MANCHESTER United lose at home; Hartlepool United don't. A statement that cannot be disputed.

As Fulham left Old Trafford with a 3-1 win on Saturday, Pool were left with the longest unbeaten home stretch in English football by a country mile.

The 1-1 draw with Wycombe means Neale Cooper's side have not lost at home in 25 league games, a run going back to September 28, 2002. Alex Ferguson's team had gone since September 11, 2002 and 20 outings without losing at home before Saturday.

And the nearest challengers to Pool's crown? Birmingham last suffered a St Andrews defeat 11 games ago on February 8 - there's some way to go yet for Steve Bruce before they can match Pool's achievement.

While the Theatre of Dreams was far from living up to its name at the weekend, as Sir Alex's run was ended, Pool's charge kept going thanks to a 20-year-old goalkeeper whose first taste of senior football came on loan at Spennymoor.

Jim Provett has exceeded all expectations this season. Since replacing Anthony Williams two games into the campaign, Provett had earned plenty of points and plaudits.

After falling behind just two minutes in to Darren Currie's angled drive, Wycombe had five shots at goal in the opening ten minutes as Pool, keeper excepted, spluttered into gear.

Provett blocked Guy Branston's first shot and then instinctively stuck out his right hand to push out the follow up when a goal from Gavin Holligan looked certain.

And after Micky Barron levelled and Pool started taking the game to the visitors, it left them open to the counter attack.

Pacy Jermaine McSporran broke away and Provett saved his low shot with his legs. Steve Brown fired the rebound at the unguarded net from 30-yards only for the keeper to race back and claw it out to keep Pool's point intact.

It's a while since Pool fans have had a goalkeeper commanding his penalty area as competently as Provett and Cooper admitted: "He gets better every week.

"For a 20-year-old he is a tremendous goalkeeper. I cannot speak highly enough of him. He is playing with confidence, has good hands and I am delighted for him.

"I have never seen a display of goalkeeping like that and the players have to thank him big time for it - I did in the dressing room afterwards. He was outstanding.

"We could have been two goals behind early on if it wasn't for Jim. There are not many better goalkeepers in this division than him.''

According to Wycombe's caretaker boss John Gorman, there aren't many better at all.

"The best goalkeeping display I've seen all season,'' was his verdict on Provett's performance.

And this season, before being axed as Tottenham's assistant manager, Gorman has seen the likes of Leeds' Paul Robinson, Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek and Chelsea's Carlo Cudicini defy the White Hart Lane underachievers. Attractive company to be in for the Pool No 1.

Provett was beaten just two minutes in after Barron's slack pass intended for Eifion Williams was cut out by Senden, he ran forward and crossed low. John Brackstone fell over and Currie, always a tricky customer in his Barnet days, shot home.

Losing his footing was Brackstone's only slip of the day. The left back, on his home debut, gave an assured display, used the ball well and had the confidence and audacity to try his luck from 30 yards, a fierce shot which had former Pool loanee Frank Talia backpedalling to tip over.

Pool had handball appeals turned down when Mark Tinkler's charge into the area was ended by a Branston hand and the midfielder then volleyed over from the edge of the area.

But skipper Barron showed how it is done. His last goal came in the FA Cup first round at Southend last season and it was ironic he should net on the day of the draw for this year's event.

A long throw found its way to the full back who drove low off the right hand post.

After Provett's double stop in the second half, Paul Robinson should have put Pool in front. Marcus Richardson flicked on a long ball into his path, but with the goal at his mercy from 18 yards he blazed over.

The point kept Pool in seventh and Cooper admitted: "We have to start games better, Micky has to pass the ball better than he did because they scored from it.

"We battled away at times, but our passing has to be better and crisper than that. I knew they were lively up front and they proved it, they were very dangerous on the break and we couldn't settle.

"Our passing wasn't good enough. We have to get it back like it was in the Sheffield Wednesday game, this time it never really happened for us.

"John Gorman is a quality coach and he has them organised, they were dificult to break down.

"We could have gone second if we had won and I'm saddened by the fact we never won. We just needed a little bit more composure. Usually at home we start games so well, it's away from home when we have had a problem."

Result: Hartlepool United 1, Wycombe Wanderers 1.

Read more about Hartlepool here.