Southend United 2-1 Swindon
Southend United climbed to sixth in the League One table with a deserved 2-1 victory over Swindon at Roots Hall.
Substitute Francis Laurent grabbed the winner for the Blues on 71 after an effective - if unspectacular - team performance helped the Shrimpers to within five points of league leaders Scunthorpe, who Southend face on Tuesday night.
The result was made more impressive by the fact Southend were missing three key players ahead of the game. Dougie Freedman ruled himself out, after being 50/50 during the week, while Dan Harding was suspended after the Blues' red card appeal fell on deaf ears at the FA earlier this week. Most surprising was the omission of Lee Barnard. The striker - who is Southend's top scorer with five this season, wasn't even on the sub's bench. The official site has yet to post anything on the Barnard's absence, but one can only assume a last minute injury forced him to miss this one. Ironic, given he was quoted earlier this week saying the key to his success this term was down to him not being sidelined by a thigh or leg problem.
As a result of Barnard's misfortune, in came James Walker, while Osei Sankofa played at right back, forcing Simon Francis to switch to left back.
The Blues made a decent start and looked very sharp in the opening 10 minutes, biting into tackles and playing some good football in the middle of the park. Kevin Betsy was being given far too much room on the right and was enjoying pinging a number of balls into the box. Swindon were punished by this route for the afternoon's first goal.
Jean Francois-Christophe played the ball to Betsy on 11 minutes and the latter's pin-point byline cross was met by the head of Alex Revell who rose to nod in his first goal in front of the Roots Hall crowd and his second for the season. It meant a lot to Revell who continued to celebrate right up until the referee blew to restart the game. He must have covered most of the attacking half of the pitch punching the air and doing some kind of wobble-celebration.
The Blues continued to dominate immediately after the goal, with Revell going close again. But they allowed their visitors to come back into it and the Robins were nearly level on 20. Michael Timlin's awkward low cross deceived everyone as it came into the box and Adam Fedrici's late reaction diverted the ball on to the post, but Adam Barrett cleared the danger.
Fedirici made a spectacular save from former Blues player Billy Paynter just five minutes later. His thunderous strike brought a one handed save from the on-loan 'keeper, who pushed it over for a corner. Southend appeared galvanised by the save and Simon Francis and Walker will count themselves unlucky after both firing into the gloves of opposition 'keeper Peter Brezovan within the space of four minutes - just before half time. The first half came to an end with the Blues just about shading the opening 45, and the team should be applauded for the way their workrate in the first period.
Walker should have done better on 49 when he took it around two defenders before advancing into the box. But his final shot was parried behind for a corner, when he really, really should have done much better. But it wasn't Walker's worst effort of his forgettable afternoon - more of that in a moment.
On 60 Southend fell asleep and were punished. Timlin delivered a lovely ball that Fedrici chased across the six yard box. It proved to be the wrong decision as Simon Cox was waiting at the back post to head it back for an unmarked Paynter to score the easiest headers against his former side. It drew groans from the home fans who were less than sympathetic during his time at Roots Hall (longpier included). Paynter was then immediately substituted - injured in his goal celebrations.
Yet Southend never dropped their heads and were almost back in front when a calamatous error from Brezovan should have been punished. On 67 a harmless throw in was completely misjudged by the away 'keeper who let it roll under his foot. Revell, alerted to the mistake, managed to tackle Brezovan as the 'keeper looked to recover. The Blues' striker managed to roll the ball back to James Walker who had an open net. But the former Charlton man dragged his shot wide to the shock and horror of everyone in a blue shirt and every home fan. It was a terrible miss and could have cost the Blues all three points. There is something fundamentally wrong with Walker's finishing. His dribbling and work rate cannot be questioned but if you're a striker, you're paid to score goals and - at the moment - he just doesn't look confident when hitting a ball goalwards.
Revell was injured in the build up to that incident and was replaced by Francis Laurent. And it proved to be an inspired substitution. On 71, Peter Clarke's inch perfect cross from the right was met by the head of a falling Laurent. The French striker managed to get enough power on the header to direct it past a flaling arm of Brezovan and into the net from 12 yards. It was a fantastic header that deserved to win any game. A moment of real quality in the game.
