Shrimps 1 Pools 3

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Think it will be 2-1 to us - Southend seem to have that belief and optimism considering where they are behind the scenes.

could all still come crashing down for them though so they could be playing for nowt. No doubt will be a hard game and really need to keep Cardwell quiet and we will be fine

got all my predictions wrong so i,m going for a 2-1 defeat for pools.

Heart Says: Sneak a 2-1 with a late winner from Mani
Head Says: Under the Cosh 2-2

Would quite happily take a draw now, a good point away from home!!!

Up the Pools

I'm going for a 2-2. Wondering if Askey has tweaked our away tactics since Barnet? I dont think Sarfend are as good as Barnet but its so early in the season anything can happen.

Southend 0 Pools 3

I'm going 1-1 draw- would happily take a point

Could be a big crowd at Roots Hall- if their fans reckon it could be their last ever game prior to their day in court next Thursday

I had hoped to be present though going away tomorrow for a week with the family, was gutted when the fixtures were released. The Outlaws are going so would be ecstatic with a win- even more so than usual.

They've only got 15 players, so if we can start fast and press them, getting them moving around the pitch- we could then pick them off in the second half,when they tire- bit like Maidenhead. Cardwell has scored 3 in 3 for them but apparently missed loads more chances, so not as prolific as maybe would first appear.

Is Josh still suspended, did he get 3 games? Either way, got to get Wreh on at some point- guaranteed to score against his former employers.

It's normally a 3 match ban for a sending off for violent conduct. Pools haven't appealed, so you'd assume that's going to be the case - though nothing official has been announced.

Confirmed as a 3 match ban on the OS in the Southend preview.

0-2 Pools win

Is the game still on?
Heard late last nite at work that the local water company was going to turn the water supply off due to unpaid bill resulting in a postponed game.

If that were to be the case- surely that would literally be the beginning of the end for them- as they would then not be fulfilling a fixture, which could lead to expulsion by the league. Also Pools would have a claim in against them for costs and should automatically be awarded the 3 points as how could they guarantee the same wouldn't happen again for any rearranged match

if they cannot pay their present bills pools have no chance of anything back if they go bust. it would be typical pools for this to happen.

The water stopped flowing some time yesterday, For whatever reason.
And as if by magic it was flowing again later that day.

The football authorities need to have a good look at these shenanigans that occur at football clubs and especially tighten their grip on the concept of fit and proper owners.
I'm sure 100000 signatures could be gathered on a petition to have this debated in Parliament.
It might give the buggers in Parliament something worthwhile to get their teeth into for a change.

My predictions are often the wrong way round so hope for the same today;

Sarfend 3 Pools 2

28-1 with Bet365

I don't know about the stadium at SARFend but their training ground Boots n Laces definitely had the water supply cut, over the summer due to unpaid bills.

The medical staff also walked out after not being paid for months, which is why they only managed 2 pre season games the week before the season started- once they'd been paid.

They are also under transfer embargo, which includes existing players extending deals, as they wanted to take up the years option on Wreh's contract, but weren't allowed - which then made him a free agent- allowing Pools to nip in and sign him.

Team unchanged for today but Wallace has recovered from his broken toe and is fit enough to make the subs' bench.

Southend Utd 1 Pools 1 Mancini 6,389 Pools 570

Anybody accessing commentary. Tees says it's on Dab but only locally.

Got the first part right lets hope I'm right with the second bit!!!

Listening to it on Tees as I'm within DAB range, but instead of the usual commentary team it's a bloke from down there called Stuart. He appears to be doing his commentary from a Pools perspective rather than one for both teams and is doing a pretty good job, though you don't hear expressions like "Onariase and Dixon got into a right 2 and 8" that often up here.

2-2 Joe Grey!

I think we need to get someone in to replace Wreh, he's not up to it I'm afraid.

3-2 Pools - another Seaman rocket!

The same Wreh who puts a perfect ball onto Grey to equalise?

Yep! That's him.

Glad Askey's in charge and not you then!

3 away points!

The clueless BBC Sport website is still showing 2-2.

