KEN BATES, the colourful and controversial Leeds United chairman, closed his pre-match programme notes by declaring that Hartlepool United owed it to their opponents to gift his club all three points.

Bates was suggesting that Leeds' Football League counterparts should contribute towards helping eradicate the 15-point penalty dished out to them for falling into administration.

But, after Pools left Elland Road without as much as a point to show for their efforts, it could well be Pools boss Danny Wilson calling for justice when Leeds head for Victoria Park on Boxing Day.

In front of over 26,000 at the home of one of the biggest clubs in the country, Pools overcame a 20-minute spell of nerves to leave those inside wondering how the scoreline read 2-0 to the hosts.

Had Wilson had someone on the pitch capable of finding the net his side would be sitting pretty at the top of the League One table after five matches. Leeds, for one, would not have argued.

Twenty-two efforts on goal, 12 of those on target, three of which hit the woodwork and five cleared off the line. A shot count from the once mighty Leeds United? No, their opponents Hartlepool United.

Such was Wilson's amazement at his side's failure to score, when asked if he could have reached the age of 110 before his side had scored in west Yorkshire, he joked: "I feel that age already."

The tone was set as early as the fifth minute when a Robbie Elliott corner was weakly punched by goalkeeper Casper Ankergren. Possession fell nicely for James Brown, but the youngster volleyed over the bar from close range.

And Leeds made Pools, tentative in the early exchanges, pay 13 minutes later.

Elliott, caught out of position on the right by standing inside the penalty area, allowed Frazer Richardson the time and space to deliver a deep cross.

It was the first time a centre had evaded the head of Michael Nelson and Tresor Kandol, the former Darlington striker, leapt high above Jamie McCunnie to head down into Jan Budtz's bottom corner.

But while Leeds looked strong on the attack, defensively they showed why they dropped out of the Championship last season.

And, during Pool's first purposeful spell of possession, Richard Barker thought he had pulled the score level.

His towering header, from Elliott's floated free-kick, bounced off the underside of the bar and was gathered by Ankergren.

Only the Danish shot-stopper will know for certain whether the ball crossed the line on its way back down, as the linesman waved play on and Leeds escaped.

"It looked like it was in," said Wilson.

"If the linesman got it right then great, if not then he has cost us the game.

"But it was difficult to see on the video replay because the keeper's torso is in the way. It was right on the line."

From there on in, with the exception of Jermaine Beckford's delightful chip over Budtz four minutes after the restart, Hartlepool played some fantastic, free-flowing football but found no way through. Their hopes of a fourth successive league win were dashed.

Beckford made the most of an opportunity that presented itself through Brown's wasteful pass back towards his own half.

Young winger Seb Carole capitalised by sending Leeds' highly-rated striker away and, with Nelson slow to close him down and Budtz too quick off his line, Beckford found the net.

"I can't believe we didn't come away with anything," said Wilson, whose comments were backed up by those of opposite number Dennis Wise.

"But we gave away possession in crucial areas and they have scored.

"We laid siege towards their goal and we thought about our football.

"But even though we battered them we just couldn't score. That was the difference between the teams."

Wilson was quite right to be looking on the brighter side, and was quick to describe the pride he feels after such a positive performance, albeit with a negative result.

After Brown had seen his deflected shot hit the post after the hour, there were numerous occasions when those inside the ground were left wondering how the visitors had not scored.

A couple of those were the result of Jamie Clapham's alertness on the line - although in one instance there was a suggestion of handball that went unpunished.

But the most incredible was when Barker's wayward shot across goal was turned onto the post by Moore's outstretched leg. Somehow possession found its way back over to Andy Monkhouse who should have scored.

Instead his drive went for a corner and Elliott's dead ball looked destined to drop straight in, only for Ankergren to palm away to safety.

That was just typical the way things went for Hartlepool and it became a bit of a comedy strip by the full-time whistle.

And Leeds' fortune was capped in the closing stages when both Barker and Godwin Antwi directed free headers straight into the arms of the keeper.

By the time the return fixture comes around after the Christmas turkey has been eaten, Leeds could well be up near the top of League One.

And while it was Wise rather than Wilson celebrating the points, on the evidence of this Hartlepool could well be up there with them.