Mixed emotions for Cooper

Colin Cooper had mixed emotions after Hartlepool followed up last week's win over Shrewsbury by drawing 0-0 with Tranmere.

In a scrappy game of few chances at Victoria Park, it was the visitors who enjoyed the better of proceedings as Abdulai Bell-Baggie, in particular, caused problems. Yet neither side was able to produce any moments of real quality, with Cooper just about satisfied to secure a point. He said: "We started the game brightly and we did not get that early goal like we did last week. "The longer that goes on maybe you do get a little bit anxious and the quality is not quite there. "The most important thing is we back last week up with something else. Yes I would love to have three points. A good week, but it could be better." Pools are now 20th in the table and Cooper is hoping they can kick on, insisting they have the ability to mix it with anybody in the Football League's lowest division. He added: "We can compete with anyone in the league; what we have to do is be resolute, find a way to unlock the opposition defence and create some chances to win games." Tranmere boss Rob Edwards extolled the virtues of his side's overall effort and was unperturbed by their inability to capitalise on having the better of the chances. He said: "Yeah, we had a lot of chances but the forward players all worked hard and that is what I ask from them. "I ask for a little bit more work rate to make the team a bit safer defensively and help the back four a bit. "I suppose you cannot worry too much if you are making chances; you just have to put them away." However, Edwards also admitted that 14th-placed Tranmere have plenty of hard work ahead. He added: "We have not changed the team too often in the last couple of games. The team needs to be solid and show flashes. "On the coach here we had Manchester City versus Arsenal on the television and I pointed out how organised they are defensively. When were are out of position, we constantly need to be saying, 'What we are doing without the ball?'. "There are never enough hours during the week; we always need to be working on something."