from the left by-line.

67:30 Substitution

Substitution James Collins joins the action as a substitute, replacing Paul Benson.

67:30

Centre by Matt Ritchie, Sam Collins manages to make a clearance.

65:54

Andy Monkhouse has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

64:46

Corner taken by Jonathan Franks from the left by-line, clearance by Troy Archibald-Henville.

64:11

Luke Rooney concedes a free kick for a foul on Antony Sweeney. Evan Horwood restarts play with the free kick.

62:22

Matt Ritchie produces a cross.

61:56

Sam Collins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Williams. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Miller.

60:55

Alan Navarro gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Poole. Evan Horwood takes the direct free kick.

59:55

The offside flag is raised against Matt Ritchie. Free kick taken by Scott Flinders.

59:11 Substitution

Substitution Alan Navarro goes off and Simon Ferry comes on.

58:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matt Ritchie on Evan Horwood. Free kick taken by Jonathan Franks.

57:15

Foul by Troy Archibald-Henville on Steve Howard, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Evan Horwood.

56:14

Handball decision goes against Jay McEveley. The ball is crossed by Evan Horwood, Steve Howard takes a shot.

55:18

Corner taken by Luke Rooney from the left by-line played to the near post, Steve Howard manages to make a clearance.

54:04

Scott Flinders takes the free kick. Alan Navarro fouled by Steve Howard, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Wes Foderingham.

54:04 Substitution

Substitution Luke Rooney joins the action as a substitute, replacing Raffaele De Vita.

54:04

The referee blows for offside against Andy Williams.

53:44

Neil Austin crosses the ball, save by Wes Foderingham.

52:58

Foul by Andy Williams on Sam Collins, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Scott Flinders.

50:21

The free kick is delivered left-footed by Evan Horwood from right channel.

50:21 Booking

Booking Alan McCormack receives a caution.

50:10

Alan McCormack challenges James Poole unfairly and gives away a free kick.

46:35

Andy Williams delivers the ball.

46:07

The ball is delivered by Jay McEveley, clearance by Sam Collins. Centre by Jay McEveley, clearance by Peter Hartley.

45:41

Evan Horwood challenges Matt Ritchie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Troy Archibald-Henville takes the free kick.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +0:14 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

44:30

Corner taken right-footed by Jonathan Franks from the left by-line, Wes Foderingham makes a save.

43:22

Alan McCormack concedes a free kick for a foul on Steve Howard. Free kick taken by Neil Austin.

42:45

Steve Howard gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Troy Archibald-Henville. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Miller.

40:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan McCormack by Neil Austin. Free kick crossed right-footed by Raffaele De Vita, clearance by Evan Horwood.

39:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Troy Archibald-Henville by James Poole. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Miller.

38:03

Raffaele De Vita fouled by Antony Sweeney, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jay McEveley.

34:41

The ball is sent over by Raffaele De Vita.

33:24

Effort on goal by James Poole from long range goes harmlessly over the target.

32:52

Matt Ritchie sends in a cross, save made by Scott Flinders.

32:35

Centre by Matt Ritchie, clearance by Sam Collins.

29:07

Free kick awarded for a foul by Troy Archibald-Henville on Steve Howard. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Evan Horwood.

26:30

The ball is sent over by Jay McEveley, Matt Ritchie takes a shot. Save by Wes Foderingham.

26:30

The ball is delivered by Jay McEveley, Matt Ritchie takes a shot. Wes Foderingham makes a save.

26:19

Matt Ritchie produces a cross.

25:51

Steve Howard is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Alan McCormack.

24:08

Steve Howard takes a shot. Save by Wes Foderingham.

22:38

The ball is crossed by Jonathan Franks, Header from close range by James Poole clears the bar.

22:23

Unfair challenge on Wes Foderingham by Steve Howard results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Wes Foderingham.

21:49

The ball is sent over by Neil Austin, Steve Howard takes a shot.

20:43

The ball is swung over by Neil Austin, Shot from just outside the box by Jonathan Franks goes over the bar.

17:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andy Monkhouse on Raffaele De Vita. Raffaele De Vita crosses the ball in from the free kick.

16:34

Raffaele De Vita delivers the ball, Matt Ritchie takes a shot. Scott Flinders makes a save.

15:38

Alan McCormack concedes a free kick for a foul on James Poole. Sam Collins takes the free kick.

15:18

Andy Monkhouse is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Wes Foderingham.

14:57

Jonathan Franks crosses the ball.

13:13

Corner taken left-footed by Evan Horwood, Alan McCormack manages to make a clearance.

12:54

Antony Sweeney sends in a cross, clearance by Alan McCormack.

12:01

Andy Williams fouled by Peter Hartley, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Matt Ritchie, save by Scott Flinders.

11:23

Tommy Miller challenges James Poole unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Neil Austin.

10:57

Antony Sweeney takes a shot. Save by Wes Foderingham.

9:50

Sam Collins fouled by Andy Williams, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Flinders.

8:30

Centre by Jay McEveley.

6:15

Andy Monkhouse fouled by Troy Archibald-Henville, the ref awards a free kick. Jonathan Franks crosses the ball in from the free kick.

4:26

Jonathan Franks takes a shot. Blocked by Alan Navarro.

3:19

Foul by Jonathan Franks on Matt Ritchie, free kick awarded. The ball is sent over by Matt Ritchie, Close range header by Paul Benson goes wide of the left-hand post.

2:55

A cross is delivered by Andy Williams, Sam Collins manages to make a clearance.

1:49

Tommy Miller takes a shot. Save by Scott Flinders.

0:20

Andy Williams takes a shot. Save by Scott Flinders.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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