Phillips: 'Hardest thing I had to do today - I'd call myself a honest committed defender'
As the games pile up, so do the bookings, and, inevitably, the suspensions, so two Shrimpers decided to give themselves a short break by picking up their fifth yellow cards in the 1-1 FA Cup draw with Oldham Athletic on Saturday, even though one of them couldn't play in the next game anyway!
Now, there's no proof that there was anything suspicious, so we are not alleging anything on this site, but.......
The club are in the middle of a tough spell of four games in thirteen days of which the Latics cup tie was the first, of which the replay is to be added probably only four days before a home league game with Bradford City, and only three days after the clash of the day with third placed Cheltenham Town.
With a relatively small squad at the disposal of Blues boss Paul Sturrock he needs everyone fit and on the top of their game, the loss of Jemal Johnson at the moment is annoying if not terminal, which gets harder with so many matches in such a short space of time.
There has to be some rotation, how long Ryan Hall can keep his present form up is anyone's guess, and the loss of loanee midfielder Michael Timlin for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern semi-final with Swindon Town as his parent club wouldn't let him take part was a blow, but on four yellow cards a fifth at Whaddon Road would have meant missing the cup replay so picking it up last weekend seemed logical, there is no rule against it, so no surprise when it happened.
Just before that, in-form defender Mark Phillips piled in to an unlucky Latic and received his fifth caution of the season, and after the game he folllowed up the above quote with 'Had to do something today totally un-natural to me....All I can say is sorry ref......'
What did he mean?
There can be no doubt, Cheltenham and the possible loss of league points to a major rival was deemed a higher cause than the chance of a trip to Wenbley, however attractive to club and supporters, and there is some cover for that position in Luke Prosser or more likely Bilel Mohsni, so in he went and did his bit for the cause against all his natural instincts. (Has he not been in this situation before in a decade long career?)
So we will see changes on Tuesday at Roots Hall for the continuation of a fortnight that will see the Shrimpers marching on in three competitions, including a financial boosting trip to Anfield, maybe just two, or out of both cups and their league position seriously compromised, at least where being league leaders is concerned.
Others may be Liam Dickinson, he looked tired on Saturday, and whoever else Luggy may have in mind, Anthony Grant is a banker to return in midweek I would have thought, but he's been inclined to keep as many going as he can so don't expect a completely different line-up than we saw on Saturday.
Both sets of Robins are in terrific form, one more unbeaten match will break a club record, by the time the whistle blows for the final time against the Bantams Friday week we should have a very good idea how the season is going to pan out through the early part of the new year.
You feel something's got to give.
JP Kalala on 4 is next (Ryan & Bilel 8!), here's the current situation: www.football-league.co.uk
Footy for a fiver as Swindon say no to Timmo: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
FA Cup Third Round Draw: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
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