Phil Brown saw his Southend United side take on his former club Hull City in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Roots Hall this afternoon.
Following a first half without a goal, Premier League Hull took the initiative after the restart and went on to book their place in the last 16 courtesy of two unanswered goals from Matty Fryatt.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute updates below.
2.02pmAfternoon all. So, league matters have taken a back seat this weekend with the return of the FA Cup. Here, we will be covering a tie that sums up the spirit of the competition. A League Two side in Southend United play host to Premier League Hull City. Will there be an upset? We shall see.
2.04pmRight, without further ado, let's get some team news shall we? We will start with who will feature for the home side.
2.05pmSOUTHEND XI: Bentley; Thompson, Prosser, Phillips, Coker; Timlin, Atkinson, Leonard; Straker, Hurst, Corr
2.06pmSOUTHEND SUBS: Smith, Payne, Eastwood, Laird, Clifford, Gomis, Woodrow
2.08pmSo, just the one change from Phil Brown, who has named an attacking lineup. Right-back Luke O'Neill has dropped out with a thigh injury and he has been replaced by Adam Thomspon. Elsewhere, Ben Coker will continue at left-back, while Barry Corr will lead the attack.
2.09pmAnd now for visiting Hull...
2.10pmHULL XI: Harper; Rosenior, Faye, McShane, Figueroa; Boyd, Meyler, Quinn; Sagbo, Fryatt, Graham
2.12pmHULL SUBS: McGregor, Bruce, Davies, Koren, Brady, Livermore, Elmohamady
2.14pmWell, as expected, Steve Bruce has made a number of changes to his lineup. The likes of Danny Graham, Matty Fryatt, Abdoulaye Faye and goalkeeper Steve Harper have all come into the side. There is no Tom Huddlestone altogether, though, because the midfielder is suspended following the red card that he received last time out against Norwich City. Like Southend, it's an attack-minded starting lineup from the visitors.
2.17pmStaying with Bruce, he has named a relatively strong side today, despite the fact that his club's number one priority is to remain in the Premier League. Nevertheless, speaking to BBC Sport just now, Bruce insisted that he wants to win the competition.
"We can't win the Premier League, but a Premier League team can win the FA Cup. [Roots Hall] hasn't changed in 30 years. It's Southend's final and it will be the first time in five and a half years that this ground is full. We're treating the tie with the respect it deserves. We have got to match their endeavour and work rate."
2.21pmBruce, of course, is no stranger to success in this tournament. He won it twice as a player at Manchester United and it would have been three times, but injury prevented him from turning out during the 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Wembley in 1996.
2.25pmMeanwhile, his opposite number, Brown, has opted somewhat surprisingly not to include Lee Barnard in his squad. The striker's return to Roots Hall from Southampton was confirmed yesterday, but the Southend boss has opted to leave out the former Tottenham Hotspur youngster:
"I felt we didn't need to change anything from last weekend's win. He only trained yesterday," said Brown. The centre-forward will be introduced to the crowd before the match, though.
2.30pmObviously Brown is one of the major talking points today. He was handed the manager's job at Hull in 2006 and two years later he guided them to the Premier League. Then his team defied the odds to survive in the top flight, despite having lost to Man United on the final day of the 2008-09 campaign. All good things come to an end, though, and in March 2010 he was relieved of his duties following a poor run of form that ultimately saw the Tigers relegated.
2.33pmDuring the week, Brown has been speaking about his departure from the KC Stadium. Here's what he had to say: "We were on the verge of building a 92-acre training ground but with the intervention of a new chairman that did not manifest itself.
"I believe that, had I stayed, we would have survived a second season in the Premier League and, with that new training ground, we would have remained a Premier League club for 20 years. The new chairman did not share that vision. He was a short-term man and that is no good to me. Maybe for that reason alone, it was best that we did part company."
2.38pmWhat are Brown's thoughts on this tie then? Well, talking to the club's official website, he has urged his players to use Bradford City as an example. Of course, the Bantams reached last year's League Cup final, despite being a League Two side at the time.
“You only have to look at what Bradford City achieved last season to see a cup run can be a real positive. What they did was incredible and getting to Wembley was a fabulous achievement," he said.
"They beat three Premier League sides on their route to the final, and that has given a lot of lower league teams lots of confidence. We’re going into this game with Hull full of belief, and I believe that if we play as we have been doing, there’s nothing stopping us copying Bradford and knocking out a Premier League side."
