HARTLEPOOL UNITED’S wait for a home win this season continues after a 0-0 draw with Mansfield Town.

Pools have yet to win in four games on home turf, and they rarely looked like winning this one either.

Lewis Alessandra, who had already had a shot deflected over went close on 21 minutes. He tricked his way into the area, but cut back onto his right foot and the shot was charged down.

Captain Billy Paynter then teed up Josh Laurent for a volley, but the midfielder couldn’t keep it down.

The game lifted up a gear in the second-half. Pools thought they had scored when Paynter netted from a corner, but an offside flag ruled it out.

The Stags first opening came on the hour mark, as left-back Malvind Benning tricked his way forward and tried a low shot with his right foot which curled wide.

Laurent was denied when his well-struck shot from 12 yards was well tipped over the bar by Stags’ keeper Scott Shearer.

And then Paynter should have put Pools ahead when he was played in by Nathan Thomas, only for the captain to lift his chipped finish over the bar when he should have scored.

At the other end, the dangerous Matt Green bounded in on goal and as he picked his spot, Pools’ keeper Trevor Carson stood tall to keep the finish out.