Well, at least we showed we can beat a league club, just.
Giele John was the latest name to turn up at left back in this evening's penultimate warm-up game at Barnet, and we are trying to find out who he is, along with central defenders Worley and Saah who were facing their final chance to impress Blues boss Steve Tilson.
This was not a good game that Southend could have easily lost as they did to another League Two club in Dagenham last weekend.
Barnet missed a sitter in the third minute, saw a great shot go just wide, and then after half time Steve Mildenhall pulled off two very good saves to keep the scoreline level. They had a couple of other decent chances as well.
Southend did counter with a Francis free-kick from 25 yards forcing the home keeper to push the ball behind for a corner, Macca hit a post after a good run into the penalty area, there were decent efforts from Walker and Laurent, while Worley headed over from a Francis free-kick.
However, it was with less than 20 minutes left on the clock when Lee Barnard tested the home keeper with a shot that was actually on target
Francis Laurent has spent most of the pre-season proving to us all that he's worth a place on the right-wing ahead of the injured Kevin Betsy or Damien Scannell.
It's ironic then, that as the Frenchman drifted into the centre with the game looking to finish a goaless draw, he popped up with the winner, being the first to react at the near post to force the ball home with only four minutes left.
The trailists have will probably know their fate early Wednesday and
Worley must have a good chance of getting a short term contract, in fact Saah is not a bad player considering he's played so many games for Orient
but if there's only the dosh for one my money's on the former Leicester man.
We haven't had much luck with left-back's on trail and I'm afraid John seems to continue that tradition. Be surprised if he gets another chance at Stevenage but it's not as if the club have a lot of bodies in that position.
This is all so 'last season', with even less money around but as many injuries, you can see another 5-2 defeat on the horizon at Walsall in August! Yet, somehow we finished five points of the play-offs so T&B's knowledge of the loan market better be up to scratch again.
The final game of the pre-season schedule is at Stevenage on Friday, kick-off 19.45.
Attendance: 539
Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, Saah, Worley, John, Laurent, Grant (Christophe 74), McCormack (Sawyer 74), Moussa, Barnard, Walker (Revell 56)
Subs: Herd, Bentley, Calver and Reynolds