SHRIMPERS STUCK ON AMBER AS
THEY DRAW ANOTHER BLANK

Southend United are still looking for their first win of the season after a 0-0 draw with Cambridge United at Roots Hall. It's now NINE games since the Shrimpers won a game and, although positions shouldn't be taken too seriously this early in the season, the club have now slipped into the relegation zone on level points with bottom club Chester City. However there were signs that the Shrimpers should be capable of climbing their way out of danger over the next few weeks if they can apply the same sort of enthusiasm that Drewe Broughton displayed before his substitution ten minutes from time. As one fan put it : "Drewe was on the only player on the pitch who had rediscovered last season's drive and enthusiasm".

The Match Report (fbm)

Southend’s attempt to finally get their season going faltered at Roots Hall.  Despite plenty of possession they revved the engine constantly, but failed to get going against Cambridge United and went yet another game without scoring. I felt it was a pretty poor turnout today (under 4000), but then it is still the holiday season, the Chelmsford ‘V’ festival is on and I know personally several people who have gone there rather than watch the Shrimpers.  Maybe the below average start has also had more of an effect on the attendance than anticipated.

Having got to the ground early and watched the players warm up, I was disappointed to see that there was STILL no place for Jimmy Corbett.  I had wondered if Tilly would make any changes at all and when the teams finally came out I must admit my heart sank a touch.  It was the same side that went to Rochdale with a bench of Flahavan, Dudfield, Husbands, Barrett and Hunt.  One has to wonder where the goals are going to come from in our side.  Broughton will never be prolific, Maher and Pettefer may score two between them over the course of a season, and that leaves Gower as the main creator, Gray the feeder and Bentley the only other non-defender capable of contributing to the goals scored column.  Still, it was vital that we didn’t concede an early goal today so that we weren’t always playing catch-up.  There appeared little danger of that as Cambridge immediately set their stall out to play 10 men behind the ball with the equally un-prolific Danny Webb up front on his own.

In the first minute Gower ballooned a shot over the North Bank and then after three minutes Nicolau played a one-two with Gower and put over a wicked cross for Broughton who unfortunately was offside.  A promising start but then the game entered one of several “dull” phases where little happened for a while.  Southend didn’t press too hard at their opponents as they obviously wanted to not concede, but after 15 minutes they upped the tempo a bit.  Pettefer received the ball in acres of space on the left but instead of running into it he opted for a rushed pass to Gray, which was food and drink for the big defenders.  Shortly after this we won a free kick in a dangerous position about 30 yards out but Maher decided to chip the ball goalwards over the wall for a striker to run on to.  Very rarely does this type of set piece come off and today was no exception.  It got nowhere near a blue shirt.

Southend were in total control at this stage but seemed void of any ideas as to how to break Cambridge down.  However, as the half wore on Shrimpers turned the screw and on 28 minutes the game burst into life. Nicolau whipped in a corner with pace and the keeper came to claim it, dropped it, and after a scramble the ball fell to Bentley on the edge of the box who hammered it goalwards, only to see the ball strike Gray’s shoulder on the line and deflect up onto the bar.  Cambridge cleared and we won another corner.  Similar delivery and again, after a scramble, Broughton poked the ball wide when really he should have scored. However, here was a plus point!  Nicolau can take a wicked corner from the right wing.  Great delivery and difficult to defend.

The Shrimpers upped the tempo again and were in complete control now.  Another corner saw Bentley glance a free header over the bar when he really should have hit the target.  A few minutes later another spell of pressure saw Maher put the ball through to Bentley on his own, about 12 yards out inside the box on the right with only the keeper to beat but again he didn’t hit the target. The half finished with Pettefer cutting inside and laying an incisive pass to nobody at all.  Typical of his afternoon to be honest. At the half time whistle there was some booing from the West Stand, which I found incredible.  It hadn’t been an electrifying performance, but we could have been three or four up and Cambridge had only mustered a single weak off target goal attempt so we really still had it all to play for.

Cambridge kicked off the second half and both teams injected more urgency into the game.  Gray started to become more involved and at times it looked as though he could actually form a good partnership with Broughton, who was his usual committed self.  He won some good balls in the air, but all too frequently there was no-one who could feed off him. However, on one occasion they did link up well and gave the ball to Gower who put over a cross but it was just too long. The ref then awarded a free kick against Broughton in debatable circumstances and Maher talked himself into ANOTHER booking for dissent; good captains example, Kev!  Not too long afterwards Prior took Webb out on the touchline and received a yellow card for his troubles.

