Official Match Thread Southend United v Chesterfield

[The Big Dady]

The Official Match Thread brought to you by ShrimperZone.com

So here we are, our tenth home game in the Vanarama National League of the 2023/24 season. This is the Dream Team’s 53rd home game in charge since Kevin Maher and his management team were appointed at the Mighty Shrimpers.

Our 10th home game is against Chesterfield



It is now time for ALL of us to get behind him and the team whether you are at Roots Hall, listening on the radio, listening on Blues TV, or watching on National League TV Stream or live on TNT Sports, you can all still make that famous "Roots Hall Roar”.

Our 10th Southend United Vanarama National League Home Team of the 2023/24 season



The Roots Hall pitch is ready for action at 15.00 hrs Saturday 18th November 2023 against Chesterfield. It looks like we will have light rain with a moderate breeze for this afternoon’s game at Roots Hall. The temperature will be around 14°C but feel like 14°C.



Lights, Camera, Action.



Here is the weather forecast for this afternoon’s game at Roots Hall



Current League home record after 9 home games

Won 7
Dawn 0
Lost 2
Goals scored 23
Goals conceded 6

League Positions Last Season

3rd (2022/23 Season) Vanarama National League Chesterfield
8th (2022/23 Season) Vanarama National League Southend United

League Positions Current Season

1st (2023/24 Season) Vanarama National League Chesterfield
16th (2023/24 Season) Vanarama National League Southend United

Recent League Position Change



Previous Meetings

Southend United 1-2 Chesterfield (Vanarama National League 07/03/23 Att. 5,195 (126 Away)
Chesterfield 3-2 Southend United (Vanarama National League 13/09/23 Att. 6,269 (274 Away)
Chesterfield 2-2 Southend United (Vanarama National League 05/03/22 Att. 6,625)
Chesterfield 3-1 Southend United (FA Cup 06/11/21 Att. 4,713)
Southend United 0-4 Chesterfield (Vanarama National League 09/10/21 Att. 4,625)
Chesterfield 0-4 Southend United (EFL League One 14/04/17 Att. 5,529)

Head to Head record

Southend United Wins: 22
Draws: 14
Chesterfield Wins 28

Current Form

Southend United W W W W D L
Chesterfield D W W W W W

Current Form Table (Last 6 Games)



Last home meeting

Come On You Shrimpers!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Managers Pre-match Views​

Chesterfield

Chesterfield Assistant Manager Daniel Webb (Ex Shrimper player and son of David Webb the ex SUFC Manager) pre-match interview on Youtube before travelling over to Roots Hall for this afternoon’s game here is their preview

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Chesterfield Assistant Manager Daniel Webb ​

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Southend United

Keven Maher’s interview on Youtube before this afternoon’s game with Chesterfield

Keven Maher spoke to the Southend OS before this afternoon’s game with Chesterfield

Southend United Manager Kevin Maher​

National League Manager of the Month Kevin Maher previewed the visit of Chesterfield to Roots Hall in his pre-match press conference on Thursday morning.

The league leaders, who have won 15 of their 18 matches this season, travel to south Essex on Saturday for a clash between two of the division's top scorers.

Ahead of the game, Maher said: “They’ve done brilliantly to be in the position they are and in the form they’re in – they’re the best team in the league, that’s pretty obvious, but we’re looking forward to it. It’ll be a big crowd in and I’m sure they’ll be behind us.

“You look at how they’ve been since Cookie [Paul Cook]’s gone in, and they’re ready to get promoted. They were very unlucky in the play-off final last year, so for them to respond the way they have is a credit to them.

“As a football club, they’re set up to get promoted and that’s something we’re looking to do and take things from.

“We’ve had a good week of training, but we’ve got to perform on the day. We’re at home and we’ll always try and win the game.”

Maher’s aforementioned award was given after an excellent run of results in October – the Head Coach attributed it to the work all the backroom staff do.

“It’s nice to get recognition for everyone at the football club. You can’t sit in my seat and do it alone without the staff around me.

“The players have been brilliant so it’s nice to get that award and it’s something that everyone should celebrate but we put it to bed now and move on.”

On Tuesday evening, the National League confirmed that the game will go ahead despite multiple international call-ups for Blues. Maher says he wants to play the game.

“There’s been a lot of noise that’s out of our control. We’ll have to wait and see what team we can put out but we’ll deal with that in the next couple of days and see where we’re at.

“All I can do is get a team ready to go out and play. We always want to play on a Saturday at three o’clock and that’ll never change."

Nathan Ralph could make his 100th appearance for the club on Saturday. The gaffer had some great words on the captain and his work ethic.

“Ralphy’s an unbelievable professional. His injuries haven’t affected him and he trains properly every day.

You see on a daily basis how much those players affect other people on a daily basis in terms of how they go around their work.

“It’s the same with JD [Jason Demetriou] and Dave Martin, they set an example for younger players, and Ralphy’s a top player as well.”

