SCOTT Flinders has had enough of Travel Taverns; the Hartlepool United goalkeeper finally feels settled in football and happy to put an end his time living from a suitcase in hotels.

A £1m move to Crystal Palace from Barnsley in 2006 led to five loan spells away from Selhurst Park. After joking he’s spent more time in a hotel than Alan Partridge, Flinders is no longer a footballing nomad.

In the world of TV presenters, Flinders is more Jeff Stelling or Gary Lineker than spoof comedy creation Partridge.

Smooth, confident and assured, the 23-year-old’s early season form has been a world apart from the accidents waiting to happen in goal of the last two seasons. Back of the net.

He was beaten on Saturday, from 20 yards as Wycombe’s Stuart Beavon was granted the freedom of Victoria Park to run at the defence and net low via the inside of Flinders’ left-hand post.

Pools levelled through Adam Boyd’s 78th minute finish and at least avoided a fifth successive home reverse.

Away from Victoria Park it’s a different story, where Flinders has yet to concede in 390 minutes of action this season.

Eat my goal? You bet.

“Coming here and my target and aim was to play and play regularly,’’ admitted Flinders, a former England Under-20 international.

“I know what I can do. The gaffer and Gary Walsh, the goalkeeping coach, are fantastic to work for and it’s nice to have people like that who will back you all the way.

“I’ve had a lot of people being negative about me and negative press and now it’s about me and building my career, striving to do well for Hartlepool and helping the team to bigger and better things.

“I’ve been out on loan a lot and it’s a bit like, I don’t know if you watch it, Alan Partridge and living out of a suitcase in a hotel. It’s been quoted in the past and it’s horrible being stuck in one room and having five loan clubs aged 23 isn’t good.

“In the summer I was looking for a club where I would play games. I’m happy to be here and I’m enjoying my football.

There was a lot of new signings coming in at once and I think that showed in pre-season with everyone learning each other’s games, so there’s a lot more to come from us.’’ There’s certainly more to come at home, where Pools have yet to dominate a game or get on top like they have away from Victoria Park this season.

At least Chris Turner now has quality options at his disposal to brighten up his side from the bench and Saturday’s three replacements proved their worth.

Adam Boyd and Armann Bjornsson caused their share of problems for the previously dominant visiting central defenders up front, while Neil Austin, on at left back, helped prompt a number of attacks, while making some useful clearances in defence as well.

While James Brown and Denis Behan were outstanding in their last outing at Oldham, they never hit it off this time either as a pair or individually.

In their mitigation, the amount of long and hopeful balls played into them from deep didn’t help. Pools needed to pass the ball around to try and break down the organised visiting ranks.

“It’s a point in the right direction I guess, but I’m personally a bit disappointed because we need to start picking up wins against sides like Wycombe,’’ said Flinders.

“But the lads were saying afterwards that last season it was the sort of game in which we would have gone under, so it’s good to fight back in the heat and conditions we had.

“It’s good to come back, but we have to start picking up three points at home. They were tough to break down and we play that way when we are away from home.

“I was a bit disappointed with their goal, we didn’t get close to him and allowed him to shoot, it’s something we will work on with the gaffer in the week.’’ He added: “Reflecting on this game and we have to put it right for Colchester. We haven’t conceded away which is a nice gesture to have, but it would be nice to keep a clean sheet at home as well.

“But like the gaffer said, it’s two games without defeat so this could be the start of an unbeaten run. I’ve been with teams before 10 or 15 games unbeaten, so let’s hope we can start picking things up.

“It was hard out there, no excuses, but the weather played a big part. We need that lucky break at home for the first win and when it comes we will be off.

“There’s a different type of pressure playing at home, but we are all professional footballers so we should know what it’s all about and be able to handle it.’’