NEALE Cooper has never had any doubts about the character of his Hartlepool United side.

So, even when they went a goal behind on Saturday evening, he knew they would come back into the Victoria Park play-off game.

The manager saw his side draw 1-1 with Bristol City and, despite seeing his side dominate for long periods, was content with the outcome.

And with Pool's away record a match for anyone in Division Two, a place in the Millennium Stadium final on Sunday, May 30 remains within reach.

Joel Porter's second-half goal levelled the tie and, with away goals not counting in the two game head to head, Pool are confident of achieving away win number 11 this season.

Cooper said: "We were a goal behind after five minutes, but we actually started lively and had a couple of chances before the goal.

"Credit to the boys because when we got the ball down and passed it around like we can, we caused them a lot of problems - playing long balls to the front men isn't our style.

"We are all in this together, we deserved the goal and so did Joel. It has been a great effort from everyone and it makes it all the more exciting for Wednesday.

"I'm reasonably happy, the score is one-each and we have a very good away record. We went to Swindon and drew when their was a lot of pressure on us because it was the last day of the season.

"We will never change the way we play the game and we go there to win.

"Our form away from home is the best in the division and we can take heart from that. It's strange because at the start of the season, our away form wasn't the best and it was the home form which was keeping us going.

"Then it turned around and it's probably our home form which has pegged us back. There's no away goals to count, so it makes it very interesting on Wednesday.'' Pool have exceeded all expectations this season after finishing in sixth spot.

They were three places and nine points behind Danny Wilson's big-spending side and Cooper admitted: "At the start of the season, people said finishing fifth bottom would have been good.

"But these boys work hard, are very organised and fight for each other. There is great spirit and the backing we had from the crowd was brilliant.

"The fans have a very good relationship with the players and it is so important. The crowd are close to the pitch and it brings players and fans together.

"I have never heard an atmosphere like that at Hartlepool.''

Cooper knows, however, City's strikers will prove a threat on Wednesday.

Lee Peacock and Christian Roberts were a threat at Victoria Park and the Pool boss confessed: "The strikers are a real danger, Roberts is quick and you have to keep Peacock with his back to goal because he is a big threat.

"I think we could have done better to cut out their goal, Peacock could have been closed down quicker and not been allowed to put the ball over.

"It was good delivery and the lad came in from the back to score, he's come over the top of Hugh (Robertson).

"Again we could have gone one behind and crumbled, but that doesn't happen with us. We have had three good and close games with Bristol this season and I'm sure Wednesday will be no different.''

Both managers were left perplexed by the display of referee Paul Taylor.

He failed to award Pool a penalty when Eifion Williams was felled by Steve Phillips after he rounded the goalkeeper and Cooper said: "It was a stonewaller. Danny (Wilson) said it was a penalty as well.

"How did he give a corner? Should the referee have booked our lad for diving then? But it wasn't a penalty according to the referee, so we move on.''

Wilson joined Cooper in criticising the official. Taylor won't take charge for the second-leg, that task has been given to Graham Poll. He said: "I was very disappointed with the referee's display and I don't mind saying it.

"I thought he was very inconsistent. We escaped a penalty against us, which we're thankful for, but that was evened up by the free-kick they equalised from.

"I thought he had swallowed the whistle at one stage because every time he breathed there was a whistle. He added: "Overall we can't complain with the outcome. We'll have to take into account their away record but we've got a great home record as well."

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