IT'S been a profitable few days for Jim Provett; life changing in fact.

Hartlepool United's goalkeeper became a father for the first time on Thursday, signed a new contract on Friday and kept a clean sheet at Tranmere on Saturday.

It's been a memorable few hours in a memorable season for the 21-year-old, his first campaign as Pool's No 1 keeper, and the Pool fan couldn't be happier with life.

The goalless draw at Prenton Park means Pool's rearguard has conceded one goal in four games - in the FA Cup defeat at Sunderland - and just two in the last five League encounters.

On the odd occasion Tranmere tested him at the weekend, there was no way through.

Provett, who made his first-team debut at Tranmere last season when a Pool reserve team lost 5-0 in the LDV Vans Trophy, admitted: "As a goalkeeper I've got ambitions to play higher, it would be wrong not to. But I couldn't be happier with life at Hartlepool.

"I've signed a new contract, supported the club all my life and it means a lot to me. The fans were singing my name on Saturday and it's weird because I'm a supporter as well.

"I love playing at the Vic, it gives me such a buzz to be out there. Our home form has been brilliant all along. We lost to Barnsley, but it was one of those games you get.

"It's one home defeat in over a year-and-a-half, which is unbelieveable. We are just outside the play-offs and when people write you off it spurs you on.

"Teams are showing us more respect, especially at home, because they know what we can do.''

Cooper gave Provett the chance he has taken so confidently - with both hands - and the manager admitted: "I'm delighted that he has signed a new deal with us.

"He has been a top man this season. There's been plenty of super performances from the players, but he has been one of the main ones.

"He's just become the father of a baby girl and he is a great lad to work with. Right from the first game he played for me - and before then - there was never any worries about him.

"He has taken the bull by the horns and gets better and better. He will be a major asset to the club. He's a fan as well and loves it here.''

New deal in the bag, new baby at home and Provett can now look forward to plenty of sleepless nights.

But nightmares and sleepless nights are the last things his defenders are suffering.

They can rest like babies, safe in the knowledge they have Provett behind them.

The performances of Provett and central defenders Micky Nelson and Chris Westwood is the rock on which Pool's success this season has been built.

On Saturday there was no way past them for Brian Little's Tranmere and they now lie proudly in eighth place in Division Two.

A place in the play-offs is within grasp. From there a derby with Leeds United next season is on the cards - it's not beyond the realms of possibility is it?

There might have been a tinge of disappointment from the visitors that they didn't win, their second-half dominance should have led to victory.

Before the break Nelson and Mark Tinkler both had good chances, but both headed the same side of the post.

Nelson ghosted in from nowhere to head a Gavin Strachan free-kick across the goal of John Achetburg and then Tinkler latched onto Nelson's flick only to plant his header wide.

The theatrics of striker Eugene Dadi offered an entertaining side show to proceedings.

Nelson suffered a cut head which needed three stitches at half-time in a clash with the Ivory Coast striker but when Dadi wasn't being pulled up for fouls - he was booked for persistent offending -he was crying out for them himself.

Right on half-time Micky Barron - looking an accomplished right back - raced forward and tried his luck from 25 yards. Achteburg went full stretch and Eifion Williams put the rebound over under pressure.

Matty Robson, two goals in the reserves last week, created a yard of space on the edge of the box and curled a shot off the inside of the post and Chris Shuker and Williams were both crowded out as they prepared to shoot.

Yet Tranmere got into gear in the closing stages.

Barron brought down Ian Hume as he broke clear and was booked.

From the free-kick the skipper stood deep to head a Ryan Taylor free-kick off the line - the midfielder scored at Victoria Park last season in the League Cup from an identical position - and they had a penalty shout turned down when Robson and Kevin Hume collided.

"Never a penalty, no way,'' said Cooper. "It could have been given,'' said Little.

Perhaps Little's Tranmere expected it to be given after referee Mark Cowburn tried to turn the game into a non-contact sport in the first-half.

Little added: "It was a good game and probably a fair result. Hartlepool certainly gave us one or two problems.''

Result: Tranmere Rovers 0 Hartlepool United 0.

Read more about Hartlepool here.