Official Match Thread Forest Green Rovers v Southend United

[The Big Dady]

The Official Match Thread brought to you by ShrimperZone.com

So here we are the fifteenth away game of the 2020/21 season and Mark Molesley’s 15th away game since he was appointed Manager of the Mighty Shrimpers.

Our 15th away match is against Forest Green Rovers



It is now time for ALL of us to get behind Mark and the team whether you are at The Innocent New Lawn in spirit, listening on the radio, or listening/watching on ifollow.

Mark Molesley’s Southend United League Two Away Team against Forest Green Rovers



The Innocent New Lawn is ready for action at 18.00 hrs Wednesday 24th February 2021. It looks like we will have a partly cloudy evening with a moderate breeze for the match.





The weather forecast for this evening at the The Innocent New Lawn



Current League away record after 14 away games

Won 2
Drawn 5
Lost 7
Goals scored 5
Goals conceded 22

League Positions Last Season

22nd (2019/20) League One Southend United (Relegated)
10th (2019/20) League Two Forest Green Rovers

League Positions Current Season

2nd (2020/21) League Two Forest Green Rovers
24th (2020/21) League Two Southend United

Recent League Positions Change



Previous Meetings

Southend United have only played Forest Green Rovers once before which was earlier this season.

Southend United 0-1 Forest Gren Rovers (L2 24/11/20 Att. 0 Covid)

Head to Head record

Southend United Wins: 0
Draws: 0
Forest Green Rovers Wins: 1

Current Form

Forest Green Rovers W D W W W
Southend United L L W D L​

Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Managers Pre-match Views​

Forest Green Rovers

Forest Green Rovers Manager talks to their OS ahead of the game against Southend United

Forest Green Rovers Manager Mark Cooper​

Head Coach Mark Cooper insists that the message to his players won’t change ahead of tonight’s meeting with Southend United.

The division’s bottom side make the trip to Nailsworth this evening as Rovers aim to continue their push towards the summit of League Two.

After a hard-fought win on the challenging Newport County pitch three days ago, the Rovers boss’ focus has been on recovery so his players can go again.

“There will be some fatigue, but it shouldn’t make any difference to us. We’re looking forward to the game and ready to go,” he said.

“The message doesn’t really change. It’s important that the basics are really good, like running harder than the opposition.

“We have to scrap, we have to fight, we have to do all of that before we even start thinking about football, and we did that on Sunday.

“We had to change everything that we believe in, in terms of our football, but the basics didn’t change and that’s why we did so well.”

Mark Molesley’s men made FGR really work for the three points when the sides met back in November, and Cooper insists that this evening’s test will be no different.

“After we beat Southend, I think they then went unbeaten in their next seven or eight games and beat some big teams,” he explained.

“They’ve had a great run. I watched them play against Cambridge and they battled really hard, I watched them against Newport, and they got a win.

“They were unlucky against Bolton on Saturday, it was a real freak goal that they conceded, so they aren’t beaten easily, and we know that. It’s going to be a tough game and they’ve done really well.

“You can’t take anything for granted. There’s no easy games and we know we have to defend as a team, attack as a team, and enjoy doing all of that together for us to get any kind of result.”


Link to full interview:-
Link


Southend United

Mark Molesley speaks to OS ahead of this evening’s game against Forest Green Rovers

Mark Molesley Southend United’s Manager​

Mark Molesley takes his Southend United side to Forest Green Rovers this evening in Sky Bet League Two.

The Green Devils have top spot in their sights, whereas Blues have a relegation battle on their hands, which after Tuesday night’s results didn’t get any easier.

However, a narrow defeat to Bolton last time out followed solid performances away at Newport and Cambridge.

Conceding one goal in those three games shows a tougher, more resilient outfit that Southend have become of late which will again be needed against Mark Cooper’s side.

"We have to keep believing in ourselves and the longer we’re in games the more opportunities will hopefully present itself for us," said Molesley.

"We’re certainly looking more solid and organised and we’re going to have to be that against an excellent Forest Green side.

"They play very well out from the back, play free flowing football with a lot of technically gifted footballers.

"We’ve got to make sure we’re on our toes but at the same time we’ve got to make sure we put our game onto them, create good opportunities and good spells of possession."

Scoring goals has been the issue for Blues this season but Molesley believes being hard to beat will help them win more games by being involved in closer contests, and then it’s about taking more of the chances they create.

"We’ve got to be in the game to make the most of those opportunities," he added.

"We’re giving ourselves a platform to build on and that’s the next step which needs to be sorted and sorted quickly.

