Commenting this time ought to be easier because I've seen Southend twice this season. The fact is though that they were very disappointing, not just to me, on both occasions, not really looking capable of winning and in danger of losing to very moderate opposition.
They seemed to have no plan of attack beyond booting the ball upfield and the defence looked shaky too. They did have quite a few injuries then though. Ranger (ex Newcastle) played in the second match and both he and Fortune who played in the first match, but not with M-A Fortune are classy at this level.
The team has found its feet since then and with a degree of luck have hauled themselves up the table. And they are comfortable in L1.
Part of me knows we have it in us to beat them if only we can recapture that self belief, but will we?
I'll say 1:2 (Marquis) and pray I'm wrong. 7500.
DPL v Southend
posted on 7/10/17
2-1 to Rovers. Marquis. 7127.
posted on 7/10/17
Rovers 2-1 Sarfend
Marquis to score, if not playing May
Crowd7000
posted on 7/10/17
3.1 victory. May first goal. Crowd 7060.
posted on 7/10/17
1-0 rovers
May to Score
7000 crowd
posted on 7/10/17
I had a feeling Whiteman would soon start scoring - pity for me in DPL he did not get the first!
Well done lads after a shaky start. I thought some of Southend's antics atrocious - such as when May had to go half the field to fetch the ball when it was about 3 yards from their 'keeper.
posted on 7/10/17
Typical - first home league game missed and they run riot. Spent 8 hours at an incredibly boring conference.
posted on 7/10/17
First thing to say is that I don't think we played particularly well today, apart from that ten minute spell after the break.
I know Southend employed spoiling tactics and that made it difficult for us to get much momentum going.
We played better against Shrewsbury and lost, but as I said on the way to the game, I would rather not play as well but win the game.
That third goal was as good as anything you will see anywhere, if it was a PL player doing that it would be on telly all month.
After we went 4-1 up we resorted to just lumping the ball long for Alfie to chase and I guess that was under instruction but it was painful to watch.
May did really well though and took a bit of a battering from their defenders.
The ref was a joke from the moment he failed to send their number four off after he kicked Houghton when he was laid on the ground.
Card happy in the second half and lost control at times.
A much needed win for us, I hope we can push on from here.
Whiteman rightly got MoM from the sponsors but for me it could easily have been either Wright or Butler who were both immense.
posted on 7/10/17
Just a quicky on the ref. Joke. Bottled sending of 3 players today, yet sent Ferdinand off after the final whistle. He went into his pocket twice then realised he'd already booked them so changed his mind.
posted on 8/10/17
Thanks hound.
Really pleased for the team .
Lets move on now a gain some consistency especially at home
posted on 9/10/17
Well, I was so pleased that I got it wrong – personal bragging rights secured till the return game in the new year! Those going for the win were modest in their expectations and only the series leader Uthred got close. Backers of Rowe for the goal saw him very involved once again, but missing out on the final touch. Micky got max. points for the crowd. And lots of happy punters with 65 points scored altogether.
Southend do seem to go a little wild from time to time and for Wordsworth to be excused a sending off as he booted Houghton as he lay on the floor with the ball nowhere near the kicking was a serious error by the ref.
Southend W 4:1 (Marquis) 7369
..........Crowd Scorer Score Result Bonus Total Pts B/F Cumltve
Donaldo…… 4..... 3..... 0..... 0..... 0....... 7.... 41…..... 48
PDXMickey. 5..... 0..... 0..... 3..... 0....... 8..... 29...... 37
Yorks Lad.. 4..... 0..... 0..... 0..... 0....... 4..... 24...... 28
BVZ……….… 3..... 0..... 0..... 3..... 0....... 6.... 29...... 35
Crazy………. 3..... 3..... 0..... 3..... 0....... 9.... 26....... 35
Uthred…... 2..... 3..... 0..... 3..... 0 ..... 8..…. 47........ 55
Mooligan…. 2..... 3..... 0..... 3..... 0....... 8.... 40….... 48
K Chomprr. 0..... 0..... 0..... 0..... 0....... 0.... 30....... 30
Small Azza, 2..... 0..... 0..... 3..... 0....... 5.... 29....... 34
Aussie Lad. 0..... 0..... 0..... 0..... 0....... 0...... 5........ 5
Azza….…... 3..... 0..... 0..... 3..... 0....... 6 ..... 29...... 35
Chltnham.. 0..... 0..... 0..... 0..... 0....... 0...... 0........ 0
Nookie.….. 0..... 0..... 0..... 0..... 0....... 0...... 6........ 6
Selby………. 1..... 0..... 0..... 3..... 0....... 4..... 24….... 28
.............29.. 12...... 0..... 24..... 0..... 65.... 359...... 424