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Blue tinted optimist⭐
BRIGHTON ROCK AS LATE SHOW SEALS BLUES PASSAGE
Southend made heavy going of their 2nd round Carling Cup tie against Brighton at Roots Hall this evening, but in the end it was a naive managerial decision by Albion caretaker boss Dean Wilkins that showed Blues the way. Tilly had made 2 changes - relegating Peter Clarke to the bench in favour of the fit again Efe Sodje and bringing in Lewis Hunt for Luke Guttridge, who wasn't in the squad at all.
But before I get stuck into the report, a moan, I'm afraid.
Such is the recent success of our club that they are lucky enough to be able to have pre-sold the majority of the home tickets in advance, thereby making ticket office staff almost redundant on league match days. However, they seem to have forgotten how to deal with demand for tickets at cup games such as this where a significant number of people turn up and pay on the gate. I was at the ground at 7:30 and was amazed at the lack of fans on the streets, and ventured into Shakespeare Avenue only to be greeted by a queue of what was probably 150-200 people wanting to either purchase a ticket or pick up a pre-purchased one. It is disgraceful that only one ticket window was open. After 15 minutes of waiting and only advancing 2 or 3 places I decided to head off to the Club Shop to see if I could get a ticket there. No problem, with 5 staff twiddling their thumbs. I informed them that there was a hefty queue in Shakespeare and was told "Yeah, it's an absolute joke, innit?". Which, unfortunately, it is. Except that it isn't funny.
If anyone from the club is reading this, please take note.
Consequently I missed the first 10 minutes or so so cannot comment on the opening exchanges.
However, the game itself had a pre-season feel, although it was clear that Southend were the better team.
In truth, the visitors possessed little quality although they defended doggedly and repelled every Southend effort, managing also to look occasionally dangerous on the counter. One decent move saw the diminuitive Cox fire narrowly wide of Flahavans right post and there was some decent delivery into the box but without any visiting head on the end of it. The back four were solid and never really looked like being breached.
Blues best efforts came near the end of the half. First, a decent move saw Freddy blast wide from the edge of the box, and then in injury time a lucky ricochet set him clear on goal with only the keeper to beat. He took his shot very early and Kuipers made the save. Within seconds Southend had carved another opening and a great cross from the left picked out Paynter for a free header 6 yards out, but he aimed straight at the keeper when the entire goal was gaping.
The second half saw Blues even more dominant and Brighton were rarely seen as an attacking force. Chances however, were scarce, but Freddy Eastwood was desperately unlucky when he headed a superb Campbell-Ryce cross downwards towards the goal and then watched the ball bounce up and over the bar. Hammell also nearly repeated his free kick of last week but the ball dipped just over.
The crowd had done their best to generate a decent atmosphere and it was clear that the "spirit of Norwich" was still present as pockets of singing emerged from various parts of the ground. With Southend well on top it seemed a goal would be inevitable, but when it came after 71 minutes it was the visitors who struck against the run of play. Maher was caught failing to track back sufficiently in midfield and Brighton broke, with had a man over on the left. A well worked move saw the ball played in that area to Cox, who curled a decent effort into Darryl's far corner to put the Seagulls 1-0 up.
This stunned the crowd into temporary silence and it seemed our wretched run in this competition would continue. In fact, it was Albion who now looked more likely to get on the scoresheet again with Barrett looking shaky and Gower failing to support Hammell sufficiently defensively.
Southend had run out of ideas and Tilly brought on Hooper for Campbell-Ryce, who had probably his best game for the club. Almost immediately he broke down the right and laid a sublime ball behind the defence, but as Freddy was preparing to stroke the ball home it was cleared for a corner by a defender.
Brighton started slowing the game down and time-wasting wherever possible, and with 3 minutes of normal time left the Brighton caretaker boss Dean Wilkins failed to heed the old maxim "never make a substitution at a corner" and made a fundamental error. With Gower preparing to take a corner, he made a defensive substitution, bringing off the full back Reid who was guarding the back post and introducing ex-Blue Guy Butters. From the corner, Paynter climbed highest at the back post, and nodded in the general area of the goal but without much power. Kuipers however saw fit to try and juggle the ball and literally fumbled it into his own net. 1-1.