"I feel we’ve got the right players and the right blends to do that, and competition for places is a lot fiercer now. We’ve got a range of ways we can attack now and a range of different attacking options.

"Players are really fighting for that shirt which is great to have as a manager with the games coming thick and fast. And different types of players for different game plans.

"It’s up to us to pick the right ones at the right time, but also players need to make sure they’re on their game to keep their shirt."

On the game being played on a Wednesday, Molesley said it presents a slightly different challenge to their week.

"It’s an extra day for this one but we lose it at the other end.

"I’ll worry about that after the game, at the moment it’s full focus on this one.

"They deserve our utmost attention which we will certainly give them.

"It is what it is. This is the scenario, this is what we’ve got to deal with. We get an extra day’s prep into the boys so hopefully that will be an advantage for us."

Full text can be found here:-
Link


Mark Molesley speaks to Chris Phillips at The Echo ahead of this evening’s game against Forest Green Rovers

Southend United boss Mark Molesley aiming to drag more teams into danger

Keeping his hopes high - Southend United manager Mark Molesley​

Southend United manager Mark Molesley still feels more teams can be dragged into the League Two relegation fight.

The Shrimpers, who head to Forest Green Rovers on Wednesday, are currently battling both Barrow and Grimsby Town to stay up.

But Molesley believes there is time for other sides to be dragged into danger.

“There’s plenty of football still to be played and we want to be looking up the table to catch people and to put pressure on them too,” said the Blues boss.

“We don’t look too far ahead though, it’s about the next game and taking care of our own business.

“But the aim is definitely to catch the others and try to get a few more involved.”

Blues now sit bottom of the League Two table, two points behind Barrow who sit immediately above the drop zone.

But Molesley has taken heart from the Shrimpers’ recent displays.

“I think we’ve looked solid and hard to beat but we’ve got to push on now, make more of our opportunities and create more opportunities too," said the Shrimpers boss.

“We’ve shown we’re a match for the so called better teams in the League and we’ve got to do that against Forest Green again now.

“We’ve more than matched the top teams lately but we’re maybe lacking that killer instinct at the moment in front of goal.

“But we certainly have the players and the potential to produce those moments.”

However, Molesley knows Blues will need to be at their best to challenge a Forest Green side who currently sit second in the standings.

“We will certainly have to be solid and organised again against an excellent Forest Green side,” said Molesley.

“They play free-flowing football and have a lot of gifted footballers.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re on our toes but at the same time we need to put our game onto them.”

Forest Green head into the game on the back of three successive wins. And Molesley knows Mark Cooper’s side will be dangerous in possession.

“They will be similar to Bolton in style,” said Molesley.

“They’re a possession based team who use the ball well and can hurt you if you give them too much time. They’re well put together and have an experienced manager.

“They play very attractive football and it will certainly be a tough challenge.

“But we can be buoyed by how we’ve dealt with the last few tough challenges we’ve faced away from home.”

Full text can be found here:-
Link

The Big Preview

Forest Green Rovers vs Southend United

​

Overview

Southend United make their first-ever appearance at the Innocent New Lawn this evening as they take on high-flying Forest Green Rovers in League Two action tonight (6pm Kick-Off)

After dropping back into the relegation zone following last night’s results, Blues will hope that their recent good away form will lead them to pick up more vital points on the road.

But with Forest Green knowing that a win will send them top of the table with two games in hand on current leaders Cambridge, they will not be in the mood to hand over the points easily.

Form

Blues’ narrow defeat to Bolton on Saturday ended their two-game unbeaten run which had been enough to see them climb out of the relegation places prior to Tuesday's results.

In their last six matches, Southend have picked up one win and one draw away at Newport and Cambridge respectively, while suffering defeats to Mansfield, Bradford, Port Vale and Bolton.

Forest Green come into tonight with four wins and a draw from their last six and are unbeaten in their last five, which include wins against Leyton Orient, Carlisle, Oldham and Newport.

Last League Meeting

Tuesday 24th November 2020

Southend United 0-1 Forest Green Rovers

Young 63’

This first-ever meeting between the two sides ended with a narrow 1-0 win for the visitors as Jake Young scored just after the hour mark to seal the victory for Forest Green in November.

Young took less than four minutes to make an impact after coming off the bench, firing in the winner from 10-yards out after being picked out by an Aaron Collins cross.

From The Boss

Mark Molesley: "It’s probably a similar challenge to Bolton in [terms of] styles.

"A possession-based team, play some lovely football, play through the thirds so they will use the ball well.

