Southend are undefeated since Christmas and drew with Rotherham in mid December just before losing narrowly to Bolton away, so although they have only won once, at Accrington, they have hauled themselves up the form table even if they still reside 2nd bottom of the League.
On form we should nevertheless get the better of them at home, but the popular managers' word "wary" is very much appropriate.
If the dynamically-named Mr Cole starts we will of course expect great things from him as one always does from new signings and it is conceivable that he will at least figure in the game if only from the bench.
Having performed so solidly at Sunderland it seems possible that both Sadlier and Cole will not actually start. Whereas up to now it has been just a case of leaving one or two established players on the bench, we do now seem to have a little more by way of reinforcements available.
In the past when Southend have been successful they have had a good mix of skill and strength all over the pitch, both of which was rather lacking last time we met, so it will be interesting to see how they are re-building because I have not watched them since the 7-1.
One of their best players, Cox, the ex WBA forward, has apparently left.
I'll say 3-1 (Cole/Sadlie/Anderson)
DPL v Southend United
posted on 28/1/20
Rovers 4-0 Sarfend
Sadlier to score.
Small Azza
Rovers 3-0 Southend
Copps to score
posted on 28/1/20
4 nil, Sadlier first goal
posted on 28/1/20
A sloppy win by all accounts. Strange that Wright was on the bench rather than starting. Id guess squad rotation might have influenced todays selection. Wonder if DM will revert to the Sunderland formula for Fleetwood?
posted on 29/1/20
Sloppy is the right word - against a better team we may have suffered! Cameron John had two occasions of "brain fade" that could havre led to goals, but otherwise played OK. Outstanding among the defenders was James - great going forward, but very good on defence - and he nearly scored a goal. Sheaf also had a good game, more consistent than some recent games.
All goals were very good = two great shots, and an almost old fashioned move of a winger taking on his man and providing a great cross for Sadlier who timed his move and jump to perfection. I was hoping he'd get a hat-trick, although that would have screwed-up my prediction.
Enjoyable as we won, but it should have been 5-1 or 6-1 (Southend deserved some luck and their goal was a very lucky deflection that Dieng could do nothing about).
posted on 29/1/20
Funny game, football. The performance against Sunderland was close to faultless, yet we only got a point. The performance last night was littered with errors yet we won comfortably against a side who never looked like scoring. Their goal was a complete fluke. Cameron John was uncharacteristically slack from the start yet redeemed himself later by tracking a forward heading for goal, getting ahead, taking the ball off his toe and playing it to a colleague. Anderson was a rock while both full backs were channelling their inner Liverpool attacking at speed. The wingers provided most of the attacking chances although Ennis took his goal well and his forward passing at times was excellent. Whiteman did what Whiteman does, and it was only Copps and Sheaf who had bad nights. Copps is famously one footed and can no longer conceal this with any trickery or burst of speed. He keeps being caught and losing the ball. I think we are close to the end of a marvelous career. Sheaf had one of those nights. Good at tacking and breaking up attacks though he is, his passing was woeful. Cross field pass after cross field pass was picked off and he spent most of the second half passing backwards and sideways, often when carrying the ball into space was an option and sometimes putting defenders under pressure. He clearly has talent and will get better but I wonder if centre half is a more natural fit. Without the errors it could have been a cricket score. Poor Sol Campbell.
posted on 29/1/20
Thanks lads
posted on 29/1/20
fejiri okenabirhie. A bit of of a problem for a Black Bank chant?
posted on 29/1/20
Art Fold
Agree with just about everything you said, bar Whiteman. He got caught out a few times in possession, twice in the first half almost gave them a goal with his silly "Hollywood Balls" across the back line.
Anderson was having words with him, then Dieng joined in, he walked off holding his hands up, then did exactly the same in the 2nd half. Get this window shut and hope he sorts his head out.
James was my MoM, excellent defending, brilliant flying down the wing, not afraid to take a man on, needs to be taking more corners and free kicks with that left peg of his. On a sad note, who was that who came on with 17 on his shirt, looked totally lost and looked at times that he'd never played before.
posted on 30/1/20
BVZ,
I do not agree with you about Matty Blair. This guy has not played for months so it will take some playing time to get him up to speed. There was an occasion where he was crowded by three Southend players and still got a great cross in - can you do that?
I agree he is not up to speed, but I hope we offer him a deal at the end of this season. To have such a wonderful human being as part of Doncaster Rovers is to me a real positive, even if he does not start as often as he would like.
I've been supporting the Rovers since the 1949-50 season, so in my old age I should have some leeway in my comments.
I'm happy that someone like Matty is part of Club Doncaster.
posted on 30/1/20
Chill out Micky lad, only have a bit of a laugh, love Matty to bits. One of my all time faves not just for his on field play either. Can I beat 3 players and put a cross in? Not nowadays mate, maybe a few years ago when I was at Everton for a couple of games