2.43pmIt's worth noting that the Southend defence will not be up against strikers Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic, both of whom recently arrived at Hull for a combined total of £13m. Thankfully for the home side, the duo are cup-tied, having played for West Bromwich Albion and Everton in round three.
2.48pmWith those two absent, it has given a chance to Danny Graham, who is on loan at Hull from Sunderland. If reports are to be believed, Bruce is ready to send the striker back to the Stadium of Light early, believing that he does not need him anymore. Perhaps this clash provides Graham with the last chance to prove his manager wrong.
2.52pmPREDICTION: Right, with just under 10 minutes to go until we get started, let's have a stab at predicting the outcome of this tie. Fans of the FA Cup would love to see an upset, as would Southend supporters! To be honest, it's not beyond the realms of possibility. It's a small pitch where the crowd are on top of the players, which Hull will not have been used to this season. Let's go for a 1-1 draw, with Southend earning a replay back at the KC Stadium.
2.56pmHere come the players, who are greeted by a big cheer from the sell-out crowd. It seems as though the home supporters fancy their team's chances of an upset. Can they deliver? Not long now until we find out.
1 minKICKOFF! Hull, attacking from left to right, get this FA Cup tie underway.
4 minNot much to talk about in terms of action during the opening exchanges, but it must be said that the pitch is going to play a big part today. It's fair to say that there isn't much grass in either penalty area, so a mistake or two could happen!
5 minBOOKING! Lee Mason has issued the yellow card early, but you can understand why. Southend striker Corr has just gone flying into a challenge with Hull's Sagbo and played none of the ball. He protests his innocence, but it's one of the clearest cautions that you are likely to see.
8 minNeither goalkeeper has been called into any significant action yet. Just now Hull's first real effort was struck from distance by midfielder David Meyler, but the ball flew well over the crossbar. Both teams are just sizing each other up at the moment.
13 minScrappy would be the best word to sum up this tie so far. Both teams have been wasteful in possession, with Hull in particular struggling to contend with the muddy conditions. Before they do adapt, Southend must take advantage of the uncertainty.
18 minThat's one that Southend defender Thompson will not want to forget quickly. He's just had plenty of time and space down the right flank, but his attempted cross bounced onto the roof of the stand and then was momentarily wedged behind the scoreboard! It's probably the most entertaining moment of the tie so far.
23 minBOOKING! Faye isn't happy, but he's gone into the book. To be fair to the Hull defender, he didn't make much contact with Straker, who chucked himself to the ground dramatically. Nevertheless, referee Mason reaches for his yellow card - that's one booking apiece now.
27 minSAVE! At last, some action! Southend frontman Corr shows his physical presence to shrug off McShane to reach Leonard's long throw into the area. The striker loops a header towards the top corner, but veteran Hull goalkeeper Harper shows great reflexes to tip the ball over the crossbar, before going on to claim the resultant corner with a routine catch.
31 minIt must be said, the Hull backline is looking a little shaky and uncertain at times. They are playing the usual three-man rearguard with a wing-back either side, but these players have not played together too often and it is showing.
35 minSAVE! The lack of confidence in Graham right now is really alarming. George Boyd just beat the offside trap with a smart run and having assessed his options, he squared a pass for his teammate, who had just had Bentley to beat. His shot is poor, though, and trickles to the Southend goalkeeper. What a chance that was.
40 minSouthend are seeing plenty of possession, but they are struggling to create many chances. The pitch isn't helping, it must be said, because the ball keeps getting stuck in the mud.
43 minSuperb defending from Phillips just now and had he not produced it, Hull could well be in front. Some slick passing released Fryatt, who rode one challenge as he raced into the Southend area. However, as he's just about to pull the trigger, Phillips slides in to divert the ball behind for a corner.
45 minThere will be one minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
45+1 minHALF TIME: SOUTHEND 0-0 HULL
3.48pmSo, after a half of few chances, Mason blows for the break, with neither side having found the net at Roots Hall.
3.52pmSouthend boss Brown is likely to be pleased with what he has seen from his players so far and you can't blame him. They've limited Hull to only a couple of chances, while having plenty of possession up the other end of the pitch. What they have struggled to do is create opportunities of their own, though, so he will probably be demanding a little bit more in the final third of the pitch. The long throw of Leonard looks to be a real weapon for the Shrimpers.
3.55pmAs for Bruce, he's probably less happy. His players appear to have struggled with what is an unpredictable pitch, yet they have created the best chance, which Graham fluffed. There were signs towards the end of the half that the Tigers were getting on top and their manager is likely to be demanding that they continue that form after the restart.
