Pools blow two-goal lead
Suicidally careless Hartlepool United ended up on the losing side at Southend United after throwing away a comfortable two-goal lead.
Chris Turner's men looked well on course for their second successive victory at Roots Hall against a Shrimpers side who had lost five of their previous six games.
Adam Boyd's eighth goal of the season was a beauty and handed Pools the lead out of nothing.
Andy Monkhouse then doubled the advantage after his scuffed long-range shot was deflected off Anthony Grant into the bottom corner.
Southend had rarely troubled Pools in the opening half but they were handed a lifeline early in the second half when Francis Laurent headed in off the post.
Lee Barnard drew Southend level when he pounced after some suicidal defending by Peter Hartley and Gary Liddle.
With Pools struggling to get any decent service into their strikers, a Southend winner looked inevitable and it duly arrived when Barnard grabbed his second of the game to take advantage of more dismal defending from the visitors.
Turner's misery was completed in the 84th minute when substitute Ben Clark was dismissed for a second yellow card - the third Pools player to be sent off at Southend in as many years.
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Weather for Sunderland
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
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Wind direction: West
