Uncle Leo
This cook is an anti-semite
Southend 1: Ipswich 3
Blues suffer to the Tractor Boys Backlash
A packed Roots Hall suffered in silence today as they witnessed their team lose to an average Ipswich side. Yet again we conceded three poor goals and confidence looks at an all time low.
At 2.45 I was waiting outside the West Stand entrance and instead of the usual mayhem at the ticket office, it was sell out day and so a constant stream of ticket holders made their way inside. However it seemed that the mayhem had just migrated inside, where literally 50-60 fans were left seatless in block x, and were escorted to other seats in the ground. It seemed that Ipswich also had ticket problems and a number were allowed into the corner section. Being in Block X was an experience, half full of “undercover” Ipswich fans and kids; next time I will be more organised and get my ticket sooner!
Tilly as expected fielded the same team as played (for the majority) at Burnley. No surprises, and for the first 20 minutes, like usual, we sprayed the ball around well without any killer balls, and things looked up when Matty Harrold chased down a ball and made contact with Ipswich ‘keeper Lewis Price, forcing him to come off and rated youngster Shane Supple replaced him. However, Supple had very little to do in the first half as we looked pretty in the centre of the park but then forced Harrold and Eastwood to work with scraps. Maher volleyed just wide when the ball popped out to him, but like so often our shots go wide and never really force the keeper to work. On the half hour mark Ipswich worked the ball well down the right, Hunt was beaten and a decent ball was hooked in, leaving midget Billy Clarke a free header which he cushioned into the bottom corner. Yet again we let a team to get into the game and gift them a chance which was well taken. Then when Eastwood gets his own chance up the other end just before the end of the half, he blasts it wide after a 1-on-1. This was really the point when the already silent crowd realised that this was never going to be Southends’ day. Yes we were only 1-0 down at half time, but there seemed to be no creativity and our strikers were misfiring.
So after a nice effort from the bluebells, the teams come back out and already Southend are on the ropes. The ball seems stuck in our box and after a poor clearance from a corner, the ball pops out to Sylvain Legwinski who blasts a shot through a crowded box and past an unsighted Flahavan. If this wasn’t game over then five minutes it was, a swift break from Ipswich saw 3 on 1 in our half, and Alan Lee was left unmarked to poke the ball in after a cross from the left.
As it has turned out, Eastwood and Harrold were ill, but at the time a few eyebrows were raised as they were subbed for Billy Paynter and Efe Sodje. Clarke was pushed forwards, Guttridge onto the wing and Francis up front with Paynter as Southend went all out for a goal. The changes worked to an extent, as an extremely poor Guttridge was relieved of his centre mid responsibilities, letting the blues get a grip on the game in the middle of the park. Paynter worked well and Gower woke up as we started to get balls into the box. However no one expected Francis to pick the ball up and cut inside to slide the ball left-footed past Supple. 3-1 down but it looked like it could be an interesting last 25. However the game petered out as we shot ourselves in the foot with dodgy passes and clearances. Chances were few and far between at the end of the game as Ipswich had done enough to take home 3 points.
All in all a depressing match, hopefully the injuries aren’t serious and a cup game will give some players a chance to put pressure on others as Tilly still looks to find a decent first 11 from our frail looking squad.
Ratings:
Flahavan: 5 – a dodgy punch in the first half and whilst his shot stopping was good, still conceded three and distribution was poor
Hunt: 5 – Never got going, didn’t defend well and we really need to work on throw-ins from the right side
Barrett: 6 – Not bad but not great, was no where for the 3rd goal and weak clearances gifted Ipswich possession
Clarke: 6.5 – Worked hard all game and did a decent job in the middle, definitely an improvement from the beginning of the season… needs time to really gel with the others
Hammell: 5 – Played very deep which dragged Gower back as well, poor set pieces today which was frustrating as we all know he can do a lot better
Maher: 6 – Worked hard and was unlucky to see a volley go wide, although some would argue he should have worked the keeper
Gutts: 3 – Worst game I have seen him ever play, I’m worried to say this but I don’t think he his championship class. Misplaced more passes than he made, and that wasn’t many because was invisible for most of the game. Shocking
Gower: 5 – Poor in the first half but picked up in the second when Paynter seemed to help him out. As a senior player however he needs to take more of a role when the chips are down
Francis: 6.5 (MOTM) – Great goal, worked hard and first touch looked more assured. However I don’t think he is a right winger so Tilly has some tough choices to make I think
Freddy: 5 – 1 chance and 1 miss, wasn’t his usual selfish self today which I think was his undoing, passed the ball and the buck, looks a bit short of confidence
Harrold: 5.5 – Worked hard and plays close to Freddy which I think helps him, but didn’t really get going today and wasn’t give any space by De Vos
Blues suffer to the Tractor Boys Backlash
A packed Roots Hall suffered in silence today as they witnessed their team lose to an average Ipswich side. Yet again we conceded three poor goals and confidence looks at an all time low.
