FA Cup: Pools take on Shrimpers for a rematch

By Albatross
November 15 2002

"The FA Cup, isn't it? Romance of the Cup, Non-league mixing with the big boys, shocks and big scores, blood and thunder, all reminiscent of small boys, in the park, jumpers for goalposts - marvellous." Or in our case, another tricky game at Roots Hall. Albatross previews the game.

Here we go again! It's not long since I last wrote a preview of a Pools game at Roots Hall, and this Saturday sees us once again visiting Southend - this time for the FA Cup 1st Round match. Southend will be after revenge following our 1-0 victory in the League, but will they get it?

There has already been a spot of bad news for any Poolies who can't get to the game: there is almost certain to be no audio commentary from the match on Pools World. The problem is that PTV don't own the rights to FA Cup Games, and although Pools - in common with many other clubs - have been in touch with the FA to try and sort something out, so far nothing has been forthcoming. This also means that any Highlights will not be available to Pools World subscribers. The SMS Alerts and Text Commentary will be active though.

When we played Southend at the end of October, both sides had come off heavy defeats in the LDV Trophy - admittedly both with weakened sides against higher division opponents. Our form since though is very different. Pools followed the win over the Shrimpers with a home win over Bristol Rovers, a 0-0 draw in awful conditions at the Vic, and a battling 2-1 at Exeter last weekend; Southend meanwhile lost at big rivals Orient and also at home to Wrexham - who recorded their first win for a month - before finally getting back on track with a 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground to end a run of five straight defeats. A win over Pools could have seen Southend jump into second place; instead they are now twelve points behind us in 13th place.

Scoring Goals seems to be Southend's main problem. Graeme Jones was expected to net regularly, but has only scored three goals; he's instead been clocking up the bookings, with a total of seven yellows. He missed the Bristol game through injury, and is looking unlikely to figure. Instead, Tes Bramble (5 goals) and the man who sounds like a hotel - Barrington Belgrave (2 goals) - are likely to start.

Pools meanwhile are unlikely to make changes; Brian Barry-Murphy has been given permission to play by Preston, and with no league points at stake West is likely to stick with 4-4-2 and the team that beat Exeter. Will it be his last game in charge? Despite strong rumours earlier this week, nothing has been announced; and some Sheffield papers seem to think he may be on his way to Hillsborough after all. We'll only know for definate when the club announces it; Ken Hodcroft has been away for part of this week so it looks like that announcement may be made early next week.

If this was a league game, there would be no question about Pools being favourites; but it's the FA Cup, we're playing a team who are out for revenge, and it may be their only hope of any glory this season. We certainly didn't walk all over them: many Southend fans feel they should have taken something out of that game, and will be hoping their team will show some better form in front of goal. I'll go for a 1-1 draw, with Pools to equalise late in the game through Eifion Williams and take it back to the Vic in 10 days time.