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Blue tinted optimist⭐
NOT QUITE ALL WHITE AS BLUES GRAB POINT
Southend earned a deserved point against play-off chasers Plymouth at the Hall today, but wore their all white away kit to do it!
Presumably the visitors had not brought down their away strip and so it was felt that the easiest solution would be for us to don the white strip to avoid our navy blue clashing with their racing green.
Unfortunately someone forgot to remind Southend that they were at home as their play resembled their away form in the first period. In short, it was dreadful. Blues had already had one scare before some comically inept defending presented Argyle with a 5th minute lead. Prior had the opportunity to put the ball out of play but succeeded in toe poking the ball just a few yards. Hammell then had the same chance but his choice was to delicately chip the ball a few feet to Gower on the touchline. He in turn decided to wait for the ball rather than go to it and was beaten by a visiting attacker who squared the ball for Djordic to stab the ball goalwards from the edge of the box. It somehow eluded everyone, including Flahavan, and squirmed it's way inside the post to prompt much arm waving and pointing amongst the home defence.
In a very poor first 45 minutes, Plymouth pressed well but hardly had to break sweat to contain Southend, who resorted to long ball tactics at every opportunity. Francis and Gower took turns to ping the ball 40 yards across the pitch, usually to no-one. Maher was repeatedly caught in possession and gave the ball away an uncharacteristically high number of times. Harrold and Freddy (who's only goalbound effort all afternoon was ruled out for offside) were almost totally anonymous and even Sodje was off colour. The only outfield players to come out with any first half credit were JCR and Clarke, but more on the basis that they did less wrong. Clarke had started to warm to his midfield role, and sheer persistence presented him with Blues best chance just befopre the break, when he won 2 or 3 tackles and found hgimself in the box with just the keeper to beat 10 yards out. Unfortunately he mish!t the shot which was parried away.
Southend were booed off at half time after a showing that had relegation stamped all over it. Tilly and Brush obviously reminded them they were the home side and the second half had an injection of urgency and pace. Still, not much happened until a very rare occurrence - a double (and early) substitution after just 10 minutes of the second half when loanee Alan McCormack and fit again Gary Hooper replaced Clarke and a visibly disappointed Campbell-Ryce, who took an absolute age to leave the field and then went straight down the tunnel.
Anyone doubting the wisdom of that decision however did not have to wait long to be proved wrong. McCormack had already brought 2 commodities to the midfield that had been so lacking before - pace and athleticism - and had a small part to play in the move that led to the equaliser. Hooper flicked the ball on and from Francis, Harrold and Eastwood the ball eventually ballooned over to Gower, who rifled home from 15 yards.
It was an equaliser that, up to that point, had been barely deserved but the team and the crowd were now lifted and within a minute a superb ball behind the defence just failed to be met by an onrushing McCormack just 2 yards out.
The Preston man was everywhere and then ran into the box and fired a low shot that was parried away.
Barrett came on for Prior and it looked like Blues would go on and win it. Hooper showed some neat touches and Southend gained the upper hand but couldn't produce the quality to grab a second, Harrold going closest with an effort that bobbled inches wide. Plymouth also had their moments, including forcing 4 corners in succession in the last few minutes but then, deep in injury time, Southend had one final chance to grab the points. A free kick was won about 30 yards out and following Freddys recent strike against Manchester United the crowd buzzed with anticipation. The routine was the same - Freddy, Maher and Hammell over the ball. Hammell dummies, Freddy strikes... but this the the ball nestled somewhere in the South Upper.
So, a point gained or 2 points lost? I would say the former, bearing in mind the woeful first half. Every point is useful and all the others lost around us. Col******r are wobbling and must now be viewing next weeks game with a little less confidence than they had 3 weeks ago. Bring it on!
Ratings:
Flahavan: 7 - Little to do and couldn't be blamed for the goal. Not from my angle anyway.
Francis - 6 - Poor early on, got better.
Sodje - 7 - Uncharacteristically hesitant in first half, more dominant in second half.
Prior - 6 - His initial error caused the goal, and went off injured after 70 minutes. Looked his age today - maybe 3 games in 2 weeks is too much.
Hammell - 6 - Quiet game for the Scot. Some good set pieces.
JCR - 6 - Didn't do much wrong but was subbed. He usually tires anyway and as he played for Jamaica midweek would have probably only lasted a few more minutes.
Maher - 6 - Not one of his best games. GAve ball away a lot.
Clarke - 6 - Not too bad but compared to McCormack there's no comparison.
Gower - 7 - Cracking equaliser and was always looking for the ball.
Eastwood - 5 - Very quiet - a bit of an off day.
Harrold - 5 - Hardly won a header all afternoon and just couldn't get in it. In fairness to both strikers though there was next to no service.
Subs -
Hooper - 7 - Looked good and injected some pace and trickery.
McCormack - 8 - MOM - As hard as it may be to award the MOM to a sub who played only 1/3rd of the game, I'm going to because no-one else played well in the other 2/3rds. This man showed exactly what we need in the midfield. I hope we keep him.
