HARTLEPOOL United's record-breakers are setting new standards by the game.

Last week's 8-1 win over Grimsby was Pool's biggest triumph since 1959 and Tuesday's win at Stockport lifted Neale Cooper's side to second in the Division Two table - a position from where they have never been higher.

Pool are a point behind leaders Port Vale, a team comfortably dispatched 2-0 at Victoria Park last month.

And you have to go back to October 10, 1992, for the last time Pool sat in this position. A 2-1 win at Bolton Wanderers for Alan Murray's side put them level on 22 points with West Brom - but behind the leaders on goals scored.

Now they are second themselves thanks to goal difference after scoring more goals than QPR, Swindon and Barnsley.

The division's big spenders and big reputations are now starting to take notice of Pool, who have suffered a single defeat this season, and Cooper admitted: "I said to the boys that they had to enjoy Friday when it happened, not by going out and having a drink, but to savour what had happened.

"We trained on Saturday and on Monday it was vital we had a chat about going down to Stockport - it was important we went there and built on Friday, not let everyone down after it.

"And we didn't. We ground things out at times, but a win away from home is a great one.

"I thought we gave the ball away too easily one or two times and we had to do better in the second-half. We knew they would come at us a little bit as the game went on, but Jim Provett again pulled off a wonderful save. The boy is just getting better by the game.''

Cooper had words of praise for man-of-the-match Mark Tinkler, who execelled both in midfield and in defence.

"He put the work in for 90 minutes and I thought he was a different class when he went to the back,'' he said. "We wanted to tighten it up a bit in there and he has played there before for other clubs and was outstanding.

"I thought Marco was superb and his goal was brilliant. He made a real difference up front, not only his goal but general play. As a team we work hard for our rewards. We didn't play as well as we can, but we were away from home so it's understandable.

"But we are in this together and it's nice to be in this position on merit. Teams are realising what we are about and showing us some real respect. We will lose games, but any team we are playing we will give them a real match."

* Adam Boyd is out of action for a fortnight after breaking a toe.

Read more about Hartlepool here.