At 2.45 I was waiting outside the West Stand entrance and instead of the usual mayhem at the ticket office, it was sell out day and so a constant stream of ticket holders made their way inside. However it seemed that the mayhem had just migrated inside, where literally 50-60 fans were left seatless in block x, and were escorted to other seats in the ground. It seemed that Ipswich also had ticket problems and a number were allowed into the corner section. Being in Block X was an experience, half full of “undercover” Ipswich fans and kids; next time I will be more organised and get my ticket sooner!
Tilly as expected fielded the same team as played (for the majority) at Burnley. No surprises, and for the first 20 minutes, like usual, we sprayed the ball around well without any killer balls, and things looked up when Matty Harrold chased down a ball and made contact with Ipswich ‘keeper Lewis Price, forcing him to come off and rated youngster Shane Supple replaced him. However, Supple had very little to do in the first half as we looked pretty in the centre of the park but then forced Harrold and Eastwood to work with scraps. Maher volleyed just wide when the ball popped out to him, but like so often our shots go wide and never really force the keeper to work. On the half hour mark Ipswich worked the ball well down the right, Hunt was beaten and a decent ball was hooked in, leaving midget Billy Clarke a free header which he cushioned into the bottom corner. Yet again we let a team to get into the game and gift them a chance which was well taken. Then when Eastwood gets his own chance up the other end just before the end of the half, he blasts it wide after a 1-on-1. This was really the point when the already silent crowd realised that this was never going to be Southends’ day. Yes we were only 1-0 down at half time, but there seemed to be no creativity and our strikers were misfiring.
So after a nice effort from the bluebells, the teams come back out and already Southend are on the ropes. The ball seems stuck in our box and after a poor clearance from a corner, the ball pops out to Sylvain Legwinski who blasts a shot through a crowded box and past an unsighted Flahavan. If this wasn’t game over then five minutes it was, a swift break from Ipswich saw 3 on 1 in our half, and Alan Lee was left unmarked to poke the ball in after a cross from the left.
As it has turned out, Eastwood and Harrold were ill, but at the time a few eyebrows were raised as they were subbed for Billy Paynter and Efe Sodje. Clarke was pushed forwards, Guttridge onto the wing and Francis up front with Paynter as Southend went all out for a goal. The changes worked to an extent, as an extremely poor Guttridge was relieved of his centre mid responsibilities, letting the blues get a grip on the game in the middle of the park. Paynter worked well and Gower woke up as we started to get balls into the box. However no one expected Francis to pick the ball up and cut inside to slide the ball left-footed past Supple. 3-1 down but it looked like it could be an interesting last 25. However the game petered out as we shot ourselves in the foot with dodgy passes and clearances. Chances were few and far between at the end of the game as Ipswich had done enough to take home 3 points.
All in all a depressing match, hopefully the injuries aren’t serious and a cup game will give some players a chance to put pressure on others as Tilly still looks to find a decent first 11 from our frail looking squad.
Ratings:
Flahavan: 5 – a dodgy punch in the first half and whilst his shot stopping was good, still conceded three and distribution was poor
Hunt: 5 – Never got going, didn’t defend well and we really need to work on throw-ins from the right side
Barrett: 6 – Not bad but not great, was no where for the 3rd goal and weak clearances gifted Ipswich possession
Clarke: 6.5 – Worked hard all game and did a decent job in the middle, definitely an improvement from the beginning of the season… needs time to really gel with the others
Hammell: 5 – Played very deep which dragged Gower back as well, poor set pieces today which was frustrating as we all know he can do a lot better
Maher: 6 – Worked hard and was unlucky to see a volley go wide, although some would argue he should have worked the keeper
Gutts: 3 – Worst game I have seen him ever play, I’m worried to say this but I don’t think he his championship class. Misplaced more passes than he made, and that wasn’t many because was invisible for most of the game. Shocking
Gower: 5 – Poor in the first half but picked up in the second when Paynter seemed to help him out. As a senior player however he needs to take more of a role when the chips are down
Francis: 6.5 (MOTM) – Great goal, worked hard and first touch looked more assured. However I don’t think he is a right winger so Tilly has some tough choices to make I think
Freddy: 5 – 1 chance and 1 miss, wasn’t his usual selfish self today which I think was his undoing, passed the ball and the buck, looks a bit short of confidence
Harrold: 5.5 – Worked hard and plays close to Freddy which I think helps him, but didn’t really get going today and wasn’t give any space by De Vos
