Colin West left Roots Hall to celebrate his recent 40th birthday with family and friends a little hoarse, but satisfied by his team's battling performance and thankful for the fact that they would be in the second round draw.

The future of West, Hartlepool United's caretaker manager, should be decided in the next couple of days as chairman Ken Hodcroft lands back on English soil following a business trip abroad.

But the Pool faithful made their feelings clear at Roots Hall - constantly singing West's praises and showing their support for the stand-in boss.

"I've lost my voice a little bit from shouting encouragement and advice to the lads, but I've definitely enjoyed the game, " said West.

"There weren't a lot of real chances at either end, but it was a typical cup-tie, with plenty of atmosphere, especially in the second half.

"In the first half I thought we kept control of the ball better and passed the ball better. We showed what a good passing side we can be.

"When they put us under pressure in the second, we gave the ball away too easily - we need to keep our composure a little bit more.

"We didn't need to go out and try to win the game late on, we could have been caught on the break.

"It's been another long trip for the lads, and you're always pleased when you come home with at least a point from a league trip or for a reply in a cup-tie."

Pool won at Roots Hall just three weeks earlier, Eifion Williams' first-minute goal securing the points.

And West admitted: "Rob Newman's programme notes, talking about them looking for a little bit of revenge from the defeat the other week played into our hands a little bit.

"I thought we defended well, we didn't defend too deep and although they put a lot of pressure on us in the second half we didn't let them have that many shots on target. We pressed them in the right areas and they didn't really trouble Anthony Williams.

"You never take anything for granted, but we've got to fancy our chances in the replay. It'll be nice to have another home game, and if we play as well as we know we can at home, then we should be all right."

Unlike the last visit, this time Pool found themselves a goal behind after three minutes but equalised 20 minutes later to bring the Essex side back to Victoria Park on Tuesday week.

The game had hardly had time to settle into any kind of pattern when Tony Scully, on loan from Cambridge United, cut inside Micky Barron on the Southend left and curled in a teasing cross which Graeme Lee could only help into the back of the net past a helpless Anthony Williams.

It took the visitors time to find their rhythm and Eifion Williams' 22nd minute header from Paul Smith's cross was their first effort of note.

However, within seconds they were on level terms as Barron chipped the ball into Marcus Richardson who held off his defender long enough for the skipper to arrive, rolled the ball into his path and the full-back fired home from the edge of the box.

Chances were at a premium for both sides in a tight first half, but the second period produced more passion and entertainment.

Jay Smith and Kevin Maher went close for the Essex side in a frantic opening to the second-half but West's men were also dangerous on the break.

None more so than when Ritchie Humphreys broke after a corner and opened up the home defence exchanging passes with Williams but Darryl Flahavan raced to the edge of the box to take the ball off the toe of the former Wednesday man.

Scully was always lively on the home side's left wing and Bramble caused more problems as the game wore on. Both Murphy and Lee bravely blocked shots from the striker in a frantic late flurry.

Paul Smith was having a quiet game by his high standards, but almost set up Richardson late in the second half only to be denied by a late interception.

The former Torquay striker had caused problems for the home defence all afternoon and he set up chances for both Williams and Humphreys in the dying minutes but both were saved to take the tie to a replay, with a home game with Bournemouth awaiting the winners.