Ticket sales are approaching 7,000 for this weekend’s big game.

Link to interview

Link

Kevin Maher spoke to the Chris Phillips at the Echo before this afternoon’s game with Chesterfield

Tough Test - Southend United Manager Kevin Maher​

Kevin Maher insists Southend United will never stop wanting to play football.

The National League have ordered Saturday’s clash with Chesterfield to go ahead despite three Shrimpers players receiving international call ups.

But Maher is only focusing on this weekend’s match at Roots Hall and not the issues surrounding it.

“We always want to play football at three o’clock on a Saturday and that will never change,” said Maher.

“The rules and the bits around are to be talked about by other people.

“I’ve got my opinion on it all but we want to play.

“We want to go head to head with the best team in the league and see where that takes us.”

Blues will be without on loan striker Daniel Kanu who has been called up by Sierra Leone while midfielder Mauro Vilhete is away with São Tomé and Príncipe.

Noor Husin was also selected in the Afghanistan squad but has been in dispute with his nation’s governing body.

However, Maher will again only be concentrating on what he can control.

“There’s a lot of noise about stuff that’s out of our control,” said Maher.

“What we can put out we will have to wait and see.

“We’ll deal with that in the next couple of days.

“We’ll train today and train tomorrow and see where we’re at. “There’s noise I can’t control but all I can do is try get a team ready to go out and play.”

And Maher is expecting an entertaining fixture against the league leaders.

“They’ve done brilliantly and they’re the best team in the league but we’re looking forward to it,” said Maher.

“It will be a big crowd and I’m sure the fans will be right behind us so it has the makings of a good game.”

Link to story

Link

Big Preview

Southend United v Chesterfield

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Arguably the most attractive game of the season so far takes place at Roots Hall tomorrow, as table-topping Chesterfield visit in front of the TV cameras.

Against the current best team in the league in front of the biggest crowd of the campaign by a distance, it’s certainly one to look forward to.

Three international call-ups mean that Blues will be short on numbers, but Kevin Maher’s side have proven time and time again this season that they can produce results against the odds.

Wins against Oldham and Maidenhead come to mind, where off-field issues in the lead up to both matches were put to one side and comfortable victories were picked up as a result.

Blues have one of the best home records in the division, but Chesterfield can better that, having both the best home and away records, picking up 22 points from a possible 27 on the road and 25 from 27 at the SMH Group Stadium.

The match is our official Remembrance fixture and we will have a minute’s silence before kick-off to remember those who have lost their lives fighting for our country.

THE OPPOSITION

This campaign has seen Chesterfield respond superbly to their dramatic play-off final defeat to Notts County in May.

Paul Cook’s outfit were big spenders in the summer and it’s currently paying off with the Spireites top of the National League table having lost just once all season, a 2-1 injury time defeat to Altrincham in August. They have won seven straight games in all competitions.

The run includes impressive victories over fellow high-flyers Bromley and Barnet, as well as a shock FA Cup win over League One table-toppers Portsmouth.

Chesterfield have scored in every game this season; netting three or more on 11 occasions already in 2023/24 and bagging 47 in the league – the largest total in the division.

The Spireites’ squad has plenty of EFL experience, none more so than Tom Naylor who was playing in the Championship this time last year. Will Grigg, Ollie Banks and Michael Jacobs are also on the very long list of Chesterfield players who will cause problems for every team in this division.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Blues and Chesterfield have been common opponents down the years with 65 meetings since the two sides first met in an FA Cup tie in 1939.

The Spireites have enjoyed more success when we’ve met, running out as victors 28 times. Blues have won 22 meetings with the spoils being shared on 14 occasions.

Since our relegation to the National League in 2021 Chesterfield have fared far better and are unbeaten against Blues since we dropped out of the EFL.

Southend last beat Chesterfield back in 2017 when goals from Simon Cox, Anthony Wordsworth and Marc-Antoine Fortuné secured a routine 4-0 win that resulted in Chesterfield’s relegation to League Two.

FROM THE GAFFER

In the run up to the game, Kevin Maher says Blues can take a leaf out of their opponents’ book. “They [Chesterfield] were very unlucky in the play-off final last year, so for them to respond the way they have is a credit to them.

“As a football club, they’re set up to get promoted and that’s something we’re looking to do and take things from.

“There’s been a lot of noise that’s out of our control [regarding player availability]. We’ll have to wait and see what team we can put out but we’ll deal with that before the game and see where we’re at.

“All I can do is get a team ready to go out and play. We always want to play on a Saturday at three o’clock and that’ll never change."

TICKETS

Ticket sales have sailed past the 7,000 mark as we prepare to welcome a huge crowd to Roots Hall.

Half of Block X is now open, with Block S in the Gilbert & Rose Stand also having plenty of availability. The same applies to the Jonathan Rhys Recruitment Stand.

The ticket office is open from 10am on Saturday if you’d rather purchase in person.

