New date set for potentially decisive Hartlepool United v Southend United clash
Hartlepool United v Southend United has a new date.
A new date has been set for Hartlepool United’s home game with play-off rivals Southend United.
The original date of March 28th was postponed given a fixture clash as a result of Southend’s progress through to the semi-final of the Isuzu FA Trophy. The two sides, Pools & Southend, are currently battling it out for the final play-off spot in the National League.
Given Southend’s congested fixture schedule, their trip to the North East has been rearranged for the final week of the campaign, Tuesday, April 21 with a 7.45pm kick-off.
By then, of course, the play-off picture could already be confirmed but as it stands, it is a crucial fixture in Pools’ ongoing battle to sneak into the top seven. Those hopes took a major blow on Tuesday night following a 2-0 home defeat to Sutton United. Southend United are currently 7th on 53 points level on points with Halifax Town - who Pools face this weekend at home. But Southend have four games in hand over Halifax and three games in hand over Pools in 9th, two points behind.
Having slipped up in the race for the top seven after losing to relegation-threatened Sutton United on Tuesday night, Pools have the chance to get back on track against one of their direct rivals for a National League play-off place this weekend against FC Halifax Town.
Victory would see Pools leapfrog Halifax, who are currently two points clear of Nicky Featherstone's side having played a game more, and could even lift them above Southend United, depending on how the Shrimpers fare against promotion-chasing Carlisle United.
What did Nicky Featherstone say about the defeat to Sutton United?
"It (Tuesday night) was frustrating, but it's where we are," Featherstone told BBC Radio Tees Sport. "Anyone who thinks we're going to go on mad runs of five or six wins on the bounce is miles away from the reality of the situation.
"What this group of players have done is given themselves a chance going into the last part of the season, which should be a positive and should reflect well on the lads; it hasn't had that feel recently, even though the lads have put themselves into a really good position. "We're going to have setbacks, we're going to have good performances - that's what we are as a team right now, so don't expect us to go on massive winning runs.
"We are trying, and what we have done is given ourselves a chance going into the last 11 games of the season. What we've done in our time here with this group of players is given ourselves an outside chance. "We're giving everything we can to get there, and what better way to get back on the horse than against a team that's directly in competition with us? They're slightly above us, but we've got a game in hand on them.”
Regarding the rearranged fixture, a Southend United club statement read: “A new date has been confirmed for our Enterprise National League fixture away to Hartlepool United. Following our progress to the semi-final of the Isuzu FA Trophy where we will face Southport, our match at the Prestige Group Stadium has been rearranged.
“With a congested fixture schedule, we’ll now travel to County Durham for a crunch clash in the final week of the season on Tuesday, April 21 with a 7.45pm kick-off. Ticket details will be announced in due course.”
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