Rotherham United 0 Hartlepool United 0

Tony Leake -Hates Rotherham!

Rotherham were left fuming at referee Tony Leake after he controversially denied them a penalty against fellow strugglers Hartlepool.

Striker Jonathan Forte, on loan from Sheffield United, crashed down in the area under a challenge from Ben Clark but the appeals were waved away.

Hartlepool bounced back after their week of turmoil that saw manager Martin Scott suspended following a dressing room bust up at half-time during last week's home defeat by Blackpool.

Youth coach Paul Stephenson was in charge and his side, without a win in nine matches, came close to grabbing the first-half advantage.

Steve Turnbull was just wide with a sixth minute shot from long range and Rotherham keeper Gary Montgomery had to finger-tip over a cross form the left aimed by Richie Humphreys.

The home side had to survive again when a cross from Michael Maidens was headed goalwards by Jon Daly but Paul McLaren cleared off the line.

Rotherham opened up Hartlepool on the break but Paul Shaw headed a McLaren corner wide and John Mullin was wayward with a shot from 20 yards.

Will Hoskins hit another shot wide and then the young striker did well seconds before the break with a low shot on the turn that was saved by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos at full stretch.

Rotherham were denied the lead early in second half when striker Hoskins saw his header cleared off the line following a corner.

But two close calls inside a minute could have given the visitors the edge. Montgomery had to stretch to turn over a downward header from Anthony Sweeney that almost bounced in and then Sweeney headed into the six-yard box and Eifion Williams headed wide.

Rotherham's on loan striker Forte made an immediate impact when he came on and within a minute snapped a shot that was well saved.

And in the 65th minute he went crashing down in the area as Clark made a desperate challenge but the referee dismissed strong claims for the penalty.