RESPECT: "The condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded)"

Hartlepool United are fast earning the condition of being honoured in Division Two, while showing little of it to their supposed peers.

It's easy to write off the Second Division new boys - and it's proving just as easy for the players to steer a timely two-fingered salute back as they defy the knockers and mockers.

Saturday being a prime example.

Bristol City, have spent a small fortune in recent seasons, have one of the division's biggest stadiums and biggest fan bases. They are one of the favourites for the championship.

And everyone predicted them to stroll to victory over Pool on Saturday.

Yet this squad of players is made of sterner stuff. They refuse to buckle, refuse to lie down and refuse to give up.

Falling a goal down to Lee Peacock's long-range strike, it would have been easy for Neale Cooper's side to slip to a first defeat of the season.

Instead, they regained the initiative, equalised through a first Pool goal from Marco Gabbiadini, and then had a glorious chance to win it in injury time. Not many teams will leave Ashton Gate with a point this season.

Taking the lead this season would be nice for Cooper, instead of the ever-animated boss having to watch his side chase the game. So far unbeaten, Pool have only held the advantage for four mintues at Peterborough and ten minutes of extra-time at Hillsborough.

But whatever task is thrown upon his charges this season they accept it. Sheffield Wednesday, used to be a big club, stole Pool's manager and a couple of players to boot, were dumped out of the Carling Cup at Hillsborough, the Nationwide League's grandest venue.

Peterborough, full of fizz under Barry Fry, the cheerleader who forever champions his cause, turned over on the opening day of the season after being 3-1 down.

And now Bristol City end up clinging onto a point at home against the division's party poopers. It's fun this Division Two malarkey.

"Again we've faced a very strong side, who have spent a lot of money on a lot of quality,'' reflected Cooper. "And again we've proved what we can do.

"I think we stood off them a little too much at times, but look at Jim Provett again - he made some wonderful saves. He was brilliant.

"We tired a little bit - Hendo took a knock and was shattered - and Gabbs came on and did very well. He worked the line, took a few knocks and scored. It was down to the quality of the ball in from Ritchie.

"Tinks and Clarkie were shattered so we put some young legs on out wide and the two young boys did well out wide, going at them and pinning their full backs down.''

He added: "I thought we finished the stronger side again. I was so happy with the response after we fell behind.

"I keep saying it every week but we are there on merit. People keep knocking Hartlepool and it's easy to do so.

"But we have gone there as underdogs and left with a very good point.

"I'm proud of the unbeaten record and I've told the players that. Now it's up to them to carry it on.

"Honestly, I've just got a good bunch of boys here who just want to do well - I can see that every day in training and people can see it on a Saturday.

"They won't lie down at all for anyone. I can accept losing and if we were behind at the end on Saturday I would have pushed four players up front to try and get the game back, you might as well go for it, but I won't accept a lack of effort at all.

"We are an organised side, we do a lot of work along those lines in training.

"We can play at the back with a five or a four and it's important the boys work hard on that. I accept we are not the finished article, but we are not doing badly.''

Martin Scott was afforded a rousing reception back at Ashton Gate, the ground where he played for five years before moving to Sunderland.

And it was one of his former youth team players who kept Pool in the hunt in the first-half. Jim Provett replaced Anthony Williams after the defensive debacle at Peterborough and again proved his worth.

After Gavin Strachan and Mark Tinkler dictated and controlled the game from midfield for the opening 30 minutes, Provett came into his own.

First he saved low from a Tommy Doherty shot, minutes later he was at full stretch to tip over Lee Peacock's chip before reacting instinctivley to turn Lee Miller's close range shot around the post.

In between Provett's prime time, Strachan almost gave Pool the lead at the other end, curling a free-kick against the post in the same style he scored at Peterborough.

When Provett was beaten by Peacock, it was in spectacular style as he curled a 25-yarder into the top corner.

A goal down and on came Steven Istead and Matty Robson, two of Scott's youth team prodigies and they never looked out of place, indeed they caused trouble a plenty on the flanks.

The leveller came when Gabbiadini headed in Ritchie Humphreys' right-sided free-kick from close range and the point was never in danger.

It could have been all three because in injury time keeper Steve Phillips was harshly adjudged to have collected a 30-yard backpass in his six yard box. Strachan's shot was charged down and Robson curled the loose ball over the bar.

A few more points and performances like this and the Pool fans will be dizzy from cartwheeling up the league.

Result: Bristol City 1 Hartlepool United 1.

Read more about Hartlepool here.