Official Match Thread Southend United v Salford City

[The Big Dady]

The Official Match Thread brought to you by ShrimperZone.com

So here we are the sixteenth League Two home game of the 2020/21 season and Mark Molesley’s sixteenth league home game in charge as manager of the Mighty Shrimpers.

Our 16th League Two match at home is against Salford City


It is now time for ALL of us to get behind him and the team whether you are listening on the radio, listening or watching on ifollow, you can still make that famous "Roots Hall Roar” at home.

Mark Molesley’s 16th Southend United League two Home Team of the 2020/21 season



The Roots Hall pitch looks fantastic and is ready for action at 3.00pm Saturday 27th February 2021 against Salford City. It looks like we are going to have a nice sunny afternoon with a light wind for the game at Roots Hall.







Here is the weather forecast for this evening at Roots Hall



Current League home record after 15 home games

Won 4
Dawn 1
Lost 10
Goals scored 13
Goals conceded 23

League Positions Last Season

22nd (2019/20 Season) League One Southend United (Relegated)
11th (2019/20 Season) League Two Salford City

League Positions Current Season

8th (2020/21 Season) League Two Salford City
22nd (2020/21 Season) League Two Southend United

Recent League Position Change



Previous Meetings

Southend United have only played Salford City once before which was earlier this season.

Salford City 3-0 Southend United 0-1 (L2 20/10/20 Att. 0 Covid)

Head to Head record

Southend United Wins: 0
Draws: 0
Salford City Wins: 1

Current Form

Salford City L W W D L
Southend United L W D L W


Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Managers Pre-match Views​

Salford City

Salford City Manager Richie Wellens appears not have done a pre-match interview before travelling to Roots Hall.

Salford City Manager Richie Wellens​

Southend United

Mark Molesley talked to the ifollow before today’s game with Salford City

Southend United Manager Mark Molesley


Southend Manager Mark Molesley speaks during his interview​

Link to interview
Link

Mark Molesley talks to Chris Phillips at the Echo before today’s game with Salford City

Mark Molesley wants Southend United to rise to the challenge against Salford City

Focused - Blues boss Mark Molesley has his sights set on Salford City​

Southend United manager Mark Molesley feels the Shrimpers should be excited by the challenge facing them against Salford City this weekend.

Richie Wellens’ side, who sit eighth in the League Two table, will make their first ever trip to Roots Hall tomorrow.

And, fresh from winning at Forest Green Rovers on Wednesday, boss Molesley cannot wait for his side to be back in action.

“We will prepare the best we can in the short time available, but the boys should be excited and looking forward to getting back out there,” said Molesley.

“It’s a short turnaround but it’s business as usual.

“It’s a big, big game against another excellent side going for promotion.

“These challenges are hopefully bringing the best out of us and hopefully it will again on Saturday against Salford.

“We’ve got to make sure that playing against these so called big fish brings the best out of us.

However, Molesley feels Salford - who are backed by a number of Manchester United legends including Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham - will be tough to beat.

“They’re a great side and they play some good football,” said Molesley.

“They’re well backed by some well known people in football but we have to keep taking on these challenges and be the best we can.

“We’ve worked hard and the lads’ belief and attitude has never waivered but we have to build on that.”

Salford are currently five points behind the automatic promotion places but have not been at their best away from home so far this season.

Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat at Morecambe was their eighth defeat on the road this term and Blues will be aiming to add to that away day misery this weekend.

However, the Shrimpers have struggled at home in recent weeks and have lost their last four outings at Roots Hall.

Link to full story
Link

The Big Preview

Southend United vs Salford City

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Overview

It’s a quick turnaround for Blues as they welcome Salford City to Essex tomorrow afternoon in what will be a first visit to Roots Hall for Richie Wellens’ Ammies.

After Wednesday night’s superb win for Mark Molesley’s side, confidence will be high in the Southend camp as they look to replicate their recent good away form at home.

Salford though travel with their sights firmly set on promotion to the third tier and sit just outside the play-off places going into this weekend with another vital three points on offer to both clubs.

Form

Southend’s excellent 3-1 win away at Forest Green Rovers in midweek more than made up for the disappointment of last Saturday where Blues were unfortunate to lose 1-0 to Bolton at home.

Molesley’s side have picked up two wins and a draw from their last six outings, with the win at Rovers adding to a win at Newport and a draw against league leaders Cambridge.

Salford fell to a last-gasp defeat to Morecambe last time out, conceding twice in stoppage time to lose 2-1. The Ammies have recorded two wins, two draws and two defeats from their last six.

Last Meeting

Tuesday 20th October 2020

Salford City 3-0 Southend United

Lennon O.G. 26’, Wilson 58’, Demetriou O.G. 63’

Caretaker boss Paul Scholes guided Salford to a comfortable 3-0 win against Southend in the two side’s first-ever meeting back in October.