Although it was great to be level, you couldn't help but wonder how the 30 minutes of extra time would take it's toll on the players fitness. We needn't have worried.
Immediately from the restart, Hooper ran over half the length of the pitch and almost played Freddy in for a repeat of the earlier move but again the ball was cleared for a corner. Gower again delivered, the ball was headed out to Lewis Hunt who hit a left foot volley into the net for what I believe is his first senior goal (at the right end!). Nice one Lewis.
With now just a minute left Southend went for the jugular and Brighton caved in. A quick throw-in saw Freddy receive the ball 25 yards out, take 3 or 4 paces and then rifle an unstoppable effort into the net past the keeper at his near post.
Unfortunately Blues conceded a sloppy second goal when El-Abd converted a free close range header 5 yards out and this type of defending will be crucified when we resume our Championship duties in front of the Cameras on Sunday.
But on the bright side however, the fans went home happy having had an action packed last 20 minutes which will make it seem like a fantastic game, even though the first 70 minutes was average at best.
Ratings:
Flahavan - 6 - Not much to do but looked nervy at times and failed to come for crosses
Francis - 7 - Great as an attacking option. I'm yet to be convinced by his defensive duties however.
Hammell - 8 - Solid enough and his distribution was very good.
Sodje - 8 - It's great to have you back Efe. Mopped up well.
Barrett - 7 - Superb first 45 minutes - not so superb second half.
Gower - 6 - Poor, to be honest. Seemed to lack concentration and was far too casual at times.
Maher - 8 - caught out for the first goal but otherwise a good performance.
Hunt - 8 - Opened his goalscoring account and shored up a midfield that looked vulnerable before his return.
Campbell-Ryce - 8.5 - MOM - Terrorized the defenders, who were double and triple teaming him at times. Best performance for us.
Eastwood - 8 - Fantastic goal, good work rate,
Paynter - 7 - He doesn't pose much threat and the "goal" he scored was more of a keepers error. Worked hard though.
Subs - Hooper (for JCR) - 8 - Settled very well.
The ref - 6 - I've seen better, seen worse.
Southend made heavy going of their 2nd round Carling Cup tie against Brighton at Roots Hall this evening, but in the end it was a naive managerial decision by Albion caretaker boss Dean Wilkins that showed Blues the way. Tilly had made 2 changes - relegating Peter Clarke to the bench in favour of the fit again Efe Sodje and bringing in Lewis Hunt for Luke Guttridge, who wasn't in the squad at all.
But before I get stuck into the report, a moan, I'm afraid.
Such is the recent success of our club that they are lucky enough to be able to have pre-sold the majority of the home tickets in advance, thereby making ticket office staff almost redundant on league match days. However, they seem to have forgotten how to deal with demand for tickets at cup games such as this where a significant number of people turn up and pay on the gate. I was at the ground at 7:30 and was amazed at the lack of fans on the streets, and ventured into Shakespeare Avenue only to be greeted by a queue of what was probably 150-200 people wanting to either purchase a ticket or pick up a pre-purchased one. It is disgraceful that only one ticket window was open. After 15 minutes of waiting and only advancing 2 or 3 places I decided to head off to the Club Shop to see if I could get a ticket there. No problem, with 5 staff twiddling their thumbs. I informed them that there was a hefty queue in Shakespeare and was told "Yeah, it's an absolute joke, innit?". Which, unfortunately, it is. Except that it isn't funny.
If anyone from the club is reading this, please take note.
Consequently I missed the first 10 minutes or so so cannot comment on the opening exchanges.
However, the game itself had a pre-season feel, although it was clear that Southend were the better team.
In truth, the visitors possessed little quality although they defended doggedly and repelled every Southend effort, managing also to look occasionally dangerous on the counter. One decent move saw the diminuitive Cox fire narrowly wide of Flahavans right post and there was some decent delivery into the box but without any visiting head on the end of it. The back four were solid and never really looked like being breached.
