Source: Team_Talk
Tilson: Top-six finish a tall order
Pools goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett was sent off for bringing down Theo Robinson as he chased a long ball from Franck Moussa. Lee Barnard converted the penalty in the 17th minute and moments later Moussa scored a spectacular second when he found the net with a low drive.
Hartlepool got back into the game when Joel Porter was successful from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute but Southend scored a third just before the break through Robinson.
However, Hartlepool displayed great spirit and pulled one back in the 62nd minute when Richie Jones provided the finishing touch to a cross from Andy Monkhouse.
"As far as I'm concerned it [the play-offs] is a massive task and one that is a long way from our thoughts," Tilson said. "The teams above us have at least one game in hand and we have some very tough games coming up, including MK Dons and Leicester City.
"All we can do is keep winning and hope for the best. Naturally I was delighted we came away with all three points but we did make things difficult for ourselves. Really we should have won comfortably."
