WATCHING a goalless draw amid Arctic conditions, surely there's a better way to ring in the new year?

But you won't find anyone at Hartlepool United grumbling, because there is every sign their travelling troubles are being put to bed.

Following eight successive League One defeats on the road, back to back no score draws at Bristol City and Barnsley, while not headline grabbing, are just what is needed.

How Pool would have settled for one earlier this season when they couldn't do anything but lose every time they got off the team bus.

Barnsley boss Paul Hart, in his programme notes, described Pool as "stubborn" and that can be classed as a compliment. A little backhanded maybe, but it's the sort of characteristic Pool need.

Pool go into today's home game with Milton Keynes Dons in seventh spot, one point off fourth and six points off third.

They are five points better off than at the same stage of last season. 2004 delivered a lot, 2005 promises just as much, if not more because Neale Cooper feels there is still more to come from his team in the second-half of the season.

"I'm delighted with the way things have gone in the last 12 months and this season has started well for us,'' he said.

"Our away form this season hasn't been very good, but I feel there is more to come from the boys.

"They have been excellent this week with two tricky away games against two of the division's biggest clubs.

"We went to Wrexham, had a very good win and now we have had two very good draws.

"We hope to continue our home form, but our away form is picking up and we look more difficult to break down. We are not giving goals away, which is a big factor, and if we don't give anything away at the back we will always create chances.

"Our two central defenders have been immense.''

It was a game dominated by the weather and defences. Both back lines were the busiest units on the pitch.

Micky Nelson and Chris Westwood gave little away, Tony Vaughan and Antony Kay likewise at the other end.

Dimi Konstantopoulos made a fine, full length stop to push Daniel Nardiello's late strike away from the bottom corner to preserve the point, but Pool had the game's clearest chances.

Eifion Williams played Joel Porter in on the right, his low cross found Adam Boyd on the penalty spot.

A quick touch and turn took the ball past Vaughan and, with just the keeper to beat, screwed his low shot across goal.

Then, in the second period, Hugh Robertson's low free-kick spun up into Nelson's path, only for the defender to drop his header wide.

Pool spent the second half trying to get in behind the home defence. Boyd succeeded a couple of times, but couldn't get the ball out of his feet.

Hart dropped Michael Chopra and Chris Shuker, surprising Cooper, and started with Barry Conlon.

The ex-Darlington favourite played the link man role well, dropping deep with good control and touch, but he presented little direct threat in front of goal.

Cooper added: "The weather was horrendous and it makes it a bit of a lottery, but I thought we defended excellently.

"It was a bit physical in those conditions, the ball was swirling all over and it was a bit difficult for the players.

"The central defenders and full backs -with Dimi behind them - defended well and stood up to the challenge.

"We defended as a unit, the midfield four worked across the park with the back four and they covered each other well.

"A few of the lads have been feeling ill, but they are fit lads and are getting over that now. They will be in on Sunday for a loosening session, a bit of work in the swimming pool to get their legs going.

"When we get Monday's game out of the way we can give them a little rest, but that's the way football is in England.''

A year ago today, Pool took 10,000 fans to Sunderland's Stadium of Light for the third round of the FA Cup.

The fabricated MK Dons are likely to bring about 50 followers to Victoria Park for today's game and Cooper, whose side lost 4-2 at the National Hockey Stadium in September, said: "We are playing well and we have a lot of confidence, especially at home.

"The result down at Milton Keynes was really disappointing for us, we played very well for 40 minutes, but slackness cost us goals.

"We have been really tight defensively the last few away games which is pleasing."

Result: Barnsley 0 Hartlepool United 0.

Read more about Hartlepool here.