Southend United 2-4 Leyton Orient (JPT SS R1)
Southend United crashed out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a humiliating home defeat to one of their biggest rivals.
Orient capitalised on gaps all over the park, especially in the second half, and Blues were made to pay for their lack of man-marking on several occasions.
Steve Tilson has a big job on his hands sealing up the massive space Blues allowed the visitors to enjoy. Countless times were the likes of Simon Francis, Osei Sankofa and Kevin Betsy guilty of not tracking back and letting their man roam free. Sankofa started in central defence but appeared ill at ease alongside Peter Clarke. Adam Barrett was switched to left back in place of Dan Harding who fell ill with tonsillitis.
Nine goals have been conceded in just two games. That's terrible reading at any level. So what exactly has happened? The defence was so good in the opening day victory over Peterborough. Did the back line suddenly become bad overnight? Of course not.
For me the real problem is with the midfield. Lee Sawyer is a fantastic talent - scoring twice tonight and being involved in some impressive attacking play, which - to be fair - Southend did enjoy their fair share of. Bought in on loan from Chelsea as an attacking midfielder his job has been to create, and he should be applauded for doing a very good job since his arrival. So if Sawyer is the playmaker, someone must cover him. This job falls to Anthony Grant.
Grant has been inconsistent this season and was booked tonight, before being substituted at half time. Too many times his balls are too strong for the players at this level. Instead of dictating play, he is found wanting on too many occasions, running into space where there isn't any and upsetting the rhythm in the middle of the park.
Grant isn't the only fall-guy here though. Some of the responsibility must fall on Kevin Betsy's shoulders too. Betsy is a frustrating player. He looks strong, confident and agile yet failed to produce anything in this game. I think he holds the ball up well but for a winger he doesn't beat enough players and this lack of cutting edge is holding the team back.
Since the reintroduction of Hal Robson-Kanu the left hand side has appeared more balanced with some good charging runs tonight. One thing is absolutely clear - and I hate to say it as it's still fresh in the minds of Southend fans - but the Blues miss the influence and strength of Nicky Bailey in the centre. He - along with the injured Alan McCormack - ran the show on numerous occasions last season, and as Tilson said at the time of his move to Charlton, it would be "near impossible" to replace him at this level. Wise words from the Blues' manager.
For the neutral this game was a cracker. Although I suspect there weren't many neutrals in the 3,499 crowd. The gate price was slashed to £10 adults and £5 kids to encourage supporters into Roots Hall - 500 more turned up for this one compared to the Carling Cup bore a couple of weeks ago.
Sawyer, who started lively, scored a well executed opener on 13. After some good initial work by the Chelsea loanee, Robson-Kanu picked up the ball in the area before spotting the onrusing Sawyer. The teenager purposefully aimed his 18 yard effort round Orient 'keeper Jamie Jones and into the back of the net.
Within seven minutes the Os were level. Southend's defence appeared to let Ryan Jarvis run across its back line, before the striker found a gap and dispatched a quality 20 yard effort past Steve Mildenhall.
Twisting the game on its head, Orient went in front just five minutes later. Some neat play from the visitors saw JJ Melligan cross the ball for Adam Chambers, who rose highest in the centre of Southend's box to dispatch a powerful header past Mildenhall.
But the Blues had resolve to come back into it and you couldn't fault their attacking intent in the game. Lee Barnard tried his luck with a venomous shot on 30, which sailed wide. While James Walker had a tame effort saved. But on 34, the Shrimpers were level.
Walker's left wing cross was met by Sawyer who angled his header up and over the Orient 'keeper to lock the game level.
Some comedy moments from Neil Ruddock at half-time further entertained the crowd. The former Liverpool hardman was at the Hall filming some inserts for Sky Sports' football show 'Soccer AM'. Last week he was a mascot, this week an announcer. You can see how he got on this Saturday at 9am on Sky Sports 1.
Back on the pitch and the Blues repeated history. For the second consecutive match the opposition scored three minutes after the restart. This time everything went right for the east London side. Southend failed to clear their lines from a deep cross and Melligan weaved past two pathetic challenges in the box to curl an impressive shot into the far top left corner and put the visitors in the lead once more.
