FOOTBALL managers sometimes take satisfaction in the most perverse of ways.

Last season Mike Newell took more pride and joy than any other out of a single goal win at Boston in thick mud and snow which was as ugly as they come.

Now Neale Cooper feels this win over Swindon is his personal favourite.

Granted it was far more entertaining than the Battle of Boston.

But forget an 8-1 win over Grimsby, a 4-3 comeback win at Peterborough or victory over Port Vale which featured football of the highest order.

No, Cooper takes more heart out of a game dictated by a gale-force wind which saw his side forced on the back foot to defend in numbers for long second-half periods.

They're a strange breed these managers.

Following the disappointment of a flat display at Plymouth the previous week, Cooper couldn't have been happier with the victory which took the unbeaten home run to 27 games and lifted his side into fifth place.

"That was our best result of the season,'' claimed Cooper. "I was delighted with it. It was so important to win because Swindon were just behind us and I am most relieved because it really lifts us.

"I imagine Swindon will go away feeling gutted with the result because of the amount of pressure they had.

"We knew it would be like that in the second-half, we knew we would be under the cosh.

"They are a really good side, they drew with QPR last week, and it was like the alamo in the second half. But we dug in deep and defended superbly when the wind was swirling.

"Jim Provett was outstanding, Micky Nelson gave nothing away and Micky Barron did well. Micky felt unwell during the night, but he wanted to play and ended up seeing the doctor after the game. That's the sort of spirit we have.

"I've given Nichael Nelson some stick for playing against big strikers this season, but he was outstanding."

Cooper added: "It was a massive result, because the league is so tight - they have dropped to 13th.

"They have done very well and I am really proud of the players, how they have reacted in training, everything about them.''

Swindon boss Andy King, after locking his team in the dressing room for almost an hour, emerged to trot out a pathetic and predictable line managers living in the dark ages like to trot out following a defeat at Victoria Park.

"We should be beating teams like Hartlepool" and "It was cold and windy" were two of his best.

Perhaps King would like to note that Pool have not lost at home in 27 games and better teams than Swindon are among those who have suffered.

Cooper handed Danny Byrne and Joel Porter their debuts.

Byrne showed some good touches but didn't see enough of the ball. Porter linked up well and made a nuisance of himself to earn Pool a penalty.

He raced onto Micky Barron's long ball from the back and nipped in to touch the ball beyond Rhys Evans who felled the Aussie in a manner of which Martin Johnson and Co would be proud.

Gavin Strachan confidently stroked Pool one-up after Swindon's best delaying tactics.

With the wind behind them, Pool never bombarded the Swindon penalty area with long or high balls, a tactic Pool had to stand against in the second-half.

Right from the restart the ball seemed to live in the penalty area. But after endless corners, all dealt with admirably by Jim Provett and the Pool defence, they remained unbreached.

Steve Robinson poked wide from eight yards, Sam Parkin shot wide from a good position, Stefani Miglioranzi fired into the Rink End from 20 yards, Andy Gurney likewise.

Under the cosh, Pool changed to 4-5-1, Swindon threw three up front. Something looked like it would give.

After the introduction of Jack Wilkinson, asked to plough away up front on his own, it did.

If Sunderland, as reported, are keen on Parkin, any Black Cats' representative at Victoria Park must have headed back up the A19 recognising the greater promise showed by Wilkinson.

The teenager, who scored on his first start a fortnight earlier against Rushden, produced a sublime finish to make the game safe.

Swindon might have spent most of the half camped in Pool's half of the field, they forced 10 corners, but Wilkinson showed the misfiring and lumbering Parkin and partner Tommy Mooney the way.

Wilkinson was asked to lead the line alone. All five foot nowt of him against three central defenders. Yet he chased and harrassed to do the job he was given by Cooper.

A breakaway - that's all Pool seemed to do after the break - saw Wilkinson exchange passes with Strachan. With keeper Evans coming off his line, a delicate dink over his head and into the net defied Wilkinson's age and experience.

Result: Hartlepool 2 Swindon Town 0.

Read more about Hartlepool here.