The game now entered a frantic and scrappy stage with both sides frequently giving the ball away.  Pettefer seemed more guilty of this than most.  There were slightly worrying signs though… for all our possession, Cambridge had made a couple of half chances and had won their first corner after 68 minutes.  However, the corner taker couldn’t even get it into play and curled it nicely into the North Bank. Webb was then subbed for a tall lumpy forward called Tom Beech.  At least Webb wouldn’t be scoring against us.  He didn’t do very much in the game and never really threatened; however, he was on his own up front and actually didn't play too badly, beating Prior in the air on a few occasions, which to be honest I found a bit worrying.

The ref was a bit whistle happy and after 73 minutes booked Nicolau for a foul.  Southend however were now well on top and won a succession of corners, all of which caused Cambridge problems.  Their huge 17-year-old keeper kept dropping the ball but it just wouldn’t land at our players feet. Southend nearly broke the deadlock on 75 minutes when another whipped free kick from Nicolau went in and everyone missed it except the keeper, who got down well to keep the ball out.  Southend again attempted to turn the screw but it was just not our day in front of goal; the best move of the match saw Pettefer miscue a shot which fell to Gray, who turned and shot goalwards only for the keeper to make another good save.

Tilson made a desperate last throw of the dice with 10 minutes left and made a double substitution – Dudfield for Broughton and Husbands for the ineffective Pettefer.  Southend threw everything forward in a frantic bid to get a winner but nearly got caught on the break.  From the only bad corner Nicolau took all afternoon the Cambridge number 6 ran almost the length of the pitch before laying the ball off to a forward who was offside.  But this was a reminder that there was actually another team on the pitch as well who might just nick the points.

The last few minutes were all huff and puff with loads of possession but without ever looking like we were going to break the deadlock.  Lots of pressure but little end product.  Almost as if to rub salt in the wounds, in the 2nd minute of injury time we were caught again on the break.  Cambridge had a "three-on-one" and it fell to the substitute Beech, who took it into the box and shot, only to be denied by Griemink.  The resulting corner was easily dealt with by Shrimpers and they pressed forward and put together a decent move which ended with a weak header wide from Bentley.  This was the last chance of the game.

Well, we didn’t lose.  But we didn’t win either.  I suppose we did half a job, and kept a clean sheet for the first time since the 2-0 win at Boston last March 3rd.  But if you cannot score you cannot win, and I urge Tilly to look at his creative options and fast.  Tes Bramble is now back from suspension, and I would suggest that both he and Jimmy Corbett are given a chance.  After all, we have all been told there is real competition for places this season, and now we have to see that put into practice, otherwise there actually isn’t any competition at all.  Four games, two points and one goal (a penalty) says that this current system isn’t working.

Ratings

Griemink – 6 – Did what he had to do and saved us at the death.  Dropped a couple , but at least he came out to claim them!
Jupp – 6 – Where are the overlapping runs he made last season?  With Pettefer in front of him, he should be bombing up and down that right wing.  He did ok, without being spectacular.
Edwards – 7 - Quiet game really.  Won most in the air but seemed a bit lost for ideas with the ball at his feet, opting mostly for the long ball up front.
Prior – 7 – Showed touches of class, but was worryingly beaten in the air by Danny Webb on 4 or 5 occasions
Nicolau – 8 – MOM.  His set pieces today were a different class.  I predict that we will get a few goals from those this season.  He defended pretty well also.
Gower – 6 – He’s been sussed out!  Cambridge put two men on him all afternoon which effectively nullified his threat.  Another reason we need more attacking midfielders in the team.
Maher – 6 – Continually passed either backwards or sideways.  It wouldn’t surprise me if the opposition didn't ALLOW him to have the ball, as they know he isn’t going to hurt them with it.  Possession wise he didn’t do anything wrong today but again got needlessly booked for trying to intervene in something that was NOTHING to do with him.  I am sorry to say it but he is too predictable and I don’t believe this club can progress forwards with him in the side.  Sorry, but that is my opinion.
Bentley – 7 – On another day could have had a hat-trick.  I hope he finds his shooting boots soon.
Pettefer – 4 – Had what is known as a “’mare”.  Got caught in possession, failed to attack the open spaces, couldn’t go past his marker, can’t cross, can’t shoot and generally plays the ball sideways or backwards. Tilly, he’s had 4 games now – please let’s have a change.
Broughton – 7 – Did ok.  Made some decent knock ons and held the ball up well.  Missed a chance he should have done better with but again had little service.  
Gray – 6.5 – Got better as the game went on.  But I have yet to see this “electric” pace.  In fairness if we had the midfield players who could play the sort of ball he could run onto then it may be different but we don't; Maher and Pettefer pass backwards and sideways, Gower is marked out of the game and Bentley hardly gets the ball in the midfield areas; he is either defending or attacking.  So it’s hardly surprising our strikers aren’t scoring, is it?

