SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown had been feeling unwell following his side’s disappointing FA Cup defeat to Chester.

But he was not the only one.

Most Shrimpers supporters had also been pretty sick since the shock reverse at the hands of the Conference club.

And Saturday’s narrow 1-0 win against bottom of the table Hartlepool United was therefore crucial to lift the spirits of everyone connected with the club.

A more attacking line-up was the first boost of the afternoon as Kevan Hurst and David Worrall were selected in the same side for the first time this season.

Worrall has emerged as Blues’ main creative force in recent weeks and his match winning effort against the Monkeyhangers was his third goal in his last five games.

On the opposite flank, Hurst also looked far more like the player he was during the previous campaign and that added an extra dimension to Southend’s play.

Hurst had more assists than any other player in League Two last term and also bagged 12 goals himself.

Yet, so far this term, he has largely been below the high standards he has set since signing for the Shrimpers.

But on Saturday he was able to deliver a few, fine crosses which very few other players would be capable of producing.

If the winger can now build on this display then Blues will provide far more of a threat in the final third and so too will the inclusion of Jack Payne.

Right now, the energetic midfielder offers something different in attack and makes the Shrimpers far more dangerous.

In the 10 games he has started this season, Blues have bagged 13 goals yet in the 10 matches he has not been in the side, they have hit the back of the net just eight times.

His intelligent run off the ball also enabled Worrall to fire home against Hartlepool and Payne certainly deserves to keep his place in the side.

But scoring enough goals certainly remains Southend’s biggest concern and will ultimately decide their destiny this season.

Reinforcements may still be required to strengthen the strike-force as Blues have scored just 17 times in their 17 league games so far.

Only five teams have netted fewer goals in League Two.

However, just one effort was enough to see off struggling Hartlepool as a makeshift Southend defence worked well to secure their side’s first clean sheet in eight games.

With Jakub Sokolik and Jerome Binnom-Williams both suspended, Adam Thompson was required to line up at right-back with John White switching to the left hand side.

That also led to Cian Bolger being recalled at centre-back and the Irishman responded well to the call by producing a vastly improved display.

The defender has endured a difficult start to his Shrimpers career suffering injuries, a number of facial cuts and an early red card in a horror showing at Plymouth Argyle.

Bolger, who became Blues’ most expensive signing in six years when he joined from Bolton Wanderers for £25,000 in August, also struggled badly on his previous start at Luton Town.

But he was far more solid against Hartlepool and boss Brown now faces a huge selection headache for Saturday’s trip to Tranmere Rovers.

The Shrimpers will make the trip to Prenton Park sitting seventh in the League Two standings, just four points behind the automatic promotion places.

That is a fine foundation to build upon and so too was Saturday’s narrow success.

However, far tougher tests will soon lie in store for Southend and the right attacking formula will need to be found on a consistent basis if Blues are not to be feeling sick again at the end of the season.