fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐
It's difficult to know exactly where to start. Was the truly appalling refereeing decision that cost us a clear penalty to blame for us dropping 2 points at the Hall? Or was it Bentleys double miss in the last few minutes followed by Pettefers air shot?
Or was it the fact that we were playing a pretty decent and well organised outfit, and we looked as though we had one eye on the LDV?
Whatever way you view it, this was a flat, listless perfomance that sparked into life 15 minutes from time when Southend were seriously unlucky not to steal the points.
The fact that they were level at all was down to 2 brilliant saves from Darryl Flahavan, who probably deserved the sponsors MOM award simply for keeping a clean sheet - something that he has failed to do on many occasions in the past - which was the reason Blues managed to share the spoils.
Scunthorpe worked us hard all over the pitch and, truth known, contained Blues pretty easily for 75 minutes. It took until first half injury time before Nicolau had the first shot at the Scunthorpe goal, a tame effort from distance which posed the keeper no problems. In fairness, Scunthorpe only really created one opportunity themselves - Walters found himself goalside of the defence and onside and shot at an advancing Flahavan from 10 yards, but Darryl flung himself to his right to push the ball away for a corner.
So the first half wasn't exactly end to end stuff. There were too many below par Blues players with Maher, Pettefer, Hunt, Bentley and Gray being the chief culprits.
I was expecting a bit of an onslaught from us in the second period - surely Tilly would have given them a rocket - but it never materialised. After 48 minutes, the entire ground were certain Scunthorpe had scored - everyone except Darryl. A back post cross evaded everyone and Barraclough headed back across goal. Flahavan, going the wrong way, somehow got enough on it to slow it down and allow Prior to clear off the line.
Eventually Southend registered a second goal attempt as on 54 mins Freddy wormed his way into the box from the left and unleashed a shot which was sadly off target.
Scunthorpe were having much the better of things and Blues passing deserted them. I said to my mate that it is going to take a penalty to let us score tonight. Shortly afterwards, after a double substitution with Gower and Dudfield replacing an unlucky Nicolau and an ineffective Gray, we so nearly had that slice of luck. A long ball into the left channel was taken brilliantly by Freddy in front of the East Blacks and he cut into the box, only for Crosby to stick his arm out. Handball! The linesman flagged - but not for a penalty. Despite all the protests the ref - who would have had an excellent view of it - stood by the linos decision. A friend of mine who is in the South Upper almost level has said it was definitely in the box. Of course, the free kick came to nothing, as is usual.
But this did spark Southend into life and at last they started to create the chances we know they can and Scunthorpe could not live with them. Freddy, Gower and Maher all raind shots in that were blocked or off target; Bentley was clean through in the box and shot straight at the keeper - twice (and once when he was on the deck) and Pettefer did an airshot (almost) at the back post in injury time. We created more in the last 5 minutes than the previous 85 - and it was Scunthorpe who were relieved to hang on for the draw.
All in all a result that does no-one any favours - except the other teams in the top 12!
Ratings
Flahavan - 8 - MOM. Two brilliant saves won us a point. Poor kicking and distribution (which used to be his strengths) stopped it from being a 9.
Hunt - 6 - Below par. Not the Hunt of recent weeks - seemed leaden footed. Made some good challenges.
Prior - 7. Struggled a bit in the air against Torpey, who's a handful. Pretty solid without being dominant.
Barrett - 6.5 - Have seen him play better. Made a couple of uncharacteristic errors.
Wilson - 6.5. Not too bad, but guilty of leaving the ball to other players too often. made some good challenges and interceptions. Somehow got booked which was an absolute joke. It was a perfectly fair tackle which bemused everyone as to why it was even a free kick, let alone a booking.
Nicolau - 7 - Unlucky to be subbed I felt. Anything we did do (which wasn't much) he was involved in.
Maher - 6 - Poorest game I've seen from him for some time. Gave the ball away and was muscled out of it. Nearly got booked again for dissent.
Bentley - 6 - Largely anonymous but improved as the game progressed. Had a great chance to win it and blew it. Just seen it on Sky Sports and it looks even worse.
Pettefer - 4. Worst performance I've seen from him. Touch of an elephant, can't score, can't cross, can't even shoot. Yes, he runs around a lot and works hard but we need more creation and width, which he fails to give us. Vote for him as player of the month? Joking, surely?
Gray - 5 - Back to the bad old Gray days. Didn't look interested.
Eastwood - 6 - did some decent stuff, but didn't register a shot on target. Maybe next week.
Subs -
Gower - 7 - Not as influential as against Darlo but I think he must now start, if fit. WHen he is on the pitch we at least look like scoring.
Dudfield - 6 - Couldn't get into it. Chased lost causes, which was more tha Gray did tonight.
