Let's go back;
Chesterfield 3 Southend United 4
Report by Adam Duffill
It was bad news right from the start of the day for the Blues, as Mark Bentley failed a fitness test and was unable to feature even on the substitutes bench. Mitchell Cole was his replacement, as Mark Gower shifted onto the right hand side of midfield to accommodate former Grays winger Cole on the left.
In what was a bright day at Saltergate, the Shrimpers fell behind on 27 minutes despite some early pressure which saw Spencer Prior go close, as former
As the half-time whistle was blown, Steve Tilson was forced into a substitution. Kevin Maher's nose had been bleeding throughout the first half following an early clash of heads, and having failed to recover sufficiently, United captain Maher was replaced by Carl Pettefer. It was later confirmed that former Tottenham youth team captain Maher had broken his nose.
Early into the second half Southend were denied a penalty as Shaun Goater appeared to be pulled back by Janos Kovacs, however the referee disagreed with the numerous shouts from the Shrimpers' players.
However, the
Darryl Flahavan's kick was perfectly placed for Mark Gower on the left-wing, and after his cross was misjudged by the goalkeeper, Freddy Eastwood's powerful drive appeared to strike the hand of Kovac.
There was no escape for the centre-half this time, as he was shown the red card and Southend were awarded with a penalty, which Freddy Eastwood duly converted for his second goal in two games. The goal came on 52 minutes - at a crucial time with just seven minutes of the second half played.
If you thought that the goalscoring was about to end there you would be foolishly wrong, for it was Eastwood that was once again troubling the home side's defence. In a complete turnaround, Southend took the lead for the first time in the match as the 22-year-old beat four players before smashing a shot towards goal, and a cruel deflection took the shot over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
As is sometimes the case with Southend away from home, the lead did not last long. Following a lay-off from Larkin, Stuart Niven found himself with enough space to drill the ball through a crowd of players and into the back of the net at Flahavan's near post.
Despite conceding four goals in two games, the Southend defence still failed to tighten up and in what was an incredible sequence of events, Chesterfield regained the lead as Kevin Hurst was not challenged whilst dribbling towards goal and duly smashed a low shot past the outstretched hand of Flahavan and into the Southend goal for a third time - just one minute after conceding the second.
So 3-2 to
Another Gower cross was headed goalwards by Eastwood, and the goat was quickest to react; heading in from close range and leaving 'keeper Roche with absolutely no chance.
Goater's goal was his third in as many games, and looked to have secured a very handy away point for the Seasiders. However, young Eastwood clearly hadn't read the script.
After Mark Gower had won Southend a free-kick 25-yards-out, it would have been natural to assume that the ball would fly into the penalty area. However, with no Maher on the pitch, free-kick responsibilities were put on the young shoulders of Fred, who ambitiously curled the ball over the top of the wall, and despite the desperate attempts of Roche, saw the ball crash into the top corner of the net to end all of the drama this game had to offer and send the 541 away supporters home exhausted, but most importantly, happy!
Larkin 27
Niven 63
Hurst 66Eastwood 53 (pen), 56, 83
Goater 74
Starting Line-ups 17 Roche 6 3 O'Hare 7 15 Downes 7 26 Picken 7 4 Kovacs 7 8 Allott 6 23 O'Hara 6 6 Niven 8 27 Hurst (Blatherwick 75) 6 11 Hall 6 10 Larkin (Folan 57) 6 Substitutes 5 Blatherwick (Hurst 75) 12 Davies 18 Smith 16 Folan (Larkin 57) 7 7 Heath 11 Goal Attempts 11 6 On Target 8 5 Off Target 3 0 Hit Woodwork 0 6 Corners 9 3 Offsides 4 13 Fouls 8 Starting Line-ups 1 Flahavan 6 3 Wilson 6 5 Prior 7 6 Barrett 6 2 Jupp 6 16 Guttridge 6 14 Cole (Lawson 81) 6 7 Gower 7 8 Maher (Pettefer 46) 6 9 Goater (Bradbury 81) 7 23 Eastwood 8 Substitutes 11 Pettefer (Maher 46) 6 4 Hunt 17 Smith 20 Lawson (Cole 81) 19 Bradbury (Goater 81) Referee Darren Deadman Attendance 4,527 Chesterfield Cards Kovacs 51 Unsporting behaviour Southend Utd. Cards Eastwood 75 Unsporting behaviour Guttridge 85 Unsporting behaviour
Marks out of Ten by exiledessexboy
Darryl Flahaven; 6
It did seem that the problems in front of him, two goals in seven matches has become five goals in two, have started to affect him.
Not the usual five star performance we've come to expect and, maybe, should have got down faster for Chesterfield's third but really needs more assured performances from his defenders, can't bail us out everytime.
Duncan Jupp; 5
As with everyone at the back a poor first half giving away possession several times and a few mistimed tackles. As with everyone everywhere improved in the second half helped by the space created by
Starting to think Lewis Hunt deserves another chance.
Che Wilson; 5
See Duncan Jupp. Went on a few bizarre cross field runs obviously watching Adam on Tuesday however has earned enough credit to keep him in the side with the options we have.
There are worse offenders at the back at the moment.
Spencer Prior; 4
Did we send the wrong veteran to Grays? Not a good game, even his strength in the air seems to have deserted him at the moment.
Looks vulnerable and better teams than
Adam Barrett; 6
Usual 100% effort from our player of last season but also seems affected by the insecurity around him.
Good to see him return to central defence and should remain there.
Mitchell Cole; 5
Not in the game at all in the first half, saw more of the ball in the second after the sending off.
The odd good cross but a lot of good positions wasted.
Kevin Maher; 5
As ever presently with his midfield partner going walkabout and receiving poor ball from the defence the captain finds himself overwhelmed by the opposition before he has a chance to look up and bring the forward line into play.
Was a victim of a poor challenge, Kovacs should have been sent off twice before he eventually was, no sympathy from me, and did not appear for the second half with a broken nose.
Luke Gutteridge; 5
Oh Luke, what has become of you. Another headless chicken performance, especially in that horrible first half, with the odd moment of quality to remind us what a good player he is.
The obligatory frustrated bad tackle with 15 minutes to go leading to another yellow card, his third in three I believe, followed by the obligatory second bad tackle with five minutes left that the ref lets go.
It's a guess what will happen first, 10 bookings and a two match suspension or a red and three. Odds are even at best on both options!
Mark Gower; 6
More Brentford than
Frustrating Mark can be but it's there, it's nearly there. Could still be a major asset in the final months.
Shaun Goater; 5
Look I'm the Goats greatest fan and "Get off Grandad" shouts just before he scores, again, are quite amusing. However, "he's a goalscorer" comments cannot justify these performances for ever.
Very poor and would have matched the Spinners 4 without the goal, though you've got to give it to the old bugger, does sod all but who is on the line when Freddie's flick comes over, feed the goat indeed. (And it was a clear penalty, unbelievable that the linesman did not see the obvious goat hug!)
FREDDY EASTWOOD; 9
Have not seen one player win Southend a game so obviously since Colly at, well, name any 20 games but anyone at a freezing New Year Bath for a 2-0 win v Bristol Rovers over a decade ago?
Even in a quiet first half he seemed to be as up for it as much as his colleagues were not al la Brentford all over again. This time he took full advantage of the sending half to score a confident penalty, a super run leaving defenders all over the place deserving the luck of the lob over the advancing keeper and THAT free kick, brilliant.
Could have even got a fourth if he'd been bothered. Added another six figures to his worth and would have got a 10 if not for another silly booking. Missing out on