HARTLEPOOL UNITED'S future would appear to be in safe keeping. Jim Provett might have had to wait and wait for his chance, but when it came he took it with, naturally, both hands.

Since being handed his chance just two games into the season, the 20-year-old former Sunderland schoolboy from Stockton has shone and following another clean sheet on Saturday, he has yet to concede a goal at Victoria Park in three games.

After sitting on the bench for 49 games last season no-one can accuse Provett of not biding his time.

And the biggest accolade that can be made is that the sturdy custodian looks like he has been there all his life.

"He was something else again,'' said a satisfied Neale Cooper.

"His handling was strong and did everything right with everything coming into him. He made a great save when he got down low in the second-half to keep one out.

"It was a difficult one to save, but even then his handling was spot-on.''

Provett's elevation has brought a more assured and composed look to the defence. On the opening day of the season they looked far from secure when they gifted Peterborough three goals.

Now the misunderstandings and lapses in communication have gone, to be replaced by a solid back line - previous outing at Luton the exception - which has given the rest of the team a firm platform to build on.

Previous manager Mike Newell once, after being quizzed by fans on the goalkeeping situation at the club and the supposed lack of competition for Anthony Williams, compared Provett to Shay Given.

Newell was at Blackburn at the same time a teenage Given was coming through the reserve ranks like Provett. The pair don't appear to be the biggest, but both have a real presence and security about them.

Now who said Newell did not have much of an idea at Pool?

The only bloke who didn't have much idea at Victoria Park on Saturday was referee Andy Penn, the David Brent alike who never let the game flow and was a stickler for doing everything by the rule book.

The first-half was a tepid affair, Pool never reaching the heights of the previous home game with Port Vale when they dominated from the off.

This time the little touches and lay-offs were falling short and when they attacked they found a three-man visiting defence on top form.

Pool started with three at the back, matching the opposition, but switched to 4-4-2 in the second half. Attacking output increased, but goals never came.

In fact the closest Pool went to breaking the deadlock was when sweeper-turned-rightback Micky Barron let fly from 30 yards and Aussie keeper Leslie Pogliacomi sprung like a kangaroo to tip his effort over the bar.

"We knew they were a good, organised side,'' said Cooper. "They hit the post and put a ball right across our box, but our second-half display was a lot better - we were a bit more adventurous.

"We started with three at the back to match them, like we've done with other teams.

"Andy Jordan was out with a bad neck and we knew that Eyre would be a problem for them, dropping off into the hole.

"But we weren't getting much going forward, so changed it to go with two wingers and it was a lot better.''

He added: "The biggest problem for us was the final ball into the box, we needed more quality. We had some great moves and got up into the wide areas and the cross into the box wasn't enough.

"You can't get into good areas and then give the ball away like we did. We had a couple of free-kicks in dangerous area, but it's not like Gavin (Strachan) to put the ball in the keeper's hands. Final delivery was the let-down.

"Defensively we were fine. Westy was again solid and I thought Micky Barron did well in the middle and out wide - he probably got a nosebleed from going so far forward and shooting like that!

"I wanted a reaction after the Luton game and I got it - but I knew it would come because I could sense it in training this week.''

Westwood put a header over and Strachan curled a free-kick wide, but Oldham had the best first-half chances. Matty Robson and Ritchie Humphreys both squandered possession and a 60-yard ball later and David Eyres whipped a low ball right across the six yard box with Mickael Curier shot high and wide.

For the visitors, John Sheridan, forced out of retirement to play because of the club's financial problems, was immense. He dictated much of the game, spraying the ball around from the middle with ease.

Calvin Zola, on loan from Newcastle, slid a shot against the post and then somehow contrived to push the ball wide from six yards after taking a touch to compose himself in the box.

Result: Hartlepool United 0, Oldham Athletic 0.

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