Harry Lennon’s own goal set the ball rolling before James Wilson added a second. Ian Henderson’s header then deflected in off Jason Demetriou to wrap up a big win for the home side.

From The Boss

Mark Molesley: "Whatever has happened previously has gone and counts for nothing now, it's about the next game and we've got to make sure we keep to those standards.

"We need consistency and to not go long periods without a win. We've worked hard, put in some good performances and the lads' belief and attitude has never wavered.

"We've got to continue to build on that.

"We have to show the same attitude as we did on Wednesday; that high energy, that real belief that you could see from the first whistle in how hard the boys worked for each other."

On coming up against Salford: "They're a fantastic football team, got some good players and they're well backed. They play an attractive style of football and have got an experienced manager who has done great things in the game.

"We've shown the last few challenges have brought out the best in us and we've got to make sure playing these so called big fish it continues to bring out the best in us."

Blues Team News

Sam Hart was a noticeable absentee from the travelling part on Wednesday night with the defender having aggravated his groin in an in-house game earlier in the week. He will again be sidelined.

Nile Ranger is available for selection after returning to training earlier this week, while Molesley also said on Friday that Jacob Mellis is getting a lot closer to full fitness now.

There appeared to be no other fresh injury concerns from the trip to Nailsworth which saw the return of Alan McCormack to action from the bench in his first appearance in a month.

Terrell Egbri (hamstring) and James Olayinka (ankle) continue to be missing, alongside long-term absentees Harry Lennon, Nathan Ralph and Lewis Gard (knee).

However there was good news with Egbri and Olayinka, who both returned to training on Friday.

Salford Dangerman

Ian Henderson continues to roll back the years and be one of Salford’s biggest threats in front of goal with the 36-year-old banging in four in his last five, making him tomorrow’s dangerman.

The wily veteran brought up double figures in the league this season thanks to his winner against Barrow a little under a fortnight ago and he has 11 goals in total to his name this campaign.

Henderson is no stranger to scoring against Southend either with the striker notching in meetings in both of the last two seasons, and he’ll be looking to make it a hat-trick, of sorts, tomorrow.

Ref Watch

Saturday afternoon will see Dean Whitestone take charge of proceedings, being assisted by Bhupinder Gill and Graham Kane, with Robert Hyde tomorrow’s fourth official.

Whitestone has predominantly officiated in the Championship this season, clocking up 44 yellow cards and three reds from his 23 games so far.

The Northamptonshire referee’s last visit to Roots Hall was on Easter Monday 2019 when Blues won a 3-2 thriller against Burton Albion.

iFollow Blues

With fans not able to attend Roots Hall in person, Blues supporters can watch tomorrow’s game with Salford by picking up a Match Pass on iFollow Blues for £10.

A Match Pass will allow you to watch the game on your laptop, computer, tablet or mobile device with Season Ticket holders already having access to their pass via their iFollow account.

For more information on how you can get your Match Pass and ensure you miss none of the action at Roots Hall on iFollow Blues, click here.

Link to full story
Link

Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Salford City's Team

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Let’s sort out our home form starting today

 

[Holy Joe]

Same team, other than the enforced keeper change. Ranger in for Goodship on the bench

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United manager Mark Molesley has made one enforced change to his starting line-up for this afternoon's clash against Salford City with goalkeeper Alex Bass coming into the side.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[euroshrimper]

Come on you mighty "Shrimpers" actually feeling quite excited and positive, let's turn our season around today........

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Henderson loves a goal against us!

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Come on you Shrimpers

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Good intent from MM to keep the same starting line up and formation from FGR, barring the enforced change for Oxley. 4231 works well with Ferguson just holding in front of the back 4 doing the dirty stuff while Taylor pushes fiorward as the creative one

 

[The Big Dady]

Official Team Sheet

 

[Barling Magna]

Understandable to keep the same team as Wednesday. Just hope everyone has the legs for another match so soon after.

 

[cerbera45]

hmm is Seaden not yet "ready" then?

 

[MisterStubbs]

Happy with that lineup, they also look strong but we have the quality to take the game to them and get the three points today. Come on you blues!

 

[Austin the Shrimper]

hmm is Seaden not yet "ready" then?

Bass was number for Pompey for some of last Season. Their fans love him, think he can go to the top of the game. Think it’s a good signing tbf

 

[rigsby]

Henderson loves a goal against us!

A very good pro. Lets see if they use the same tactic as Rochdale and use Henderson to target Elvis.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Pre match prep done
??????????????

That should cover it...game on !

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

hmm is Seaden not yet "ready" then?

Think that cup game against Col Ewe proved he wasn't.

 

[brigg blue]

Pre match prep done
??????????????

That should cover it...game on !

What about the second half?

 

[Ricey]

Ranger