Swindon - struggling at the wrong end of the table - could have gone level with 5 minutes remaining but Cox's effort was cleared off the line by an impressive Clarke, while Barry Corr really should have made it 2-2 when he try to take the ball around Fedirici. For a split second it looked as if he succeeded only for the Australian to reach out and smother the ball.
The Blues played out the remainder of the game in the opposition's corners and secured a decent win.
LONGPIER WITNESSED:
- Emotional minute's silence observed for 18 year old Southend fan who died in late September
- Clappy Hands man back with wife, eating Wine Gums and drinking tea
- Loads of kids ... EVERYWHERE... got in for free today
LONGPIER RATINGS:
Fedirici 7 - Could be questioned on his positioning for their goal, yet made two or three match winning stops. Plays last game on Tuesday night sadly
Sankofa 8 - Very good performance and was effective throughout
Clarke 7.5 - Great ball for the goal and looked better passing the ball out this week
Barrett 7 - Swindon attackers didn't get much change from him all game
Francis 6 - Better this week and adapted to playing on the left
Betsy 7 - Enjoyed a lot of play in the first half, quieter in the second period
Christophe 7 - Strong, pacy and always a threat
Sawyer 6 - Not as effective as recent weeks
Robson-Kanu 6.5 - Decent game from Hal. Performance typified the game really
Revell 7 - Good to get the goal and led the front line well
Walker 5 - Shocking miss that could have cost Blues the game, but thankfully didn't
SUBS:
Laurent (67) 8 - Super goal and looked as if he wanted more. Great performance
McCormack (82) 5 - OK, still off the pace a little
Grant (85) - N/A
LONGPIER WITNESSED:
- Emotional minute's silence observed for 18 year old Southend fan who died in late September
- Clappy Hands man back with wife, eating Wine Gums and drinking tea
- Loads of kids ... EVERYWHERE... got in for free today
Att:
7,965
Substitute Francis Laurent grabbed the winner for the Blues on 71 after an effective - if unspectacular - team performance helped the Shrimpers to within five points of league leaders Scunthorpe, who Southend face on Tuesday night.
The result was made more impressive by the fact Southend were missing three key players ahead of the game. Dougie Freedman ruled himself out, after being 50/50 during the week, while Dan Harding was suspended after the Blues' red card appeal fell on deaf ears at the FA earlier this week. Most surprising was the omission of Lee Barnard. The striker - who is Southend's top scorer with five this season, wasn't even on the sub's bench. The official site has yet to post anything on the Barnard's absence, but one can only assume a last minute injury forced him to miss this one. Ironic, given he was quoted earlier this week saying the key to his success this term was down to him not being sidelined by a thigh or leg problem.
As a result of Barnard's misfortune, in came James Walker, while Osei Sankofa played at right back, forcing Simon Francis to switch to left back.
The Blues made a decent start and looked very sharp in the opening 10 minutes, biting into tackles and playing some good football in the middle of the park. Kevin Betsy was being given far too much room on the right and was enjoying pinging a number of balls into the box. Swindon were punished by this route for the afternoon's first goal.
Jean Francois-Christophe played the ball to Betsy on 11 minutes and the latter's pin-point byline cross was met by the head of Alex Revell who rose to nod in his first goal in front of the Roots Hall crowd and his second for the season. It meant a lot to Revell who continued to celebrate right up until the referee blew to restart the game. He must have covered most of the attacking half of the pitch punching the air and doing some kind of wobble-celebration.
The Blues continued to dominate immediately after the goal, with Revell going close again. But they allowed their visitors to come back into it and the Robins were nearly level on 20. Michael Timlin's awkward low cross deceived everyone as it came into the box and Adam Fedrici's late reaction diverted the ball on to the post, but Adam Barrett cleared the danger.
