HUDDERSFIELD Town set a new club record of 28 successive league games unbeaten but, having kept a welcome clean sheet, were unable to force a winner.

This was the result the bookies would have predicted, given both sides had drawn their previous two League I games, and it was the right outcome, with clear-cut chances scarce.

Town will now go into Saturday’s home clash with Colchester boosted by blanking the opposition for the first time in 11 matches.

Lee Clark made just one change to his starting side after Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Rochdale, leaving out Donal McDermott for the first time and bringing in Danny Ward.

It was the former Bolton man’s first start since the opening-day 1-1 stalemate at home to Bury.

While Town were playing their third match in succession on the road, it was Hartlepool’s third running at home.

Mick Wadsworth, the former Town manager, was forced to leave out experienced ex-Newcastle wide man Nolberto Solano (hamstring) and midfielders Antony Sweeney (groin) and Craig Liddle (cheekbone).

But striker Colin Larkin came in for a first appearance of the campaign after recovering from an ankle injury.

Larkin was to the fore as the home side made the early running, bringing a save from Ian Bennett with a looping shot from Evan Horwood’s corner, then running onto an upfield punt from keeper Scott Flinders, only to mis-control as he attempted to bring the ball down.

The 587 travelling Town fans behind the goal Pools were attacking were again able to breath a sigh of relief when Gary Naysmith got in a crucial challenge as Colin Nish charged through.

Ward produced Town’s first effort in the eighth minute, but his low shot was blocked.

He then gave away a 14th-minute free-kick with a foul on Horwood but Nish was too high with an ambitious bid from 35 yards out.

Former Pools man Tommy Miller set up a decent 27th-minute chance for Ward, but having worked the ball onto his favoured left foot, the ball was sent wide from the edge of the penalty area.