Match Report

Southend United moved to within three points of the play-offs by holding on for a 3-2 victory over ten-man Hartlepool United.

It always looked as if Southend's late charge towards the top six would remain on track after Pools 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.

Lee-Barrett cynically chopped down Robinson after the Southend striker had 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 Moussa finished off a stunning individual run from his own half with a 20-yard low shot into the bottom corner as the Pools defence suicidally backed off.

Hartlepool halved the deficit in the 32nd minute when top scorer Joel Porter was shoved by Damian 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 had been saved.

But Ritchie Jones gave Pools hope once more after the break when he tapped in Andy Monkhouse's low ball across the face of the goal.

Monkhouse and Michael Nelson both went close to a dramatic equaliser but Southend held on during a nervy final ten minutes to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides