CHRIS Westwood made his Hartlepool United debut at Torquay in March 1999.

Almost six years on and it's fair to say that, as Pool go back to Plainmoor this afternoon, player and club - as well as Torquay's goalscorer that day - have come a long, long way.

Pool, with Westwood alongside Gary Strodder in central defence, were thumped 3-0. Torquay's scorer that day, and also making his debut, was Eifion Williams, a £75,000 deadline-day buy from Barry Town.

Then Pool boss Chris Turner never forgot how the Welshman hurt his side that day and took him to Victoria Park three years later.

Some 236 League appearances on and Westwood has missed only a handful of games since. Micky Barron wasn't playing, just like today, and only Westwood remains of the team that eventually staved off relegation.

Westwood was easily beaten by Williams, as the striker headed home his second, and the defender was twice beaten in the build-up to the game's opening goal.

Things looked bleak for Pool at the time, with games running out and the team at the bottom of the table. Today, after five seasons of chasing success, Pool are after another play-off place and sit in sixth spot in League One, within the vital zone.

Westwood is part of a defence that hasn't been breached since Boxing Day and Neale Cooper is to name the same starting XI this afternoon.

Last week's goalless FA Cup draw with Boston might have been a frustrating one for all at Victoria Park, but Boston were limited to long-range shooting and Westwood and his defenders are rightly proud of their record of keeping it tight at the back.

"It's good for us from a defensive point of view to keep a clean sheet and we can take the positives from that,'' he said.

"It's important to keep the opposition out. We've had a couple of draws away from home as well. It might not have been pretty at times, but it's been effective.

"If we can go away from home and keep out the home side, then we have done our job.

"Boston came to us with that intention and they managed it. They will now hope they can get a result against us down there in the replay, but we will be up for that one, no doubt about it.''

Pool's away record has been the bane of their season, but they are starting to put it right.

After outplaying Walsall for long periods only to lose 2-1 on December 7, they went to Wrexham 11 days later and won for only the second time on their travels, thumping the home side 5-1.

Since then, they have kept clean sheets in successive 0-0 draws at Bristol City and Barnsley.

"This is our longest trip of the season but it's something we don't worry about,'' said Westwood.

"We are fortunate in that we are well looked after and travel well, so we have good preparation.

"If we can keep things tight and keep a clean sheet, we are always likely to nick one at the other end

"We've had a busy period and there were some tired legs last week, but it was the same for the opposition.

"Torquay have to come up to us once a season, so now it's our turn to go there. It's hard, but there you go. We will be going out with plenty of confidence and, no disrespect to Torquay, we are going to places like that looking to win.

"But, if we come back with a point and avoid defeat, then we will be happy.''

Pool's defensive unit looks like being broken up next week when Jack Ross returns to Scotland. Pool and Falkirk have agreed a £20,000 for the right back and Wednesday's FA Cup replay looks like being his last game in a Pool shirt.

Torquay's home record is almost as bad as Pool's away form.

They have lost seven times at Plainmoor, winning just three and drawing the same amount.

They lost their last home game to Chris Turner's Stockport.

Pool thumped The Gulls 4-1 at Victoria Park this season.

Goals from Joel Porter, Tony Sweeney, Mark Tinkler and Ritchie Humphreys were enough and Torquay boss Leroy Roseinor recalled: "That was one of the few times when we got thumped. We were outplayed.

"It's still fresh in the memory."

* Pool's team at Torquay in March 1999 was: Hollund, Knowles, Westwood, Strodder, McKinnon, Stephenson, Miller, Beardsley, Clark (Brightwell 52 ) Jones, Baker (Freestone 52). Subs (not used) Hughes.

Read more about Hartlepool here.