Fedirici made a spectacular save from former Blues player Billy Paynter just five minutes later. His thunderous strike brought a one handed save from the on-loan 'keeper, who pushed it over for a corner. Southend appeared galvanised by the save and Simon Francis and Walker will count themselves unlucky after both firing into the gloves of opposition 'keeper Peter Brezovan within the space of four minutes - just before half time. The first half came to an end with the Blues just about shading the opening 45, and the team should be applauded for the way their workrate in the first period.
Walker should have done better on 49 when he took it around two defenders before advancing into the box. But his final shot was parried behind for a corner, when he really, really should have done much better. But it wasn't Walker's worst effort of his forgettable afternoon - more of that in a moment.
On 60 Southend fell asleep and were punished. Timlin delivered a lovely ball that Fedrici chased across the six yard box. It proved to be the wrong decision as Simon Cox was waiting at the back post to head it back for an unmarked Paynter to score the easiest headers against his former side. It drew groans from the home fans who were less than sympathetic during his time at Roots Hall (longpier included). Paynter was then immediately substituted - injured in his goal celebrations.
Yet Southend never dropped their heads and were almost back in front when a calamatous error from Brezovan should have been punished. On 67 a harmless throw in was completely misjudged by the away 'keeper who let it roll under his foot. Revell, alerted to the mistake, managed to tackle Brezovan as the 'keeper looked to recover. The Blues' striker managed to roll the ball back to James Walker who had an open net. But the former Charlton man dragged his shot wide to the shock and horror of everyone in a blue shirt and every home fan. It was a terrible miss and could have cost the Blues all three points. There is something fundamentally wrong with Walker's finishing. His dribbling and work rate cannot be questioned but if you're a striker, you're paid to score goals and - at the moment - he just doesn't look confident when hitting a ball goalwards.
Revell was injured in the build up to that incident and was replaced by Francis Laurent. And it proved to be an inspired substitution. On 71, Peter Clarke's inch perfect cross from the right was met by the head of a falling Laurent. The French striker managed to get enough power on the header to direct it past a flaling arm of Brezovan and into the net from 12 yards. It was a fantastic header that deserved to win any game. A moment of real quality in the game.
Swindon - struggling at the wrong end of the table - could have gone level with 5 minutes remaining but Cox's effort was cleared off the line by an impressive Clarke, while Barry Corr really should have made it 2-2 when he try to take the ball around Fedirici. For a split second it looked as if he succeeded only for the Australian to reach out and smother the ball.
The Blues played out the remainder of the game in the opposition's corners and secured a decent win.
LONGPIER WITNESSED:
- Emotional minute's silence observed for 18 year old Southend fan who died in late September
- Clappy Hands man back with wife, eating Wine Gums and drinking tea
- Loads of kids ... EVERYWHERE... got in for free today
LONGPIER RATINGS:
Fedirici 7 - Could be questioned on his positioning for their goal, yet made two or three match winning stops. Plays last game on Tuesday night sadly
Sankofa 8 - Very good performance and was effective throughout
Clarke 7.5 - Great ball for the goal and looked better passing the ball out this week
Barrett 7 - Swindon attackers didn't get much change from him all game
Francis 6 - Better this week and adapted to playing on the left
Betsy 7 - Enjoyed a lot of play in the first half, quieter in the second period
Christophe 7 - Strong, pacy and always a threat
Sawyer 6 - Not as effective as recent weeks
Robson-Kanu 6.5 - Decent game from Hal. Performance typified the game really
Revell 7 - Good to get the goal and led the front line well
Walker 5 - Shocking miss that could have cost Blues the game, but thankfully didn't
SUBS:
Laurent (67) 8 - Super goal and looked as if he wanted more. Great performance
McCormack (82) 5 - OK, still off the pace a little
Grant (85) - N/A
LONGPIER WITNESSED:
- Emotional minute's silence observed for 18 year old Southend fan who died in late September
- Clappy Hands man back with wife, eating Wine Gums and drinking tea
- Loads of kids ... EVERYWHERE... got in for free today
Att:
7,965
Labels: 2-1, alex revell, francis laurent, southend, southend united, swindon
posted by JHWESTCLIFF at
5:27 PM
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