"They can hurt you if you give them too much time. They’re a well put together outfit, have experienced management down there so it’s a tough challenge but one we can be buoyed by how we’ve dealt with the last few."

Blues Team News

Mark Molesley reported no fresh injury concerns after Saturday’s clash with Bolton but Blues still have a number of notable absentees on the treatment table.

Recent signee Nile Ranger has worked hard but is unlikely to feature as he continues to build his fitness, as is the case for Jacob Mellis who is training and is closing in on a first Blues appearance after a spell out with illness.

Ricky Holmes will be pushing for a first Southend start after coming off the bench for his debut on Saturday, but wingers Terrell Egbri (hamstring) and James Olayinka (ankle) remain absent.

Forest Green Dangerman

Striker Jamille Matt is certainly going to be one of Forest Green’s biggest dangers tonight, especially now that he has rediscovered his scoring touch.

The Jamaican-born frontman went six games without a goal, but after a goalless January, Matt has banged in two in his last two, including one against his former club Newport on Sunday.

In all, the 31-year-old is Forest Green’s leading scorer by some distance with 11 goals to his name and he’ll be out to add to that tally this evening against Blues.

Ref Watch

Tonight’s game will be officiated by Lee Swabey, with John Flynn and Grant Taylor the assistants, while Dean Treleaven will be standing in as the fourth official.

Swabey has taken charge of 20 games so far this campaign, showing 49 yellow cards but has yet to brandish a red, with his last match the 2-0 win for Oxford at Bristol Rovers a fortnight ago.

The Devonshire official will be taking charge of Southend for the first time in close to a year, having last overseen Blues in a 2-1 defeat to Oxford on February 29th 2020.

iFollow Blues

With fans unable to attend matches in person, Blues fans can watch tonight’s clash with Forest Green Rovers by picking up a Match Pass for iFollow Blues for £10.

Overseas supporters can pick up a pass for just £7 with the pass allowing you to catch the game on your laptop, computer, tablet or mobile device.

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

Please note, due to current BBC guidelines relating to travel during the national lockdown, the BBC Essex commentary team will not be able to provide match commentary for the game. Instead, you will have a choice of listening to ambient stadium noise or you can switch to Forest Green’s commentary via the settings cog.


Full text can be found here:-
Link

Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Forest Green Rovers Team

 

[Ricey]

Hutch is 100% going to score against us!

 

[amsemp]

Looks like a 4-3-3 to me:

Oxley
Elvis, White, Hobson, Clifford
Ferguson, Dieng, Taylor
RHF, Acquah, Akinola​

 

[Cricko]

Hutch is 100% going to score against us!

It's not fair, Hutch will know all the ins and outs of our free scoring superstars.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

The pictures of their stadium looks so non-league, yet here we are with our 12,000 all seater stadium, and large fanbase (for League 2).

Just shows what difference an owner can make.

 

[amsemp]

Hutch is 100% going to score against us!

It’s okay, Kyle Taylor used to play for them so he’ll cancel out the ex-player curse!

 

[Maroon Blue]

So Shrimpet Steve, your measured opinion on Acquah starting and Holmes on the bench

 

[Maldon Shrimper]

Oh that's disappointing thought Holmes would start

 

[Westcliff DGS]

Oh that's disappointing thought Holmes would start

Agree would have had him wide and Akinola up top

 

[Westcliff DGS]

So Shrimpet Steve, your measured opinion on Acquah starting and Holmes on the bench

I dont normally have a go but this is a mistake for me, Holmes looked good when he came on, not a fan of his actually but dd look decent

 

[Shrimpet steve]

Molsley out! Absolutely disgusted with this starting lineup? What was the point in signing holmes! This starting lineup should get mm the sack

 

[Shrimper Brownie]

Not too sure about that lineup. Reeco ahead of ANG? Come on now. Anyway UTB Massive game tonight

 

[Shrimpet steve]

So Shrimpet Steve, your measured opinion on Acquah starting and Holmes on the bench

Same as everyone else disgracefull

 

[in the know]

I'm a bit underwhelmed with the starting line up. Would have liked to see Holmes start and one of macca or jd to secure the mid.
Bad feeling that by the time subs are made it may be too late to nick it and stop a thrashing. Hopefully wrong and we grab an early goal. May be our only hope

 

[Shrimper Brownie]

I honestly don’t know how Fairchild gets a start ahead of the likes of Goodship and ANG. Reeco brings nothing

 

[onceknownasrab]

Acquah for hero status tonight.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

Scoring against us would be bad enough but please do not let it be a header!

 

[Jcd]

Looking forward to hearing this weeks away commentators tbf.