REF WATCH

Stephen Parkinson returns to Roots Hall after officiating the aforementioned 2-0 win over Maidenhead in September.

This season he has taken charge of 13 matches in five different competitions, including the FA Cup and EFL Trophy. In those games he’s shown 55 yellow cards and three red cards.

Parkinson’s assistants are Ryan Head and Colman O’Meara, and the fourth official is Harry Wager.

WHAT’S HAPPENING ELSEWHERE?

Whatever the result at Roots Hall, Chesterfield will remain at the summit of the Vanarama National League, but if Blues win, Barnet would close the gap to two points with a win over Gateshead.

Despite sitting 16th, Maher’s men are only three points above the relegation zone. Ebbsfleet United occupy the final place in the bottom four and host fellow relegation contenders Oxford City.

The two clubs immediately below Blues, Dorking Wanderers and Boreham Wood, face each other, while Woking look to leapfrog Oldham Athletic when the two meet in Surrey.

Barnet v Gateshead
Bromley v AFC Fylde
Dorking Wanderers v Boreham Wood
Eastleigh v Altrincham
Ebbsfleet United v Oxford City
FC Halifax Town v Wealdstone
Kidderminster Harriers v Dagenham & Redbridge
Rochdale v Aldershot Town
Solihull Moors v Maidenhead United
Woking v Oldham Athletic
York City v Hartlepool United

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

The programme features an exclusive interview with centre-back Ollie Kensdale who discusses his time in the academy at Colchester United and a tough series of decisions that led him to Blues.

That’s alongside all the usual content, and the 48-page edition will be on sale from all the usual places around Roots Hall for just £3, including the programme hut at the north-east corner.

Remember, the programme from our last home game against Ebbsfleet United that wasn’t delivered in time will be on sale from the same places if you haven’t been able to get yours yet.

HOW TO FOLLOW

If you can’t make it and are subscribed to TNT Sports (BT Sports), you can watch the match live on TV. Coverage starts at 2:30pm.

Blues TV is not currently available as we complete our move over to a new digital platform. BBC Essex commentary will still be available on 95.3FM & DAB and also on the BBC Sport website and app.

Another option is to follow live minute-by-minute updates on social media via the club’s official X (Twitter) account by following @SUFCRootsHall, which will mean you get all our exclusive content throughout the 2023/24 season.

If you’re not in the UK, National League streaming is available worldwide here.

Link to story

Link



BBC Essex Radio Link

BBC Essex Link



Watch on Vanarama National League TV Live Stream

Register and sign up below for International Match Pass £9.50

National League TV

Come On You Shrimpers!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Chesterfield Team

 

[The Big Dady]

Two changes - Taylor returns and Wood starts.

Only two subs named

 

[Strykr]

i fear we are gonna get whacked, but hope they give it their best. UTB.

 

[Holy Joe]

No Beau?

 

[davewebbsbrain]

No Beau?

Played for the youths earlier today. Kev didn't want to throw him into a clash with thr leaders, wants to protect him. He's young and lightweight at the moment and Kev didn't want to put him through a big game yet

 

[WickfordShrimper]

Come on you SHRIMPERS

I will not be on here during the match as I have TNT Sports ( BT Sport )

 

[bigmolt]

Has anyone got a clue of a streaming channel I could get the game on up here in Scotland on my laptop. Thanks in advance.

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United host table-topping Chesterfield at Roots Hall this afternoon. Follow all the action live here.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

We need a minor miracle today. Chesterfield are clearly the best team in this League backed up financially. They have won their last 6 League games by 2 goals or more. We can't afford any injuries during the game with only 2 subs.
By hey, we are Southend. If any team is going to shock them, it's Southend. We have the Twelfth man. ''COME ON SOUTHEND.''

 

[Morty01]

Has anyone got a clue of a streaming channel I could get the game on up here in Scotland on my laptop. Thanks in advance.

TNT Sports 3 - will be on most dodgy sites (For legal reasons I do not endorse nor condone this.)

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher has made two changes to his starting line-up for this afternoon’s clash with Chesterfield.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[Whispering Bob]

Just had a tenner on Jack Bridge to score the opening goal @ a massive 20/1. Here’s hoping for an early tumble in the box.

 

[Holy Joe]

Good to see Collin out there warming up - must be getting close to full fitness

 

[Leicester Shrimper]

Speaks a lot of sense John Still.

Can’t argue with any of the signings we did make before the embargo.

I trust that he already knows the 5/6 players that he wants to get in.

 

[kevst183]

Anybody seen Stan?

 

[SHRIMPERPETER]

Anybody seen Stan?

Probably in France working

 

[rigsby]

Found a nice bar in Puerto del Carmen. Air con and they will show the game. I should have been back for this but the winter sun tempted me to stay.

Good luck to our lads, all you Shrimpers at RH and those tuning in from around the world

 

[Holy Joe]

Pip you legend - superb