MICKY BARRON is relishing the chance to keep proving the doubters wrong.

Saturday's 1-1 draw at Bristol City was Hartlepool United's fourth game this season without defeat - three of them away from home.

And the skipper, whose side take on leaders and early pace setters Port Vale at Victoria Park this afternoon, is a content man.

"We've had three games away from home and we are still unbeaten which is a good achievement for the lads,'' he said.

"We knew Saturday was going to be a hard game and it was. It was a good point for us to take home. We knew it would be especially hard going to a place like Bristol City and even though they had a few chances, we battled and wouldn't give up.

"They scored at a good time for them and a lot of teams would crumble after that, especially with a decent crowd behind them, but we stayed strong and maybe could have nicked it at the end with the free-kick.''

He added: "People I spoke to about this game were all saying 'you won't get anything there' and telling me how we would get hammered, but we believe in ourselves to go anywhere, be it Sheffield Wednesday or Bristol City - two of the biggest teams - or whoever.

"Why should we fear going anywhere after the results we have had?

"A lot of people at the start of the season thought we would struggle and we would be the whipping boys of the league, but we have now done really well and results like this one send out the right signals to everyone.

"What we need now is a first win at home, but they are on a good run - they won again on Saturday - and are scoring plenty of goals, but why should we fear anyone?''

Kevin Henderson is a doubt this afternoon. He started at Ashton Gate, but suffered a knock and was replaced at half-time.

Mark Tinkler should be fit to start. He was replaced in the second-half as he felt the affects of missing the start of the season with ankle trouble, but Efiion Williams remains a doubt.

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