fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐
TRANMERE GO TOP AS SOUTHEND SLIP TO SEVENTH
Southend's unbeaten 5 match run came to an end this afternoon as the visitors from the Wirral deservedly ran out winners at The Hall.
Sometimes, Southend play well and sometimes they don't. However, on some occasions, credit must be given to the opponents who stop Southend playing and that is exactly what happened today.
The midfield was moreorless completely nullified as the visitors pressed and chased all over the pitch to stop their hosts getting into their stride. They were also extremely inventive at free kicks and set pieces and it was one these that nearly broke the deadlock early on. A complicated set of movements and perfect delivery found a Tranmere striker on his own at the far post but Collis made a fine save to keep the score level.
Southend hit back when a fine ball from Gower found Hunt overlapping on the right and his pinpoint cross fell onto the head of Clarke who headed back across goal but fractionally over. Odhiambo then raced clear from Clarkes through ball but his shot was saved.
Collis was called into action again to make a diving save low down to his left as Southend were under the cosh a bit. From a non-inventive corner, Maher should really have made a clearance but missed the ball that fell to Chorley 10 yards out whose volley found the net. This was a poor goal to concede as he had no-one around him at all and to allow a free shot at ground level from a set piece is, in my opinion, criminal.
Southend started to work their way back into the match and all of a sudden the previously anonymous McCormack started to become involved. Blues seemed to up the tempo and Gower won the ball on the left before playing an inch perfect crossfield pass to Hunt who escaped his marker, took it into the box and crossed for Barrett to volley home just before half time.
It was 1-1 at the break and Southend started stronger in the second half too, their best early effort coming from a corner when Richards powered a header goalwards, only for the keeper to tip it onto the bar. However, soon after Barrett went in on Shuker for a clumsy and unnecessary challenge outside the box on the right and another non-inventive free kick was simply crossed into the box for Gareth Taylor to power a header home.
Tranmere had a different plan for each free kick and it just goes to show that when you mix it up, even the most uncomplicated tactic can take the opposition by surprise as Southend found out to their cost.
Despite a lot of huff and puff, Southends efforts after this were restricted to long range but there were 2 superb strikes from Bailey that tested the keeper and on the second Odhiambo was unlucky that the rebound did not fall kindly to him.
Tilson made a triple change with 15 minutes to go, bringing on Black, Harrold and Foran for Gower, Odhiambo and McCormack respectively. However, despite a lot of possession, chances were few and far between and it was Tranmere who came closest to scoring from another set piece when Barrett cleared off the line and several Tranmere players appealed for a goal but the ref was having none of it. Eventually they had the opportunity to keep the ball in the corner for the last 2 minutes of injury time.
Credit to them and their small band of travelling fans who didn't stop chanting all match but why were there so many stewards marshalling so few fans?
Next weekends early kick off against Crewe is now a must win match if Blues want to consolidate their position in and around the play off places.
Ratings -
Collis - 7 - Made a few good saves but some of his distribution could have been better.
Hunt - 8 - MOM - Had a fine game and began to overlap with regularity
Barrett - 7.5 - Scored the goal but also needlessly gave away the free kick for their winner.
Clarke P - 7 - Fairly solid but had his hands full with Taylor
Richards - 7 - Again, distribution could have been better. Unlucky with second half header that hit the bar.
Gower - 7 - Generally better than of late, but still not 100% fit.
Maher - 6 - Failed to impose himself on the game at all.
Bailey - 7 - A couple of good efforts in the second half but was not as effective as he has been.
McCormack - 6 - Largely anonymous and ineffective before being subbed.
Clarke - 6 - Should have scored with a header and despite his hold up play being good he was not as effective as he has been.
Odhiambo - 6 - Quite lightweight and struggled against his marker.
Subs -
Harrold, Foran and Black - all 6 - None of these players made any appreciable difference when they came on.
The ref - Not bad. 6
Southend's unbeaten 5 match run came to an end this afternoon as the visitors from the Wirral deservedly ran out winners at The Hall.
Sometimes, Southend play well and sometimes they don't. However, on some occasions, credit must be given to the opponents who stop Southend playing and that is exactly what happened today.
The midfield was moreorless completely nullified as the visitors pressed and chased all over the pitch to stop their hosts getting into their stride. They were also extremely inventive at free kicks and set pieces and it was one these that nearly broke the deadlock early on. A complicated set of movements and perfect delivery found a Tranmere striker on his own at the far post but Collis made a fine save to keep the score level.
Southend hit back when a fine ball from Gower found Hunt overlapping on the right and his pinpoint cross fell onto the head of Clarke who headed back across goal but fractionally over. Odhiambo then raced clear from Clarkes through ball but his shot was saved.
Collis was called into action again to make a diving save low down to his left as Southend were under the cosh a bit. From a non-inventive corner, Maher should really have made a clearance but missed the ball that fell to Chorley 10 yards out whose volley found the net. This was a poor goal to concede as he had no-one around him at all and to allow a free shot at ground level from a set piece is, in my opinion, criminal.
Southend started to work their way back into the match and all of a sudden the previously anonymous McCormack started to become involved. Blues seemed to up the tempo and Gower won the ball on the left before playing an inch perfect crossfield pass to Hunt who escaped his marker, took it into the box and crossed for Barrett to volley home just before half time.
It was 1-1 at the break and Southend started stronger in the second half too, their best early effort coming from a corner when Richards powered a header goalwards, only for the keeper to tip it onto the bar. However, soon after Barrett went in on Shuker for a clumsy and unnecessary challenge outside the box on the right and another non-inventive free kick was simply crossed into the box for Gareth Taylor to power a header home.
Tranmere had a different plan for each free kick and it just goes to show that when you mix it up, even the most uncomplicated tactic can take the opposition by surprise as Southend found out to their cost.
Despite a lot of huff and puff, Southends efforts after this were restricted to long range but there were 2 superb strikes from Bailey that tested the keeper and on the second Odhiambo was unlucky that the rebound did not fall kindly to him.
Tilson made a triple change with 15 minutes to go, bringing on Black, Harrold and Foran for Gower, Odhiambo and McCormack respectively. However, despite a lot of possession, chances were few and far between and it was Tranmere who came closest to scoring from another set piece when Barrett cleared off the line and several Tranmere players appealed for a goal but the ref was having none of it. Eventually they had the opportunity to keep the ball in the corner for the last 2 minutes of injury time.
Credit to them and their small band of travelling fans who didn't stop chanting all match but why were there so many stewards marshalling so few fans?
Next weekends early kick off against Crewe is now a must win match if Blues want to consolidate their position in and around the play off places.
Ratings -
Collis - 7 - Made a few good saves but some of his distribution could have been better.
Hunt - 8 - MOM - Had a fine game and began to overlap with regularity
Barrett - 7.5 - Scored the goal but also needlessly gave away the free kick for their winner.
Clarke P - 7 - Fairly solid but had his hands full with Taylor
Richards - 7 - Again, distribution could have been better. Unlucky with second half header that hit the bar.
Gower - 7 - Generally better than of late, but still not 100% fit.
Maher - 6 - Failed to impose himself on the game at all.
Bailey - 7 - A couple of good efforts in the second half but was not as effective as he has been.
McCormack - 6 - Largely anonymous and ineffective before being subbed.
Clarke - 6 - Should have scored with a header and despite his hold up play being good he was not as effective as he has been.
Odhiambo - 6 - Quite lightweight and struggled against his marker.
Subs -
Harrold, Foran and Black - all 6 - None of these players made any appreciable difference when they came on.
The ref - Not bad. 6
Last edited: