NEALE Cooper is going to have to look up some new words in the dictionary because he's fast running out of superlatives to praise his defence.

This win at Chesterfield took Hartlepool United's unbeaten run to 12 games in league and cup, increased the gap between fifth-placed Pool and the play-off chasers to seven points and further closed the gap on the leaders to eight points.

Pool have taken 21 points from a possible 27 since losing at Walsall on December 2.

And it's their defence that's giving them the chance to progress. The Recreation Ground might have the appearance of the local rec but there was nothing shabby about Pool's performance.

After being unable to do anything but lose away from home in the early part of the season, Pool have now kept five clean sheets on the road in their last seven trips.

The seven away games before that saw the defence breached 15 times.

During that run, Cooper was fed up of having to say the same things. Now he's saying the same, but it's not a repeat show he's sick of.

"We knew before the game what we would be up against,'' said Cooper.

"A lot of long balls, they play for corners and set-pieces to get the ball up there.

"Wayne Allison is a handful, he's got the experience and he got man of the match for them, but again the central defenders was magnificent.

"Not much gets beyond them, they have a great understanding and I can't say enough about them.

"Chesterfield score a lot of their goals, not from wide play, but from getting the ball into the box from other means.

"They have height throughout the team, but we gave nothing away again. Westy (Chris Westwood) and Nelse (Micky Nelson) are playing fantastically well together.

"It was really hard work and everyone played their part.

"The full backs played their part as well, giving the central defenders a bit of extra cover.

"We had a midfield four who played their part - they were solid and worked hard. Ritchie (Humphreys) had a good game again, I've seen that in the last few weeks.

"We looked good in there and used the ball well, but they helped to protect the back four as well.''

Hugh Robertson's return to the side came with the win over Stockport on December 11 and in 20 appearances this season, he's only twice been part of a losing side - at Tranmere and Swindon in the opening month of the season.

On Saturday, both he and Jack Ross tucked in to provide extra cover for Nelson and Westwood. The middle men coped with the long balls and threat of Allison, the full backs mopping up when needed.

Chesterfield's sole aim was to find Allison at every opportunity. The big 36-year-old scrapped for every ball, but Nelson and Westwood didn't give him an inch.

Last season, playing against a big targetman proved a problem as Steve Howard, Clive Platt and Steve Fletcher were troublesome for Nelson.

Of late it's been a different story and Nelson and Westwood have helped Pool to a defensive record which rivals that of Chelsea.

During this unbeaten run Pool have bagged 21 goals, conceding just five.

Adam Boyd's 19th of the season proved enough, but only after both he and Joel Porter contrived to miss great first-half openings.

First Porter charged at the defence and Boyd peeled into space on the left side of the penalty area.

When the pass came he was faced with just keeper Carl Muggleton, but the keeper got the better of this duel.

Boyd swiped at thin air instead of striking the ball, as it took a bobble and bounced out of his swing.

"From the angle I had at pitchside, the ball definitely came up awkwardly off the ground,'' said Cooper.

"He missed the ball because of it, it spun right up.''

Then, as half-time approached, Boyd fed Porter on halfway. His pace took him away, his touch and control made him look a certain scorer.

Muggleton stood on his line, but Porter took the ball onto his less-favoured right foot and shot wide from ten yards.

Next time Boyd was faced with the former Pool loan keeper, he didn't miss.

A fleeting turn took him through two defenders and into the area. His first shot was blocked, but second time around he rifled low past Muggleton, who struggled to get down to the shot.

Pool were facing ten men for 43 minutes of the second-half. Jordan Fowler cynically brought down Porter in first-half stoppage time then slid into Ben Clark soon after.

His team-mates didn't complain about the decision, but the home crowd did.

But they like to complain about referees at Chesterfield. The performance of the official in last week's draw with Hull led to one club official amazingly urging fans to write to the FA and register their disgust.

It's not that long ago that Chesterfield were under fire and investigation themselves for breaking every financial rule going in winning promotion in 2001.

The financial gamesmanship at Saltergate earned them a top three finish at Pool's expense; the way Pool are going right now, maybe nothing can stop them.

Result: Chesterfield 0 Hartlepool 1.

Read more about Hartlepool here.