Blues boss Steve Tilson decided to make a straight swap for France Under-21 bound Dorian Dervite with former Charlton defender Osei Sankofa.
It always looked as if Southend's late charge towards the top six would remain on track after Pool's keeper Arran Lee-Barrett was handed a straight red card for a professional foul in the 14th minute.
The incident stemmed from right back Gary Liddle needlessly giving the ball to Franck Moussa, who lifted it over the top for Theo Robinson which forced Lee-Barrett to rush out of his goal.
The Monkey Hanger keeper cynically chopped down Robinson after the Southend striker got to the ball first and referee Mick Russell had no option than to award both a penalty and a red card to the keeper.
Lee Barnard slotted the ball under the despairing dive of substitute keeper Jan Budtz, who went the right way but couldn't keep it out.
Southend doubled their lead minutes later after Franck Moussa finished off a stunning individual run from his own half with a 20-yard low shot into the bottom corner as the Pool defence suicidally backed off. One for the 'goal of the season' vote I think.
The away side halved the deficit in the 32nd minute after top scorer Joel Porter was shoved by Damien Scannell just inside the area at the end of a jinking run from the centre circle.
Porter stepped up himself and sent keeper Steve Mildenhall the wrong way by slotting the ball low to the keeper's left.
It looked like it was game over in the 43rd minute when Robinson slipped the ball inside Budtz's near post after his initial effort was saved. (With most of the Roots Hall crowd screaming that he didn't pass it square for a tap-in by Barnard, but hey, what do we know!)
However, Ritchie Jones gave Hartlepool hope after the break when he tapped in Andy Monkhouse's low ball across the face.
They then has a good shout for another penalty when Sankofa seemed to handle the ball in the area, the decision going against them leading to a couple of dubious tackles that could have seem the North East side down to 8 men let alone 10!
He of the dodgy thighs, striker Dougie Freedman, replaced the good Lord but looked like a guy who had just struggled back from injury, which he was. Good to see him playing again though, he'll score again before the season is out.
Betsy came on for Scannell who received a deserved standing ovation, the tide has turned I think for young Damien.
Monkhouse and Michael Nelson both went close to a dramatic equaliser but The Shrimpers held on during a nervy final ten minutes to keep their promotion hopes alive while condeming Pool to their fifth consequtive defeat and only four points outside the bottom four.
Daft really, I mean at 3-1 it should have been all over, Theo missed a sitter in the second half, but we'll take the win, that's 10 out of 13 games, 30 points from 39, sounds good whichever way you put it.
Onwards to Yorkshire, the dream continues!
Tilly was certainly grateful and gives his post match reaction here:
It always looked as if Southend's late charge towards the top six would remain on track after Pool's keeper Arran Lee-Barrett was handed a straight red card for a professional foul in the 14th minute.
The incident stemmed from right back Gary Liddle needlessly giving the ball to Franck Moussa, who lifted it over the top for Theo Robinson which forced Lee-Barrett to rush out of his goal.
The Monkey Hanger keeper cynically chopped down Robinson after the Southend striker got to the ball first and referee Mick Russell had no option than to award both a penalty and a red card to the keeper.
Lee Barnard slotted the ball under the despairing dive of substitute keeper Jan Budtz, who went the right way but couldn't keep it out.
Southend doubled their lead minutes later after Franck Moussa finished off a stunning individual run from his own half with a 20-yard low shot into the bottom corner as the Pool defence suicidally backed off. One for the 'goal of the season' vote I think.
The away side halved the deficit in the 32nd minute after top scorer Joel Porter was shoved by Damien Scannell just inside the area at the end of a jinking run from the centre circle.
Porter stepped up himself and sent keeper Steve Mildenhall the wrong way by slotting the ball low to the keeper's left.
It looked like it was game over in the 43rd minute when Robinson slipped the ball inside Budtz's near post after his initial effort was saved. (With most of the Roots Hall crowd screaming that he didn't pass it square for a tap-in by Barnard, but hey, what do we know!)
However, Ritchie Jones gave Hartlepool hope after the break when he tapped in Andy Monkhouse's low ball across the face.
They then has a good shout for another penalty when Sankofa seemed to handle the ball in the area, the decision going against them leading to a couple of dubious tackles that could have seem the North East side down to 8 men let alone 10!
He of the dodgy thighs, striker Dougie Freedman, replaced the good Lord but looked like a guy who had just struggled back from injury, which he was. Good to see him playing again though, he'll score again before the season is out.
Betsy came on for Scannell who received a deserved standing ovation, the tide has turned I think for young Damien.
Monkhouse and Michael Nelson both went close to a dramatic equaliser but The Shrimpers held on during a nervy final ten minutes to keep their promotion hopes alive while condeming Pool to their fifth consequtive defeat and only four points outside the bottom four.
Daft really, I mean at 3-1 it should have been all over, Theo missed a sitter in the second half, but we'll take the win, that's 10 out of 13 games, 30 points from 39, sounds good whichever way you put it.
Onwards to Yorkshire, the dream continues!
Tilly was certainly grateful and gives his post match reaction here: