Hartlepool 0-0 Swindon
- Published
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:
Display was terrible - McCormack
"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."
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