Ref -
P Taylor - 3. I have never seen a ref ruin a game so badly as he did in the first half. He was marginally better in the second - despite the penalty thing - but he was absolutely rubbish for both teams. Think he was on a card bonus too.
Or was it the fact that we were playing a pretty decent and well organised outfit, and we looked as though we had one eye on the LDV?
Whatever way you view it, this was a flat, listless perfomance that sparked into life 15 minutes from time when Southend were seriously unlucky not to steal the points.
The fact that they were level at all was down to 2 brilliant saves from Darryl Flahavan, who probably deserved the sponsors MOM award simply for keeping a clean sheet - something that he has failed to do on many occasions in the past - which was the reason Blues managed to share the spoils.
Scunthorpe worked us hard all over the pitch and, truth known, contained Blues pretty easily for 75 minutes. It took until first half injury time before Nicolau had the first shot at the Scunthorpe goal, a tame effort from distance which posed the keeper no problems. In fairness, Scunthorpe only really created one opportunity themselves - Walters found himself goalside of the defence and onside and shot at an advancing Flahavan from 10 yards, but Darryl flung himself to his right to push the ball away for a corner.
So the first half wasn't exactly end to end stuff. There were too many below par Blues players with Maher, Pettefer, Hunt, Bentley and Gray being the chief culprits.
I was expecting a bit of an onslaught from us in the second period - surely Tilly would have given them a rocket - but it never materialised. After 48 minutes, the entire ground were certain Scunthorpe had scored - everyone except Darryl. A back post cross evaded everyone and Barraclough headed back across goal. Flahavan, going the wrong way, somehow got enough on it to slow it down and allow Prior to clear off the line.
Eventually Southend registered a second goal attempt as on 54 mins Freddy wormed his way into the box from the left and unleashed a shot which was sadly off target.
Scunthorpe were having much the better of things and Blues passing deserted them. I said to my mate that it is going to take a penalty to let us score tonight. Shortly afterwards, after a double substitution with Gower and Dudfield replacing an unlucky Nicolau and an ineffective Gray, we so nearly had that slice of luck. A long ball into the left channel was taken brilliantly by Freddy in front of the East Blacks and he cut into the box, only for Crosby to stick his arm out. Handball! The linesman flagged - but not for a penalty. Despite all the protests the ref - who would have had an excellent view of it - stood by the linos decision. A friend of mine who is in the South Upper almost level has said it was definitely in the box. Of course, the free kick came to nothing, as is usual.
But this did spark Southend into life and at last they started to create the chances we know they can and Scunthorpe could not live with them. Freddy, Gower and Maher all raind shots in that were blocked or off target; Bentley was clean through in the box and shot straight at the keeper - twice (and once when he was on the deck) and Pettefer did an airshot (almost) at the back post in injury time. We created more in the last 5 minutes than the previous 85 - and it was Scunthorpe who were relieved to hang on for the draw.
All in all a result that does no-one any favours - except the other teams in the top 12!
Ratings
Flahavan - 8 - MOM. Two brilliant saves won us a point. Poor kicking and distribution (which used to be his strengths) stopped it from being a 9.
Hunt - 6 - Below par. Not the Hunt of recent weeks - seemed leaden footed. Made some good challenges.
Prior - 7. Struggled a bit in the air against Torpey, who's a handful. Pretty solid without being dominant.
Barrett - 6.5 - Have seen him play better. Made a couple of uncharacteristic errors.
Wilson - 6.5. Not too bad, but guilty of leaving the ball to other players too often. made some good challenges and interceptions. Somehow got booked which was an absolute joke. It was a perfectly fair tackle which bemused everyone as to why it was even a free kick, let alone a booking.
Nicolau - 7 - Unlucky to be subbed I felt. Anything we did do (which wasn't much) he was involved in.
Maher - 6 - Poorest game I've seen from him for some time. Gave the ball away and was muscled out of it. Nearly got booked again for dissent.
Bentley - 6 - Largely anonymous but improved as the game progressed. Had a great chance to win it and blew it. Just seen it on Sky Sports and it looks even worse.
Pettefer - 4. Worst performance I've seen from him. Touch of an elephant, can't score, can't cross, can't even shoot. Yes, he runs around a lot and works hard but we need more creation and width, which he fails to give us. Vote for him as player of the month? Joking, surely?
Gray - 5 - Back to the bad old Gray days. Didn't look interested.
Eastwood - 6 - did some decent stuff, but didn't register a shot on target. Maybe next week.
Subs -
Gower - 7 - Not as influential as against Darlo but I think he must now start, if fit. WHen he is on the pitch we at least look like scoring.
Dudfield - 6 - Couldn't get into it. Chased lost causes, which was more tha Gray did tonight.
Ref -
P Taylor - 3. I have never seen a ref ruin a game so badly as he did in the first half. He was marginally better in the second - despite the penalty thing - but he was absolutely rubbish for both teams. Think he was on a card bonus too.