MK Dons 2 Hartlepool United 2

Even the Pools players admitted they rode their luck a little after this one. I spoke to Nobby Solano, Adam Boyd and James Poole after the game and all three were happy to come away with a point against – what appears to be – a very well organised and handy MK Dons side.

Mind you, the three lads correctly pointed to some great defending by the back four and, in the 41st minute, keeper Scott Flinders clattered three Dons players and left them on their backsides - so focused was he on clearing his lines.

Flinders also made one superb finger tipped save from ex-Man United winger Luke Chadwick, diving at full stretch to deflect a fierce 16 yard shot over the bar.

Every one of the back four – Evan Horwood, Peter Hartley, skipper Sam Collins and Neil Austin – had to throw themselves in front of goal bound shots at some stage in the game and Pools fans will have been impressed by their dedication.

Boyd led the attack for Hartlepool and opened his season’s account in the 20th minute when he converted Horwood’s precision cross at the far post and the striker told me later:

“It was such a good ball that I didn’t know whether to smile or head it home from five yards. James’s goal was a great one though. I think he went past three players before scoring, although by the time he got to the dressing room it was nine players and by the time we get home it’ll be thirteen.”

Poole wasn’t having any of it. “Thirteen and then I rounded the keeper he joked.”

The former Manchester City reserve striker was – like Boyd – very approachable and seems a bright kid. He told me how he had started out at Macclesfield, but then joined City – the team he also supports – when he was fourteen and how, even though last season’s success limited his chances professionally, he was still willing them to do well as a diehard Blue.

I was particularly impressed with Poole’s attitude following this summer’s switch from City to lowly Hartlepool. Having rubbed shoulders with the likes of Tevez, Silva and Robinho he might have been forgiven for feeling little Hartlepool were beneath him. Nothing could be further from the truth and he said:

“You’d learn from those players just by listening to them while having lunch, let alone training with them. But now I’m playing with the likes of Sam Collins and Ritchie Humphreys and it’s also an education. They’ve played hundreds of games in their careers and so I’d be a mug not to learn from them.”

Chadwick had cancelled out Boyd’s opener, but when Poole drifted in on goal from 40 yards out (beating only three players in the process) in the 85th minute, I think everyone at stadiummk thought the visitors had stolen all three points. Enter Dons cult hero and fans’ favourite Jabo Ibehre.

Ibehre had only come on as a substitute for Chadwick in the 75th minute, but still found time to rescue a draw for the Dons. He told me:

“It’s difficult coming on as a sub and having time to make a difference, but I’m pleased I managed to help get a point. The ball came off the back of one of their defenders and I just nodded it in. Obviously we wanted to win at home on the first day, but you have to give them credit because they defended well. There is still a long way to go of course.”

If Jabo’s never-say-die attitude is anything to go by, I wouldn’t bet against MK Dons this season. They have the stadium, facilities, management team (Karl Robinson and assistant John Gorman) and players to go one step further than they did last season when they got knocked out of the play-offs.

Former Newcastle and Peru winger Solano was impressed with Dons and said:

“They are a very good side who like to get the ball down and play. They’ll be up there at the end of the season.”

Robinson may only be thirty years old and the youngest boss in the top four divisions, but he has been shrewd enough to employ Gorman to back him up and Glenn Hoddle’s former England assistant has been there, done it and got a wardrobe of t-shirts.

It was an ‘interesting’ first game of the season and, although it wasn’t end-to-end fare, it was entertaining. A draw was probably a fair result. If Jabo Ibehre hadn’t popped up with the equaliser, the Dons would have found a defeat hard to stomach. Equally, Hartlepool’s defenders did enough during the first 45 minutes - when they were under near constant siege – to deserve a point. And Poole’s wonder goal (the one where he rounded every opposition player twice – not to mention referee - before scoring) was also worthy of a share of the spoils.

My clipping from this morning's paper