MIKE Newell was happy on two fronts on Saturday - satisfied to head back from Cambridge with an unbeaten record intact and pleased that Rushden finally lost.

Pool extended their lead at the top to six points after the second-placed Diamonds lost 3-0 to Oxford.

Rushden have stayed clinging onto Pool's coat tails in the last month, but Newell's side finally got to extend their advantage.

And after collecting 16 points from a possible 18 this year, Newell looks a certainty for the manager of the month award.

"We've gained a point on Rushden which is nice.

"They've matched us for the last month or so, but we cannot have any affect on what they do,'' he said.

"Oxford have now beat them twice. We've extended our lead which is nice and stayed unbeaten.

"We haven't conceded many goals of late and this was another good clean sheet for us.

"It's six games now and that's all I can ask for. Before the game I just asked them not to get beat. It's just like when we played them at our place, we couldn't lose the game. I stick by what I have said all along - they are one of the better teams in the division and one of the more dangerous sides.

"To be quite honest, we had a little bit of good fortune going in at half-time level because they created a lot of chances.

"We weren't on top of our game and we just asked them for a little bit more in the second-half and then the game opened up a little bit more.

"We are quite pleased - we had chances, but they had plenty as well.

"Taffy made a couple of great saves and so did their keeper as well.'' And Newell had praise for second-half substitute Adam Boyd. "Eifion Williams was feeling his hamstring a little bit and we didn't want to risk him. But we had Boydy in there and he did well and caused problems," he said. "It was an opportunity for him and he took it."

* Graeme Lee's eighth booking of the season means he will miss the home game with Exeter on February 8 and the trip to York the following week. Midfielder Mark Tinkler misses Saturday's game with Torquay afer accumulating five cautions.

Read more about Hartlepool here.