Preview: Pools Need To Dig Deep At Roots Hall

Hartlepool travel to Southend looking to build on the solid win over Millwall last weekend

Vital Quotes:

Southend United boss Steve Tilson is working hard to keep moral up at Southend after his side suffered another defeat without a goal. Southend have only won once in the last 6 and have failed to score in the other 5 defeats.

Confidence must be at a season low for the Blues who have slowly slipped down the table in recent weeks. However Tilson has been quick to praise his players publicly and felt his team where the better side against Charlton and deserves a result from the game.

”I thought we were the better team today. We had the lion’s share of possession and at the very least, we deserved to come away with a point. Unfortunately, we didn’t put our chances away and that has cost us.”
– Steve Tilson (Southend United)

The Hartlepool United players will be in good spirit after ending their three game losing streak with a 3-0 win over Millwall last weekend. With a very tough and hectic Christmas schedule Chris Turner will be hoping his players stay in top gear well into the New Year.

Chris Turner has put out a rallying cry to his team to ‘fight it out with the big boys’ Pools have struggled against the divisions top teams and Turner wants a change of fortune with his side facing the majority of the top 8 teams before the end of February.

”We don’t fear playing Leeds, Southampton, Huddersfield or Norwich. I think they’re great games for the clubs and the players and I think we can compete against them.

”If you take eight clubs away out of this division, we are certainly as good as anyone else in the league. I think we can beat all the other teams on our day. But it’s what you do against the top eight teams which makes you get into the play-offs later on.”
– Chris Turner (HUFC)

Southend Team News:

Steve Tilson will have to put together a make shift defence with 2 key defenders missing. Simon Francis will serve a one game suspension and Osei Sankofa will probably miss out after only returning to training this week after a notable absence with a knee injury. On-loan Swindon defender Sean Morrison has extended his loan spell at Southend.

Player to watch: Lee Barnard

Former Tottenham striker Lee Barnard was in great form at the start of the season and he has already beaten his season total from last year (11 goals) with 12 this season. However as the clubs leading scorer he will be feeling the pressure more than most to rediscover his scoring touch as Southend have only scored 1 goal in the last 6 games. The big question is will Southend get the reaction they need?

Hartlepool Team News:

Denis Behan, James Brown, Steve Haslam and Matty Tymon are all unavailable. Colin Larkin is likely to miss out again as he looks to return from his hamstring injury. Ritchie Jones will be back in the squad after returning illness. Chris Turner has also added young defender Dylan Purvis to the squad that travels to Southend.

It is unlikely that Chris Turner will change his starting 11 after Pools run out 3-0 victors over Millwall, the only potential change would be Ritchie Jones coming back into the centre of midfield.

Player to watch: Leon McSweeney

McSweeney was a late addition to the Hartlepool starting line-up last week when Ritchie Jones pulled out through illness. McSweeney put in an impressive display against Millwall on the right wing and his ability, style of play and crossing seemed to be perfect for the striker partnership of Bjornsson and Boyd. As long as the creative winger can keep supplying the forwards surely it will be raining goals for the Hartlepool United attack.

Match Facts & Stats

Pools legend Joe Allon is the most famous player to run out for both clubs. Other names include Kevin Betsy, Gavin Strachan and new Peterborough boss Mark Cooper. Hartlepool do not travelled well to Southend picking up just 2 wins on their travels out of a possible 20. One stat that does go in Hartlepool’s favour is that current club captain Ritchie Humphreys is the top scorer in this fixture with 4 goals.

Match Prediction:

Southend 0 – 2 Hartlepool United

Although the history books do not go in Hartlepool United’s favour, it is hard to look past Southend’s recent poor form and Hartlepool’s strong away record this season.

Southend are struggling for goals with only 1 goal in 6 games and with Hartlepool keeping 9 clean sheets in the league this season already. Another away win for Hartlepool, as long as the forwards can keep firing.

Next Fixtures:

Hartlepool United’s next game is at home to Yeovil Town, this is a must win game for Hartlepool as the Christmas fixture list comes thick and fast for Pools who will need as many points as possible before the boxing day trip to Leeds.