Blues best efforts came near the end of the half. First, a decent move saw Freddy blast wide from the edge of the box, and then in injury time a lucky ricochet set him clear on goal with only the keeper to beat. He took his shot very early and Kuipers made the save. Within seconds Southend had carved another opening and a great cross from the left picked out Paynter for a free header 6 yards out, but he aimed straight at the keeper when the entire goal was gaping.
The second half saw Blues even more dominant and Brighton were rarely seen as an attacking force. Chances however, were scarce, but Freddy Eastwood was desperately unlucky when he headed a superb Campbell-Ryce cross downwards towards the goal and then watched the ball bounce up and over the bar. Hammell also nearly repeated his free kick of last week but the ball dipped just over.
The crowd had done their best to generate a decent atmosphere and it was clear that the "spirit of Norwich" was still present as pockets of singing emerged from various parts of the ground. With Southend well on top it seemed a goal would be inevitable, but when it came after 71 minutes it was the visitors who struck against the run of play. Maher was caught failing to track back sufficiently in midfield and Brighton broke, with had a man over on the left. A well worked move saw the ball played in that area to Cox, who curled a decent effort into Darryl's far corner to put the Seagulls 1-0 up.
This stunned the crowd into temporary silence and it seemed our wretched run in this competition would continue. In fact, it was Albion who now looked more likely to get on the scoresheet again with Barrett looking shaky and Gower failing to support Hammell sufficiently defensively.
Southend had run out of ideas and Tilly brought on Hooper for Campbell-Ryce, who had probably his best game for the club. Almost immediately he broke down the right and laid a sublime ball behind the defence, but as Freddy was preparing to stroke the ball home it was cleared for a corner by a defender.
Brighton started slowing the game down and time-wasting wherever possible, and with 3 minutes of normal time left the Brighton caretaker boss Dean Wilkins failed to heed the old maxim "never make a substitution at a corner" and made a fundamental error. With Gower preparing to take a corner, he made a defensive substitution, bringing off the full back Reid who was guarding the back post and introducing ex-Blue Guy Butters. From the corner, Paynter climbed highest at the back post, and nodded in the general area of the goal but without much power. Kuipers however saw fit to try and juggle the ball and literally fumbled it into his own net. 1-1.
Although it was great to be level, you couldn't help but wonder how the 30 minutes of extra time would take it's toll on the players fitness. We needn't have worried.
Immediately from the restart, Hooper ran over half the length of the pitch and almost played Freddy in for a repeat of the earlier move but again the ball was cleared for a corner. Gower again delivered, the ball was headed out to Lewis Hunt who hit a left foot volley into the net for what I believe is his first senior goal (at the right end!). Nice one Lewis.
With now just a minute left Southend went for the jugular and Brighton caved in. A quick throw-in saw Freddy receive the ball 25 yards out, take 3 or 4 paces and then rifle an unstoppable effort into the net past the keeper at his near post.
Unfortunately Blues conceded a sloppy second goal when El-Abd converted a free close range header 5 yards out and this type of defending will be crucified when we resume our Championship duties in front of the Cameras on Sunday.
But on the bright side however, the fans went home happy having had an action packed last 20 minutes which will make it seem like a fantastic game, even though the first 70 minutes was average at best.
Ratings:
Flahavan - 6 - Not much to do but looked nervy at times and failed to come for crosses
Francis - 7 - Great as an attacking option. I'm yet to be convinced by his defensive duties however.
Hammell - 8 - Solid enough and his distribution was very good.
Sodje - 8 - It's great to have you back Efe. Mopped up well.
Barrett - 7 - Superb first 45 minutes - not so superb second half.
Gower - 6 - Poor, to be honest. Seemed to lack concentration and was far too casual at times.
Maher - 8 - caught out for the first goal but otherwise a good performance.
Hunt - 8 - Opened his goalscoring account and shored up a midfield that looked vulnerable before his return.
Campbell-Ryce - 8.5 - MOM - Terrorized the defenders, who were double and triple teaming him at times. Best performance for us.
Eastwood - 8 - Fantastic goal, good work rate,
Paynter - 7 - He doesn't pose much threat and the "goal" he scored was more of a keepers error. Worked hard though.
Subs - Hooper (for JCR) - 8 - Settled very well.
The ref - 6 - I've seen better, seen worse.
