fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐
At lightning speed, due to existing committments elsewhere today. Enjoy and Happy Easter to all my readers...
:)
BLUES STAY IN HUNT AS SWANS SHARE SPOILS
Another wind affected match at the Hall today saw Southend draw with table topping Swansea City, but both teams deserve a huge amount of credit to put on such an entertaining show in extremely difficult conditions.
Southend had the wind in the first half and repeatedly got behind the visiting back line only for what seemed like perfectly weighted passes to run through to the keeper or out of play.
Swnasea nearly opened the scoring after 5 minutes when giant centre back Dennis Laurence had a free header that Darryl palmed away, and this prompted a short spell where Blues struggled to get the ball out their own half.
But Peter Clarke had 3 golden opportunities to score, one from a fantastic Francis cross that just skimmed his head when it seemed as though he would get the opener.
Robson-Kanu was a handful for the defence but Walker had his quietest game so far, with Tate getting the better of him in most challenges.
Midway through the half, a superb cross pass found the Swansea winger by the touchline, who brought the ball into the box and was tripped by Mulgrew in what appeared to be a clear penalty. Scotland scored from the spot for the Welshmen to put them 1-0 ahead against the run of play. In the celebrations, they dismantled the stanchion and the game was held up while it was repaired. How ironic that this act of vandalism led to the additional time being added when Southend equalised!
Blues huffed and puffed but the conditions conspired against them time and time again and they could not get a telling effort on goal. Then, in the 4th additional minute at the end of the half, a brilliant Mulgrew free kick from the right was whipped in and Robson-Kanu rose highest to power a header past De Vries. The whistle blew immediately afterwards and the teams turned around level.
The second half saw Southend create more openings as the long balls were being held up in the wind and giving the strikers a chance. Swansea also created openings, and both teams had long range efforts either saved or that went narrowly wide.
Each side also had a gilt edged chance to win the match. First Lee Barnard, on for the out-of-sorts Walker, intercepted a ball and ran clear on goal. However, the ball was bouncing and failed to run kindly for him and he consequently scuffed his shot wide.
Swansea hardly created anything but with 15 minutes left there was the most amazing goalmouth scramble. A cross from the Swansea left was floated in but the wind picked up the ball and increased the pace, taking towards the goal and smacking against Darryls crossbar. The rebound saw 2 or 3 efforts blocked before the ball fell to Scotland at the back post, who showed great improvisatioin and backheeled the ball towards the net but Bailey cleared off the line.
All in all it was probably a fair result but Southend were generally better than their opponents and could have got all 3 points, which wouldn’t have been over harsh.
RATINGS –
Flahavan – 7 – Kicking was difficult today and one good save early on.
Francis – 8 – Best game for a long time and put over some excellent crosses in the first half.
Mulgrew – 7 – Great delivery for the equaliser but gave away the penalty
Clarke – 8 – Nearly scored on 3 occasions and battled hard against awkward strikers.
Barrett – 7.5 – We all know what we get but sometimes the distribution isn’t what it could be.
Gower – 7.5 – Much improved performance today and hit one rasping shot near the end that forced the keeper into a fine save.
McCormack – 7 – All action but got booked again, this time for dissent.
Bailey – 8 – Another great performance from surely our Player of the Year.
Black – 5 – Off colour, too many passes went astray.
Walker – 6 – Tried hard but no success against Tate and was subbed after 60 minutes.
Robson-Kanu – 8.5 – MOM – Best game for us and I can see why Reading want to keep him. Shame we can’t have him at the end of the season.
SUBS
Barnard – 7 – Put himself about, should have got the winner.
Grant – 6 – On for Black near the end but didn’t influence the game.
REF
Mr Wright – 5 – Strarted off ok, rather fussy in second half.
:)
BLUES STAY IN HUNT AS SWANS SHARE SPOILS
Another wind affected match at the Hall today saw Southend draw with table topping Swansea City, but both teams deserve a huge amount of credit to put on such an entertaining show in extremely difficult conditions.
Southend had the wind in the first half and repeatedly got behind the visiting back line only for what seemed like perfectly weighted passes to run through to the keeper or out of play.
Swnasea nearly opened the scoring after 5 minutes when giant centre back Dennis Laurence had a free header that Darryl palmed away, and this prompted a short spell where Blues struggled to get the ball out their own half.
But Peter Clarke had 3 golden opportunities to score, one from a fantastic Francis cross that just skimmed his head when it seemed as though he would get the opener.
Robson-Kanu was a handful for the defence but Walker had his quietest game so far, with Tate getting the better of him in most challenges.
Midway through the half, a superb cross pass found the Swansea winger by the touchline, who brought the ball into the box and was tripped by Mulgrew in what appeared to be a clear penalty. Scotland scored from the spot for the Welshmen to put them 1-0 ahead against the run of play. In the celebrations, they dismantled the stanchion and the game was held up while it was repaired. How ironic that this act of vandalism led to the additional time being added when Southend equalised!
Blues huffed and puffed but the conditions conspired against them time and time again and they could not get a telling effort on goal. Then, in the 4th additional minute at the end of the half, a brilliant Mulgrew free kick from the right was whipped in and Robson-Kanu rose highest to power a header past De Vries. The whistle blew immediately afterwards and the teams turned around level.
The second half saw Southend create more openings as the long balls were being held up in the wind and giving the strikers a chance. Swansea also created openings, and both teams had long range efforts either saved or that went narrowly wide.
Each side also had a gilt edged chance to win the match. First Lee Barnard, on for the out-of-sorts Walker, intercepted a ball and ran clear on goal. However, the ball was bouncing and failed to run kindly for him and he consequently scuffed his shot wide.
Swansea hardly created anything but with 15 minutes left there was the most amazing goalmouth scramble. A cross from the Swansea left was floated in but the wind picked up the ball and increased the pace, taking towards the goal and smacking against Darryls crossbar. The rebound saw 2 or 3 efforts blocked before the ball fell to Scotland at the back post, who showed great improvisatioin and backheeled the ball towards the net but Bailey cleared off the line.
All in all it was probably a fair result but Southend were generally better than their opponents and could have got all 3 points, which wouldn’t have been over harsh.
RATINGS –
Flahavan – 7 – Kicking was difficult today and one good save early on.
Francis – 8 – Best game for a long time and put over some excellent crosses in the first half.
Mulgrew – 7 – Great delivery for the equaliser but gave away the penalty
Clarke – 8 – Nearly scored on 3 occasions and battled hard against awkward strikers.
Barrett – 7.5 – We all know what we get but sometimes the distribution isn’t what it could be.
Gower – 7.5 – Much improved performance today and hit one rasping shot near the end that forced the keeper into a fine save.
McCormack – 7 – All action but got booked again, this time for dissent.
Bailey – 8 – Another great performance from surely our Player of the Year.
Black – 5 – Off colour, too many passes went astray.
Walker – 6 – Tried hard but no success against Tate and was subbed after 60 minutes.
Robson-Kanu – 8.5 – MOM – Best game for us and I can see why Reading want to keep him. Shame we can’t have him at the end of the season.
SUBS
Barnard – 7 – Put himself about, should have got the winner.
Grant – 6 – On for Black near the end but didn’t influence the game.
REF
Mr Wright – 5 – Strarted off ok, rather fussy in second half.
