This is The North East | Sport | Football

The last time Pool suffered such a slack home start the season was back in 1985 when it took Pool doyens Tommy Sword, Simon Lowe and John Gollogly eight games before recording a home win.

Single point returns are fine on the road, but on home turf, it's a different story. Neither side last night had the nous to break the other down and disappointingly Pool remain at the foot of the table.

Michael Proctor, desperate to impress against his former club, tried to chip Gary Montgomery from distance when a reverse pass to Chris Llewellyn would have played in the recalled winger.

Then Lee Bullock did test Montgomery, heading a Thomas Butler cross at goal from 12 yards.

Proctor got the better of Colin Murdock and paced his way to the byline, only for his pull back to evade all the blue and white shirts in the area.

There was a scare at the other end when Michael Keane's cross-shot was fired across the face of goal and out of reach of Dimi Konstantopoulos and striker Deon Burton.

Butler, suspended for Saturday's trip to Bristol City, but free to play last night after he was booked for a fifth time this season in the weekend defeat at Chesterfield, created a chance from nothing.

He skipped past three challenges and curled a 30-yard shot that had Montgomery diving to his right.

From the other flank, as play swiftly switched sides, Llewellyn curled a teasing ball across the six yard area at pace that Proctor couldn't read.

Konstantopoulos reacted to grab a goalbound Shaun Barker header after the defender got the better of both Humphreys and Bullock at a corner.

The game was being played at pace, both teams looking to tear away at the other and even Micky Nelson joined in the attacking fun, popping up on the left wing to fire in a fierce cross that was thumped away.

But there was little geniune creative edge to the half, with both sets of central defenders dominant, regularly nodding clear the many high balls.

The Millers were no great shakes, workmanlike if anything.

Butler was still proving the most likely source of inspiration. He turned 30 yards from goal and, from a central position, drove at Montgomery.

Pool should have made the most of some indecision in the home backline. Butler's ball in between the central defenders was nodded aimlessly away by keeper Montgomeire, who was charging out of his area, but Bullock could only watch the ball bounce away and it was out of reach for Llewellyn.

In the first clear cut chance of the game, The Millers broke away and Michael Keane had space into the area, but Konstantopoulos came off his line and blocked.

Substitute Michael Maidens linked up with Proctor and he teed up Sweeney to drive wide.

Bullock was injured while trying to stab the ball in from six yards and was replaced by David Foley.

There was the threat of some real football breaking out in the closing stages, but perhaps it was asking a bit much.

Perhaps Rotherham would have won it but for a fine finger-tip save from Konstantopoulos to deny Butler's header from eight yards.

Pool had a penalty shut knocked back and David Foley tried to inject some life into the front line, but to no avail.

Proctor then tried to scramble a bouncing ball in from six yards, but being bundled out of it summed up Pool's night.

l Pool midfielder Darrell Clarke has moved to Port Vale on loan. He missed all of last season with a knee injury and has not figured in the squad this season.

Bookings: Williams (50min, foul); Foley (81, foul); Mullen (85, foul)

Referee: Carl Boyeson (Hull)

Attendance: 4,309

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2): Konstantopoulos 6; D Williams 6, Nelson 7, Collins 6, Humphreys 5; Llewellyn 5 (Maidens 62, 5), Tinkler 6 (Turnbull 67), Sweeney 5, BUTLER 8; Proctor 5, Bullock 5 (Foley 70). Subs (not used): Provett, Jones, Maidens, S Turnbull, Foley.

ROTHERHAM UNITED (4-4-2): Montgomery 5; Robertson 5, Barker 6, MURDOCK 7, Worrell 5; Keane 6, Mullen 5, McLaren 5, Otsemobor 5; Burton 7, Butler 6. Subs (not used): Cutler, Leadbitter, Hurst, Hoskins, Brogan.

MAN OF THE MATCH THOMAS Butler - Pool's main threat

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