Hartlepool United v Southend United - Preview - Shrimpers24

Mark Rawle returns to the Shrimpers squad

That last Division Three match saw a return to the Blues' squad for Graeme Jones, and he will be joined in his native north-east by two other strikers as the Seasiders attempt to improve on a poor record in front of goal. Mark Rawle has recovered sufficiently from a groin injury to link up with the squad, and alongside him will be Barrington Belgrave, back after serving a two-match suspension having used foul and abusive language to the referee in the Shrimpers 2-1 defeat at Leyton Orient. Mark Salter is cup-tied, representing Frome Town in the preliminary stages of the competition, but Tes Bramble retains his place after coming through Saturday's game injury free.

The rest of the squad remains unchanged, with manager Rob Newman having a full compliment to chose from. Neil Jenkins may make a return at the expense of either Steven Clark or Damon Searle, but it is unlikely that any other changes will be made to the starting line-up, despite recent comments from the coaching staff that drastic improvement must be made to players' performances.

Southend have not won an away replay in the F.A. Cup since defeating Exeter City 1-0 at St. James' Park on 30th November 1932 and the team will have to improve on a run of just one win in eight in order to achieve their goal. Hartlepool, by contrast, are in a rich vein of form, and approach the game with just on defeat in the same amount of time - a 5-0 reversal in the LDV Vans Trophy at the hands of Tranmere, albeit with a weakened side. One crumb of comfort for travelling Shrimpers is that the Monkeyhangers have not reached the Second Round for three years themselves, and have a poor recent record in the competition.

Hartlepool will be taking to the field with their third manager in the three matches against Southend. In October Chris Turner was still in charge, but he left for struggling Division One outfit Sheffield Wednesday, and Colin West, who was caretaker boss, followed him to Yorkshire after the original tie. Former Everton and Blackburn striker Mike Newell is the man Pools have turned to in order to stay top of the League, and he takes charge of his first home game this evening. He opened his account at Orient with a 2-1 victory, and retained the same squad as had faced the Shrimpers a week previously. With Gordon Watson still a week or two away from full fitness, that side should continue.

Last season the long journey northwards ended in a 5-1 defeat at Victoria Park, Belgrave netting a late consolation for the Blues, but the two previous encounters, and the 0-0 draw last October at Roots Hall, were all closely fought games, and more of the same may just see Southend coming home with the spoils.

Last Matches:
Southend United 0 AFC Bournemouth 1 (O'Connor 72[pen]), Line-up: Flahavan; Beard, Cort, McSweeney, Searle; Steven Clark, Maher, Smith, Scully; Jones (Salter 75), Bramble. Subs not used: Gay, Broad, Thurgood, Jenkins

Leyton Orient 1 (Canham 69) Hartlepool United 2 (Williams 26, 72), Line-up: Anthony Williams; Barron, Lee, Westwood, Barry-Murphy; Clark, Tinkler, Humphreys, Smith; Richardson, Eifion Williams (Adam Boyd 89). Subs not used: Provett, Arnison, Widdrington, Istead.

Last Five Meetings:
16th November 2002 - Southend United 1 (Lee [og] 3) Hartlepool United 1 (Barron 23) - F.A. Cup First Round
25th October, 2002 - Southend United 0 Hartlepool United 1 (E. Williams 1) - Division Three
23rd February, 2002 - Hartlepool United 5 (Humphreys 9, 66, Coppinger 35, Smith 69, Easter 71) Southend United 1 (Belgrave 90) - Division Three
15th September, 2001 - Southend United 0 Hartlepool United 0 - Division Three
7th April, 2001 - Southend United 2 (Forbes 35, Bramble 51) Hartlepool United 1 (Tinkler 84) - Division Three

Southend (from): Darryl Flahavan, Danny Gay, Mark Beard, Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Stephen Broad, Phil Whelan, Damon Searle, Neil Jenkins, Steven Clark, Jay Smith, Kevin Maher, Sturat Thurgood, Tony Scully, Tes Bramble, Graeme Jones, Mark Rawle, Barrington Belgrave.

Hartlepool (likely): Anthony Williams, Micky Barron, Graeme Lee, Chris Westwood, Brian Barry-Murphy, Darrell Clark, Mark Tinkler, Ritchie Humphreys, Paul Smith, Marcus Richardson, Eifion Williams, Adam Boyd, Jim Provett, Paul Arnison, Tommy Widdrington, Steven Istead.

Referee - Lee Cable (Woking)
Lee should be a familiar face to United supporters, for he refereed the Shrimpers only two and a half weeks ago in the 2-1 defeat at Leyton Orient. In that game Cable awarded the O's a dubious first minute corner from which they scored and also sent-off Barrington Belgrave for dissent in the final minute. Hence Belgrave's suspension for this tie. Cable also dismissed Steven Clark in the final minute of last season's 2-0 home win over Scunthorpe United for an alleged head-butt.
Assistant Referee's - Jon Beadle (Gravesend) and Trevor Pollard (Bury St Edmunds)

Head-to-Head (Southend United vs. Hartlepool United), coutesy of www.soccer-stats.com

Head To Head 2002-2003