FOUR games unbeaten, one goal conceded. It looks like Hartlepool United have adapted, at last, to the National League.

They dug out a good point at third-top Wrexham, and had the better chances to win it.

Boss Craig Harrison, who made his managerial name just 15 miles down the road from the Racecourse Ground at TNS, was satisfied with his return to North Wales. .

His stamp on the side is clear. They are well-drilled, organised and press the opposition intensely.

“I think the players are happy with a clean sheet,’’ said Harrison. “Clean sheets mean a lot to defenders and goalkeepers, but they are disappointed not to win the game. We did enough to win it.

“It wasn’t dominant like Maidstone, but we did enough to win it. We put some great balls across the box and had a good opening for Devante, Franksy hit the bar too and we have had some great dead play delivery.

“It’s disappointing, but nice to feel disappointed from coming to Wrexham.

“It’s pleasing that the players are disappointed. I don’t want people celebrating a point – we want to do better than that.

“A tough night, conditions were hard, we took the game to the home side and it was more of a home performance from us than it was Wrexham.

“It’s a great point on the back of Saturday’s win – a very good week would be beating Orient on Saturday.

First-half chances were scarce for both sides. A corner from Nicky Deverdics, picked out Rhys Oates. The striker mistimed his jump slightly, but it was enough for him to head the ball down into the ground and bounce high over the bar.

Oates was having a running battle with centre-half Manny Smith, the pair slugging it out with every challenge.

Pools briefly switched with Jonathan Franks moving into the middle, Oates pushed left.

At the back, they were organised and effective. Every player in a blue and white shirt knew their job, and their role.

The home side were unable to create any sort of opening, such was Pools’ stout outlook. Two good National League sides spent 45 minutes slugging it out.

Keith Watson has settled the back four down and, in conditions like this, his no-nonsense defending was all important; lines were cleared, long balls returned, crosses put into the stand.

Pools started the second-half on the front foot. Right-back Carl Magnay overlapped and whipped over a low cross which just evaded Oates.

After some home pressure was swatted away, Pools went close.

Again they attacked down the right, Magnay to Rodney and the attacker picked out Franks, whose sweetly-struck first-time shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

Rodney had Pools’ next chance. At the defence parted he had time and space, picked his spot and debutant keeper Callum Preston saved with his feet.

The home side broke away on the counter attack, Alex Reid was played in and Pools’ keeper Scott Loach saved low at his near post.

The game really picked up, both teams now going for a winner.

Pools’ defence remained firm, Watson leading the unit, with his influence rubbing off on Michael Ledger alongside him. The Sunderland loanee didn’t mess about at the back either.

In four games they have only conceded once, that coming in the last minute against Maidstone when three goals up.

The defensive issues which dogged Pools in the early weeks of the season have been put to bed.

Harrison concluded: “We passed it well, defended well on a tricky night for defenders. It’s not good for defenders or goalkeepers a night like this.

“We won our individual battles and got on top. We build good foundations and we were going to leave with at least a point. To limit Wrexham, one of the better teams in this league, to limit them to one chance shows how far we have come.

“The lads are sat there disappointed not to win this game, after beating Dagenham on Saturday and I like that.

“We need to be a bit more clinical in front of goal when openings come along. We work hard and we are together as a team.’’