W4 Shrimper
Guest
Good write-up in today's Thunderer:
Gray's day for Southend
By Alex Griffiths
Rotherham United 2 Southend United 4
MICK HARFORD FINALLY unlocked the dressing-room door and strode out to pronounce that not one of his Rotherham United team had played well. Had they stayed any longer the Southend United contingent might have uttered a collective “bothered”, having seen Steve Tilson’s side gain a fifth consecutive victory that moved them into second place in the table.
Until the late introduction of Wayne Gray all three points were in the balance and these sides could have been neck and neck in League One, having played in different grades last season.
Where James Lawson was lively for Southend, so was Michael Keane for the home side; where the touch of Mitchell Cole demanded specialist attention, so did that of Lee Williamson, his Rotherham counterpart. Likewise, for much of the game Paul McLaren kept Rotherham’s engine ticking over in similar fashion to Maher 8, of Southend.
There it is: Harford was wrong. Where he was spot on, however, was in reminding his players how lucky they were to be level after a first half that had seen them hand over two goals on a plate.
Southend drew first blood when Cole’s dribble was followed by a well-timed pass to Mark Bentley, who converted with a minimum of fuss. Cole’s next contribution was equally valuable in its own way. Lee Probert, the referee, missed his push on Williamson that prevented a shot on goal as Rotherham responded to this early setback, only to be caught napping again as a free kick by Maher was met by Adam Barrett ’s head. It all looked too easy for Southend.
Colin Murdock, the home captain, nodded in a corner from McLaren and he followed that with a shuddering tackle on Cole before Probert awarded a debatable penalty at the very end of the half. Deon Burton equalised to help the Rotherham faithful to rediscover lost voices.
Shaun Goater’s return to the club he served for what he called “the biggest part of my education” should have been sealed with a goal. He had three chances in the first five minutes of the second period but missed them all.
Rotherham appealed for a penalty when Burton’s shot hit a defender and until the entrance of Gray after 83 minutes it really was anyone’s game. He promptly got on the end of yet another accurate, if predictable, free kick by Maher and four minutes later benefited from a penalty decision as dubious as the one that had levelled the score. The substitute duly obliged from the spot to delight the travelling fans.
Gray's day for Southend
By Alex Griffiths
Rotherham United 2 Southend United 4
MICK HARFORD FINALLY unlocked the dressing-room door and strode out to pronounce that not one of his Rotherham United team had played well. Had they stayed any longer the Southend United contingent might have uttered a collective “bothered”, having seen Steve Tilson’s side gain a fifth consecutive victory that moved them into second place in the table.
Until the late introduction of Wayne Gray all three points were in the balance and these sides could have been neck and neck in League One, having played in different grades last season.
Where James Lawson was lively for Southend, so was Michael Keane for the home side; where the touch of Mitchell Cole demanded specialist attention, so did that of Lee Williamson, his Rotherham counterpart. Likewise, for much of the game Paul McLaren kept Rotherham’s engine ticking over in similar fashion to Maher 8, of Southend.
There it is: Harford was wrong. Where he was spot on, however, was in reminding his players how lucky they were to be level after a first half that had seen them hand over two goals on a plate.
Southend drew first blood when Cole’s dribble was followed by a well-timed pass to Mark Bentley, who converted with a minimum of fuss. Cole’s next contribution was equally valuable in its own way. Lee Probert, the referee, missed his push on Williamson that prevented a shot on goal as Rotherham responded to this early setback, only to be caught napping again as a free kick by Maher was met by Adam Barrett ’s head. It all looked too easy for Southend.
Colin Murdock, the home captain, nodded in a corner from McLaren and he followed that with a shuddering tackle on Cole before Probert awarded a debatable penalty at the very end of the half. Deon Burton equalised to help the Rotherham faithful to rediscover lost voices.
Shaun Goater’s return to the club he served for what he called “the biggest part of my education” should have been sealed with a goal. He had three chances in the first five minutes of the second period but missed them all.
Rotherham appealed for a penalty when Burton’s shot hit a defender and until the entrance of Gray after 83 minutes it really was anyone’s game. He promptly got on the end of yet another accurate, if predictable, free kick by Maher and four minutes later benefited from a penalty decision as dubious as the one that had levelled the score. The substitute duly obliged from the spot to delight the travelling fans.