Subs
Dudfield – 6 – ran about a lot but never really got the ball
Husbands – 6 -  Didn’t do anything when he got the ball, but at least gave us a wide option.

Ref – 5/10

What the fans thought ...

"Time to be positive for once; we did less of the long balls and punts, we kept the ball on the floor BUT we never looked like we'd score! But at least we didn't lose to those *****!"

MOTM : Kevin Maher. "He proved surely to the non-believers why he is an automatic choice, two or three times covering for Nicolau who'd gone walkies and playing with ferocity in the middle of the park."
ORM

"Mark Gower is starting to show the player he is. Maher and Nicky's corners and free kicks were a lot better whilst Jupp and Bentley ran around like loons. And Wayne Gray getting closer to scoring".

MOTM : "Tricky out of Drewe Broughton and Nicky Nicolau for me."
The 4th Man

"Nicky Nicolau's corners were awesome. We kept a clean sheet which surely goes without saying despite the songs for Flahavan ringing out from some sections of the West Stand. Old boy Daniel Webb didn't score, despite his new mop haircut. But we're one more point in the battle against relegation ... and we're not bottom!"

MOTM : Mark Bentley - "he's still our best player. box-to-box as ever, tried to attack and was unlucky not to score."
SuperShrimper

"When are we going to get someone better than Maher?! We hit the crossbar and if that had gone in then I think it might have kick-started our scoring. The players were booed off at half-time and again at the end; what a bunch of tossers they all are. I think they're just doing it for fun now! We're looking better but unless we improve more we won't be looking at a win for a quite a bit longer still."

MOTM : Drewe Broughton
BluePartridge

"Generally we knocked the ball about quite well and played most of the game in their half of the pitch. Cambridge looked very poor and I can only hope for their sakes that they're better at home. Wayne Gray and Drewe Broughton need to learn each other's games better because too often Broughton would win flicks only to find Gray running the other way, Gray, Mark Gower and Carl Pettefer need to be more alert when we are tryng to counter-attack"

MOTM : Drewe Broughton. "The only player on the pitch who re-discovered last season's drive and enthusiasm".
Sufcintheprem

"It was a much better performance that at Rochdale and at least it looked like most of the players were trying. Nicky Nicolau's corners are a vast performance on anything we've seen recently and Mark Bentley is going to improve with each match; he could have had a couple of goals today. Wayne Gray on the other hand needs get his arse into gear! Anyway, did Webb look like an idiot or what with his highlights and tan?!"

MOTM : Mark Bentley. "He worked hard and looks the midfielder that we need to blag ten goals a season."
southender

What the manager's thought ...

STEVE TILSON (SUFC) :
“I think we played alright today. We created a lot of chances and we should have scored in the first half. There was two or three good chances that we probably should have scored from. We were much better from set pieces but we just didn't have that final bit of luck. I thought today was as good as a performance as that against Lincoln. We just need to get a win now."
Source : www.southendunited.co.uk

HERVE RENAUD (CUFC) :
“I said to the players at half-time to 'play football' and asked them why they gave the ball away so quickly to the opposition. I told them that Southend are not a fantastic team. They are a strong team but not a fantastic team. We had some better opportunities in the second half but we need one very quick striker or one wide left or wide right who can be very quick. Now we need three points again!"
Source : www.cambridgeunited.co.uk