Hartlepool United vs Portsmouth. Sky Bet League Two.
Suit Direct StadiumAttendance4,126.
Saturday 30 November 2013 18:22, UK
Portsmouth ended a run of five defeats in a row with a hard-earned 0-0 draw with Hartlepool at Victoria Park.
Managerless Pompey, who are drawing up a shortlist to replace Guy Whittingham, dug deep to frustrate a Pools team who have lost further ground on the League Two play-off places. Portsmouth could easily have won at Victoria Park under caretaker boss Andy Awford, but can take heart from a point claimed in front of more than 500 travelling fans in the north east. There were a couple of opportunities in the first half for both teams and Portsmouth went closest after quarter of an hour when Jed Wallace's shot was turned against the post by goalkeeper Scott Flinders. The visitors also had a decent chance after half-time when Flinders was equal to a hooked shot from defender Sonny Bradley which was heading for the top corner. Hartlepool had their moments but none really posed former Sunderland goalkeeper Trevor Carson a serious problem until he stopped a low 20-yard drive from in-form Luke James. And then Matty Dolan's long range drive in the closing stages also had to be turned over by Carson, but Portsmouth survived.