Barrett - 6 - Good to see him back and slotted in well alongside Sodje.
Southend earned a deserved point against play-off chasers Plymouth at the Hall today, but wore their all white away kit to do it!
Presumably the visitors had not brought down their away strip and so it was felt that the easiest solution would be for us to don the white strip to avoid our navy blue clashing with their racing green.
Unfortunately someone forgot to remind Southend that they were at home as their play resembled their away form in the first period. In short, it was dreadful. Blues had already had one scare before some comically inept defending presented Argyle with a 5th minute lead. Prior had the opportunity to put the ball out of play but succeeded in toe poking the ball just a few yards. Hammell then had the same chance but his choice was to delicately chip the ball a few feet to Gower on the touchline. He in turn decided to wait for the ball rather than go to it and was beaten by a visiting attacker who squared the ball for Djordic to stab the ball goalwards from the edge of the box. It somehow eluded everyone, including Flahavan, and squirmed it's way inside the post to prompt much arm waving and pointing amongst the home defence.
In a very poor first 45 minutes, Plymouth pressed well but hardly had to break sweat to contain Southend, who resorted to long ball tactics at every opportunity. Francis and Gower took turns to ping the ball 40 yards across the pitch, usually to no-one. Maher was repeatedly caught in possession and gave the ball away an uncharacteristically high number of times. Harrold and Freddy (who's only goalbound effort all afternoon was ruled out for offside) were almost totally anonymous and even Sodje was off colour. The only outfield players to come out with any first half credit were JCR and Clarke, but more on the basis that they did less wrong. Clarke had started to warm to his midfield role, and sheer persistence presented him with Blues best chance just befopre the break, when he won 2 or 3 tackles and found hgimself in the box with just the keeper to beat 10 yards out. Unfortunately he mish!t the shot which was parried away.
Southend were booed off at half time after a showing that had relegation stamped all over it. Tilly and Brush obviously reminded them they were the home side and the second half had an injection of urgency and pace. Still, not much happened until a very rare occurrence - a double (and early) substitution after just 10 minutes of the second half when loanee Alan McCormack and fit again Gary Hooper replaced Clarke and a visibly disappointed Campbell-Ryce, who took an absolute age to leave the field and then went straight down the tunnel.
Anyone doubting the wisdom of that decision however did not have to wait long to be proved wrong. McCormack had already brought 2 commodities to the midfield that had been so lacking before - pace and athleticism - and had a small part to play in the move that led to the equaliser. Hooper flicked the ball on and from Francis, Harrold and Eastwood the ball eventually ballooned over to Gower, who rifled home from 15 yards.
It was an equaliser that, up to that point, had been barely deserved but the team and the crowd were now lifted and within a minute a superb ball behind the defence just failed to be met by an onrushing McCormack just 2 yards out.
The Preston man was everywhere and then ran into the box and fired a low shot that was parried away.
Barrett came on for Prior and it looked like Blues would go on and win it. Hooper showed some neat touches and Southend gained the upper hand but couldn't produce the quality to grab a second, Harrold going closest with an effort that bobbled inches wide. Plymouth also had their moments, including forcing 4 corners in succession in the last few minutes but then, deep in injury time, Southend had one final chance to grab the points. A free kick was won about 30 yards out and following Freddys recent strike against Manchester United the crowd buzzed with anticipation. The routine was the same - Freddy, Maher and Hammell over the ball. Hammell dummies, Freddy strikes... but this the the ball nestled somewhere in the South Upper.
So, a point gained or 2 points lost? I would say the former, bearing in mind the woeful first half. Every point is useful and all the others lost around us. Col******r are wobbling and must now be viewing next weeks game with a little less confidence than they had 3 weeks ago. Bring it on!
Ratings:
Flahavan: 7 - Little to do and couldn't be blamed for the goal. Not from my angle anyway.
Francis - 6 - Poor early on, got better.
Sodje - 7 - Uncharacteristically hesitant in first half, more dominant in second half.
Prior - 6 - His initial error caused the goal, and went off injured after 70 minutes. Looked his age today - maybe 3 games in 2 weeks is too much.
Hammell - 6 - Quiet game for the Scot. Some good set pieces.
JCR - 6 - Didn't do much wrong but was subbed. He usually tires anyway and as he played for Jamaica midweek would have probably only lasted a few more minutes.
Maher - 6 - Not one of his best games. GAve ball away a lot.
Clarke - 6 - Not too bad but compared to McCormack there's no comparison.
Gower - 7 - Cracking equaliser and was always looking for the ball.
Eastwood - 5 - Very quiet - a bit of an off day.
Harrold - 5 - Hardly won a header all afternoon and just couldn't get in it. In fairness to both strikers though there was next to no service.
Subs -
Hooper - 7 - Looked good and injected some pace and trickery.
McCormack - 8 - MOM - As hard as it may be to award the MOM to a sub who played only 1/3rd of the game, I'm going to because no-one else played well in the other 2/3rds. This man showed exactly what we need in the midfield. I hope we keep him.
Barrett - 6 - Good to see him back and slotted in well alongside Sodje.
