Hartlepool United's promotion push is becoming a close cut thing for Tommy Miller.

Saturday's comprehensive 2-0 win at Plymouth extended Pool's advantage to five points over fifth-placed Blackpool as the unbeaten run extended itself to 126 days.

The last time Pool lost, Foot-and-Mouth disease was an affliction of the 60s, the Popstars were unheard of and Phil Mitchell was strutting his stuff around Albert Square.

It's now an unheard 19 games without defeat after Miller and Anth Lormor netted to chalk up their seventh win on the road this season.

Miller revealed a trip to the barbers once again proved the inspiration for his strike. Miller hadn't found the net since scoring at Carlisle on February 13. That was seven games earlier and given his scoring prowess, it's a run that was called a drought in some quarters!

The midfielder, a near-certainty to be named in the PFA Division Three team ofthe season for the second year in a row, was in inspirational form alongside Paul Stephenson in midfield.

Without the enforcing powers of suspended Mark Tinkler, Pool could easily have struggled to cope without his influence - but credit to the attributes and graft of Stephenson and Tinkler that it's fair to say he wasn't missed.

"I was just saying last week that I hadn't been scoring as regularly in recent games,'' said Miller.

"Last week with Paul Stephenson coming back into the team I had a few more chances and with a bit of luck could have scored then.

"I was stuck on 39 goals for a while and now I've got 40, I want to push for 50. Kevin Henderson has been playing exceptionally well and is in front of me now. I've had a bit of a barren spell because I expect to score every three games.

"This time I jut tried to play a little one-two and it came up for me and I struck it well. I went to get a haircut on Thursday and the barber said I would score this weekend - I always seem to score when I get it cut. Last season I was getting a skinhead all the time, but it's a bit cold for that now so I just had a little bit off."

With back to back home games this week maybe Miller should make a return visit this morning before entertaining Lincoln on Tuesday.

He added: "This was a great win because their home form is very good.

Everyone from one to 11 and the subs as well played their part. We were never in trouble and even though they had five minutes at the start of the second half, we were always in control.

"We were always trying to get forward and looked like we were going to score - it was a great result and made even better because Blackpool lost.''

And Miller had special words of praise for the Pool fans who undertook the 800 mile round trip on the day the national and international spotlight fell on England and Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"I would like to thank the fans for their support,'' he said.

"They were brilliant. They have spent a lot of time and money to go all the way to Plymouth to see us and would miss the England game as well - this win was for them, they deserve it.''

When millions are being squandered on foreign imports - who quite often prove they can't cut the mustard in English football - the fact that no-one has been prepared to make a firm move for a player of Miller's talents says everything that is wrong about the Premiership in England.

One Premiership club had the audacity to ask for Miller to undergo a week-long trial. Does he really have to prove himself?

No-one at Victoria Park is complaining that concrete offers have been sparse and Pool don't want to sell, but if a 21-year-old can score 33 goals in less than two seasons from midfield and not get noticed then we might as well cut off all ties between the Nationwide League and Premiership.

If any exist at all that is.

Turner added: "People want to be a bit critical when he doesn't score, but they don't see what else he does in a game.

"He took his opportunity very well, but he makes so many little runs off the ball and works hard.

"I've said that in the last couple of years his all-round performances have got better and better and his goals from midfield are a bonus.''

Plymouth's home form is among the best in the division, with just nine goals conceded at Home Park before Saturday.

But on this form reputations count for absolutely nothing. The only reputation people are starting to take note of now is that of Hartlepool United.

Anthony Williams had little to worry about as when the home side got the better of Miller and Stephenson in midfield - and it wasn't very often - there was no way they were going to get past the Pool defence.

Mark Robinson was given his first outing since August 26 in place of flu-hit Sam Shilton and he excelled on the left flank.

Turner talks of Robinson in terms of the future, on this performance he can be part of the current set-up.

With just 30 seconds gone he produced an expertly-timed tackle in his own penalty area to deny an early opportunity and never let that standard slip.

Miller gave Pool the lead with the game's first shot on target after 28 minutes.

As the Plymouth defence lost its footing on the pitch, Miller nipped in to rifle low into the net from the edge of the area.

Soon it was two thanks to Lormor's fourth goal in six games. It was a cool finish as he turned home Robinson's sided cross, but won' be given an easier one all season as the defence opted to revert to statue mode.

As expected, Plymouth came out with all guns blazing after the break as they looked for a lifeline to keep alive hopeful talk of making the play-offs.

But the Pool defence held firm, with a couple of shots that troubled the fans behind the goal more than Williams the best Plymouth could muster and once the affects of a half-time blast had worn off, the gulf in class became apparent.

Miller was twice denied adding to his tally by defender Craig Taylor as efforts from similar distance destined for goal were headed out.

One exquisite four-man passing move saw Lormor feed the ball across goal an agonising foot away from Henderson as he raced in for goal number 18.