Pools played out their first 0-0 of the current campaign with Bristol Rovers at The Memorial Stadium this afternoon.
The blustery wind inside The Memorial Stadium and the uneven surface made for a scrappy start to the game, with neither team seeing any meaningful possession in the opening minutes.
It was the hosts though who found their footing first as they put some earlier pressure on Arran Lee-Barrett and his defence - Josh Klein-Davies was the first to try his luck on goal when he rose to head in on goal but his awkward touch sent the ball wide of goal.
Chris Lines was next to have a go when he latched onto a ball from David Pipe from the right to volley an effort at goal but his shot went wide of target.
Klein-Davies went closest when he slipped a low rolling effort at goal from just inside the area and, with Lee-Barrett going down early, the ball went past the keeper only to inch just wide of his right-hand post.
It took Pools until the 12th minute to make a real move forward on goal and there was some impressive football on display, with Andy Monkhouse and Joel Porter looking lively in the build-up.
There was a blow for the hosts in the 16th minute when former Pools loan man Danny Coles limped off with a leg injury
As Wilson's men continued to look for an opening, Matty Robson made a bursting run down the left wing before forcing hisinto the box and, although his cross was put out for a corner, his run exposed a weakness within the Rovers defence.
Although not the most entertaining of clashes, there were chances at both ends with Lee-Barrett saving well from Klein-Davies and then again when the big keeper reacted well to hold a header from Lambert.
Joel Porter had the best chance of the first half in the 27th minute - Andy Monkhouse put a through ball in for the Aussie striker who did well to beat the offside trap but with only the keeper the beat, Porter didn't realise just how much time he had and poked his effort just the wrong side of the near post.
Porter was involved at the other end just minutes later when he combined well with Jamie McCunnie to clear a Lambert header off the line.
Despite chances for both sides though, the first half finished goalless and both sides needed to step things up a little in the second period if they were to take the three points.
And Wilson's men did look much brighter after the break as they upped their pressure on the hosts and played the better of the football.
David Foley had a good chance early in the half when he went around his man inside the box to get a shot in at goal but Steve Phillips pulled off a good save to block.
Andy Monkhouse, who seemed to be enjoying the freedom allowed in this 4-3-3 formation, tried is luck on goal with a couple of speculative punts from distance - first he fired in a curling effort from the right channel from 25 yards out which was held by Phillips at the far post, and his second right-footed blast dipped just over the bar.
Lee-Barrett was tested on a couple of occasions by Lambert who proved Rovers' biggest threat, but the Pools' stopper reacted well on both occasions to deflect his efforts.
Good play between Ritchie Humphreys and Joel Porter saw the latter hook a ball over for the left back but Humphreys' final shot had just too much on it and it went high over the bar as the game looked more and more like finishing 0-0.
Rovers appealed for an penalty kick late in the game when Michael Nelson challenged inside the box but, with the defender clearly getting the ball, the referee waved away all appeals on this occasion.
And so the game ended at 0- 0 with neither side finding that final killer ball to snatch the points.
Next up for Pools is a home game with Millwall on Saturday at The Vic.
Att: 5526 (150 Pools)
Pools: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys, Monkhouse, Sweeney, Boland, Robson, Porter, Foley (Mackay 66)
Subs: Budtz, Antwi, Elliott, Rowell
Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Coles (Jacobson 17), Hinton, Elliott, Lescott, Pipe, Campbell, Disley, Lines, Klein-Davies (Williams 69), Lambert
Subs: Anthony, Rigg, Haldane
Pools Youth Team lost 2-0 against Chesterfield at The Vic earlier today - full report to follow.