Simon Francis looked completely out of sorts tonight. On too many occasions he was raising his hands in protest at refereeing decisions, while not supporting the midfield when the Blues attacked. However in a rare foray forward, the right back nearly provided the equaliser. His low cross evaded everyone, including Barnard who was just inches away from levelling the game on 62.
Indeed it was the last half an hour where Southend really lost this game. On too many occasions gaps appeared. Orient closed the game and started some neat passing, wearing the likes of Betsy and Sawyer out.
The scoring was complete on 86 when Jean-Francois Christophe - on for Grant at the interval - conceded a penalty after he was rightly adjudged to have brought down Adam Boyd. Boyd got up and squeezed his 12-yard spot kick past Mildenhall with the help of the left hand post.
A thoroughly miserable evening for Southend, who finally signed striker Dougie Freedman at 11.35 last night. It's up the other end though that Tilson will now have to turn his attention to - and quick.
Att: 3,499
LONGPIER RATINGS:
Mildenhall 6 - Wasn't at fault for any of the goals. Did not deserve to hear "Darryl Flahavan" chanted by some idiots in the West Stand
Francis 5 - Poor tonight, lacking confidence going forward
Sankofa 5 - Not good enough at the back, didn't man mark at all well
Clarke 6 - A better performance than Saturday, better distribution too
Barrett 6 - Forced to play left back, got forward in first half to good effect
Betsy 4 - Lacked any creativity tonight, never beat a man
Grant 4 - On this showing, not the answer to replace Bailey
Sawyer * 8 - Two goals and dictated the forward momentum
Robson-Kanu 6 - Good strength, decent attacking option on left
Walker 5 - Weak shots, needs to work on diagonal running
Barnard 6 - So unlucky on two occasions, is still working hard
SUBS:
Christophe (45) 5 - Anonymous, gave away penalty on debut
Scannell (76) 5 - Not much to shout about
Laurent (80) 5 - 10 minutes not enough
REF: 6 - Let the game flow before the inevitable bookings.
Incidentally Lee Sawyer was booked again tonight - his third in as many games.
Orient capitalised on gaps all over the park, especially in the second half, and Blues were made to pay for their lack of man-marking on several occasions.
Steve Tilson has a big job on his hands sealing up the massive space Blues allowed the visitors to enjoy. Countless times were the likes of Simon Francis, Osei Sankofa and Kevin Betsy guilty of not tracking back and letting their man roam free. Sankofa started in central defence but appeared ill at ease alongside Peter Clarke. Adam Barrett was switched to left back in place of Dan Harding who fell ill with tonsillitis.
Nine goals have been conceded in just two games. That's terrible reading at any level. So what exactly has happened? The defence was so good in the opening day victory over Peterborough. Did the back line suddenly become bad overnight? Of course not.
For me the real problem is with the midfield. Lee Sawyer is a fantastic talent - scoring twice tonight and being involved in some impressive attacking play, which - to be fair - Southend did enjoy their fair share of. Bought in on loan from Chelsea as an attacking midfielder his job has been to create, and he should be applauded for doing a very good job since his arrival. So if Sawyer is the playmaker, someone must cover him. This job falls to Anthony Grant.
Grant has been inconsistent this season and was booked tonight, before being substituted at half time. Too many times his balls are too strong for the players at this level. Instead of dictating play, he is found wanting on too many occasions, running into space where there isn't any and upsetting the rhythm in the middle of the park.
Grant isn't the only fall-guy here though. Some of the responsibility must fall on Kevin Betsy's shoulders too. Betsy is a frustrating player. He looks strong, confident and agile yet failed to produce anything in this game. I think he holds the ball up well but for a winger he doesn't beat enough players and this lack of cutting edge is holding the team back.
Since the reintroduction of Hal Robson-Kanu the left hand side has appeared more balanced with some good charging runs tonight. One thing is absolutely clear - and I hate to say it as it's still fresh in the minds of Southend fans - but the Blues miss the influence and strength of Nicky Bailey in the centre. He - along with the injured Alan McCormack - ran the show on numerous occasions last season, and as Tilson said at the time of his move to Charlton, it would be "near impossible" to replace him at this level. Wise words from the Blues' manager.