Sky have this as a 2-2 draw at full time.

Just go to the national league site, bugger the BBC.

Well that’s the weekends BIG match sorted, turned out nice again.

A great three points from Pools and we showed a lot of the qualities that have been missing in recent years. We were professional, tenacious, ruthless. On this display we'll be in the mix come May.

Without doubt Southend deserved something from that game but they didn't take their chances and we did.

really enjoyed that one , good 3 points against a side who were no mugs
RATING

Dixon 6 at fault for first goal based on the Eddie Kyle standard of keeping but did well that aside

Seaman 6 another good goal but let too many crosses in for my liking
Ferguson 7 battled well against a good winger

Mani O 6 prob his most unsure game
Dodds 7 very good player and his breaking with the ball is a great outlet
Lacey 6 did ok

Cooke 7 used ball well, we cant press when he is in team
Crawford 6 good goal but that aside prob his worst game of what has been a v good season so far, seemed to be playing further fwd than normal and didnt suit him
Mancini 9 MOM - ok i am a believer, ran the show and shouldn't be in this division, even the Southend commentators (who were pretty reasonable all game in fairness) were singing his praisies and Southend fans clapped him off

Wreh 6 put a proper shift in, hope he gets a goal soon
Mani D 6 hopefully not out too long

Subs

Grey 7 took his goal really well and made a great chance for Cooke, i have been sceptical of him, and he is light physically but did really well today

The table on the OFFICIAL site shows us drawing today but have nine points.

Few players off the pace today and passing at times could have been better.

Mancini class act how on earth we got him as a trialist.

Considering that all four of our opponents so far are in the top ten in the league, this is a great start.
We must now begin to take maximum points from the struggling teams which we have often failed to do in the past.

Clear in 4th place in the table; 1 point off top. Early days, but I'll take this any day of the week. Pools squad still needs a few more bodies in though.

Great win even if Southend are having troubles. 3 wins in a row askey doing a fantastic job.

Really do look organized, was disappointing start to both half’s were we struggled with southend press but Askey knows what he is doing.

Genuinely struggling to understand how Mancini ended up here, he doesn’t have pace (tho does have great change of pace) but the way he uses the ball and the way for a small bloke he gets in physically is really a cut above.
Enjoying watching him play as much as I did Kemp, pretty sure he will be. A marked man after that display as well which should give others more space

A good, hard earned win but the poor quality of the opposition goals is very annoying.

4 games in and Pools have had 8 different goalscorers - took us till Boxing Day to manage that last season

Mani O 6???? Kept us in the game towards the end, with his clearance. I personally think he was 8. Made some good clearance throughout the game.

Crawford 6 really. Ran the show in midfield. Was tidy and kept his head with a few good tackles. Probably 7.

Seaman 6? Try 8. Great pace and good play, worked well with Dodds.

Southend were good today, they were all over us like a rash, you could tell we were two ex league clubs. They played great and caused us problems with good passing and pace upfront.

We just had the edge and a bit more. The whole team effort was 8 out of 10.

Have to say that I thought I was watching a different game to some of the above comments. Southend were a very tidy side. We were under the cosh for long parts of the game but we won because we defended well and were clinical up front. Not one Pools player struck me as less than a 7 and most were at least 8.

I hope Southend and Pools bounce back together as they are both proper old school clubs and have both suffered from the scum that infects lower league ownership.

He was good again today. Kept running and some really good touches. Won't get many goals but will create space for others. Don't know why fans don't like him.

He likely wouldn’t start if umerah was available, we do need a couple of extra players in the team including one more option up front imo

I was at the game and to fair Southend had a right go at us and and we rode our luck at times. Brilliant day out and loved it when Pools players came over to us at the end. We have pace in the side which enables us to get up the field and attack before the opposition have time to get organized. I thought Mancini was the pick of Pools players today, lots of clever close control and Southend struggled to deal with him. All the lads put in a shift and deserved the win. Happy days.

Also a big shout out to the Ref today and the linesmen, all were good and kept the game flowing and wasn't fooled by some dives. I would say 9 out of 10 for him. If only all refs were like him in this league.