John Coleman says no-one can take away Connor Hall’s goal for Stanley against Sunderland last weekend.

The 20-year-old admitted he was ‘gutted’ after netting in the equaliser at the Wham Stadium moments before the game was abandoned.

That means what would have been the Bolton loanee’s first Football League goal will no longer count in the record books.

Hall, who had netted twice in a Checkatrade Trophy defeat at Blackpool in November, looked to have ended his wait for a first EFL goal when equalising in the second half against Sunderland in front of a packed crowd.

It was a particularly poignant moment for Hall, a Newcastle United fan, to score against their arch rivals

And although the goal won’t stop in the record books, boss Coleman believes the striker can take plenty of confidence from that moment.

“Of course he can,” said Stanley boss Coleman.

“I was gutted for him as well.

“He’s a Newcastle fan and no-one can take away the fact he scored against Sunderland in the Football League whether it counts or not.

“The goal did count, whether it’s part of the record books is immaterial for me.

“He will remember that, and for me, he’s still scored.”

Southend have one more point than Stanley from their last six league games which include one win and five defeats.

They were also beaten on their own patch by Barnsley in the FA Cup and go in to today’s game 15th in the table.

A win would move them above Stanley in the standings, and Coleman is wary of their threat.

“They have good players, play good football and can hurt teams on their day,” the Reds boss added of Chris Powell’s men.

“They are like a lot of teams in the league, on any given day they can win quite comfortably and on others they can struggle.

“They have been on the wrong end of a few results.

“The more consistent teams are, you’ve seen Luton go on a run and Blackpool, you can catapult up the table. A couple of wins and the whole league table and the perception of how your season is going can soon change.”