4pmIn truth, former Tottenham Hotspur boss David Pleat has summed the half up well over on BBC Sport, saying: "Hull came into the game a bit more towards the end but Southend have held their own. It's a close game - one goal could be enough to decide it."
46 minSECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Right, Southend get this tie restarted. Let's hope for a more entertaining second 45 minutes at Roots Hall.
49 minBOOKING! There's more tempo about Hull already as they break following a long throw into their area. It ends when Boyd releases Fryatt, but his touch is poor and the chance evaporates. Moments later, Hull defender Liam Rosenior is cautioned for kicking the ball away.
50 minCROSSBAR! What an unbelievable strike from Michael Timlin, who deserved a goal for his effort. He powered a shot towards goal from some 35 yards out, but with Harper rooted to the spot, the ball cannons off the underside of the crossbar, while Corr cannot convert the rebound. Had that flown in, you could have cancelled the Goal of the Round competition. So unlucky for the home team.
55 minThis half has already provided more entertainment than the whole of the first 45 minutes. Perhaps neither manager is keen on the replay!
58 minSAVE! When your luck is out as a striker, there really isn't much that you can do - just ask Graham. The Hull striker showed a good first touch inside the area to create the chance for himself, but he then scuffs a shot into the ground which bounces through for Bentley to pull off a routine stop.
62 minSAVE! Hull are starting to turn the screw a little bit as they call Bentley into action again. On this occasion it is Meyler who sees his shot from the edge of the area tipped wide. Then, front the resultant corner, an unmarked Faye heads over the crossbar.
63 minGOAL! SOUTHEND 0-1 HULL (FRYATT)
63 minYou have got to say that it has been coming for Hull, who lead 1-0. Meyler moves forwards and picks out the striker on the edge of the area. From there, he dances beyond two sliding challenges, before slotting the ball beyond the reach of an outrushing Bentley. That's a really smart finish from Fryatt, who celebrates in front of the away supporters.
68 minTo be fair to Southend, they've responded well to falling behind and have pegged Hull back into their half for a while. Having said that, they are still finding it very tough to call Harper into any real action.
70 minSUBSTITUTION: It's a case of what might have been for Timlin, who having struck the bar earlier on, has now been replaced by Fulham loanee Cauley Woodrow. The youngster will look to get forward whenever possible if his previous outings are anything to go by.
74 minSUBSTITUTION: And now it is Hull's turn to make a change, which brings an end to another disappointing outing from Graham. The striker has been replaced by Robbie Brady, who saw his positive start to the season ended by injury. The Hull fans are happy to see him return.
77 minGreat football from Hull, who almost open up a two-goal margin. It's started by Fryatt, who plays a ball over the top for Sagbo. He in turn frees Meyler to the left side of the area, but his floated cross is just missed by Stephen Quinn and the chance is gone. That's a warning for Southend.
81 minSUBSTITUTION: Second switch of the tie for Southend and it's Jack Payne that is being introduced into the action. He has replaced Straker.
83 minSUBSTITUTION: And now another change - there's more substitutions being made than chances created right now! Jake Livermore is the player coming on for Hull, with a limping Sagbo heading off.
87 minCHANCE! That could be it for Southend as Corr wastes one of the best openings that they have created. After some pinball inside the Hull area, the ball drops to the home striker, but he balloons hit shot from 12 yards out well over the crossbar. He instantly falls to the floor with his head in his hands - he knows how big of a chance that was.
89 minSUBSTITUTIONS: Both teams make their final changes, with Hull replacing Quinn with defender Alex Bruce. As for Southend, Corr is off and Freddy Eastwood comes on. Also, Woodrow has been cautioned for flying into a tackle with Quinn just before he departed the action.
90 minSouthend have four minutes of stoppage time to salvage their place in this season's FA Cup.
90+1 minGOAL! SOUTHEND 0-2 HULL (FRYATT)
90+1 minGame over thanks to Fryatt, who has scored his second of the afternoon. It's a good goal as well as he collects possession on the right wing, before cutting inside and tricking his way beyond Prosser. That leaves him with just Bentley to beat and despite a narrowing angle, the striker lashes the ball into the roof of the net. It's been a good effort from Southend, but it's going to count for very little.
90+4 minFULL TIME: SOUTHEND 0-2 HULL
4.52pmThere goes the final whistle and there is no fairytale encounter for former Hull boss Brown, who has seen his side defeated 2-0. The visitors were by no means at the their best, but they did more than enough to secure their spot in the hat for tomorrow's fifth-round draw.
4.53pmThat is all we have time for from Roots Hall. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.