For the neutral this game was a cracker. Although I suspect there weren't many neutrals in the 3,499 crowd. The gate price was slashed to £10 adults and £5 kids to encourage supporters into Roots Hall - 500 more turned up for this one compared to the Carling Cup bore a couple of weeks ago.
Sawyer, who started lively, scored a well executed opener on 13. After some good initial work by the Chelsea loanee, Robson-Kanu picked up the ball in the area before spotting the onrusing Sawyer. The teenager purposefully aimed his 18 yard effort round Orient 'keeper Jamie Jones and into the back of the net.
Within seven minutes the Os were level. Southend's defence appeared to let Ryan Jarvis run across its back line, before the striker found a gap and dispatched a quality 20 yard effort past Steve Mildenhall.
Twisting the game on its head, Orient went in front just five minutes later. Some neat play from the visitors saw JJ Melligan cross the ball for Adam Chambers, who rose highest in the centre of Southend's box to dispatch a powerful header past Mildenhall.
But the Blues had resolve to come back into it and you couldn't fault their attacking intent in the game. Lee Barnard tried his luck with a venomous shot on 30, which sailed wide. While James Walker had a tame effort saved. But on 34, the Shrimpers were level.
Walker's left wing cross was met by Sawyer who angled his header up and over the Orient 'keeper to lock the game level.
Some comedy moments from Neil Ruddock at half-time further entertained the crowd. The former Liverpool hardman was at the Hall filming some inserts for Sky Sports' football show 'Soccer AM'. Last week he was a mascot, this week an announcer. You can see how he got on this Saturday at 9am on Sky Sports 1.
Back on the pitch and the Blues repeated history. For the second consecutive match the opposition scored three minutes after the restart. This time everything went right for the east London side. Southend failed to clear their lines from a deep cross and Melligan weaved past two pathetic challenges in the box to curl an impressive shot into the far top left corner and put the visitors in the lead once more.
Simon Francis looked completely out of sorts tonight. On too many occasions he was raising his hands in protest at refereeing decisions, while not supporting the midfield when the Blues attacked. However in a rare foray forward, the right back nearly provided the equaliser. His low cross evaded everyone, including Barnard who was just inches away from levelling the game on 62.
Indeed it was the last half an hour where Southend really lost this game. On too many occasions gaps appeared. Orient closed the game and started some neat passing, wearing the likes of Betsy and Sawyer out.
The scoring was complete on 86 when Jean-Francois Christophe - on for Grant at the interval - conceded a penalty after he was rightly adjudged to have brought down Adam Boyd. Boyd got up and squeezed his 12-yard spot kick past Mildenhall with the help of the left hand post.
A thoroughly miserable evening for Southend, who finally signed striker Dougie Freedman at 11.35 last night. It's up the other end though that Tilson will now have to turn his attention to - and quick.
Att: 3,499
LONGPIER RATINGS:
Mildenhall 6 - Wasn't at fault for any of the goals. Did not deserve to hear "Darryl Flahavan" chanted by some idiots in the West Stand
Francis 5 - Poor tonight, lacking confidence going forward
Sankofa 5 - Not good enough at the back, didn't man mark at all well
Clarke 6 - A better performance than Saturday, better distribution too
Barrett 6 - Forced to play left back, got forward in first half to good effect
Betsy 4 - Lacked any creativity tonight, never beat a man
Grant 4 - On this showing, not the answer to replace Bailey
Sawyer * 8 - Two goals and dictated the forward momentum
Robson-Kanu 6 - Good strength, decent attacking option on left
Walker 5 - Weak shots, needs to work on diagonal running
Barnard 6 - So unlucky on two occasions, is still working hard
SUBS:
Christophe (45) 5 - Anonymous, gave away penalty on debut
Scannell (76) 5 - Not much to shout about
Laurent (80) 5 - 10 minutes not enough
REF: 6 - Let the game flow before the inevitable bookings.
Incidentally Lee Sawyer was booked again tonight - his third in as many games.
Labels: 2-4, defence, gaps, leyton orient, rivals, southend, southend united
posted by JHWESTCLIFF at
10:00 PM
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