Bees stung by Shrimpers
Last updated : 31 January 2011 By exiledessexboy
Before the game Blues boss Paul Sturrock said we couldn't expect to just turn up, run around for 90 minutes, and take away three points.
He was wrong, that's exactly what we did.
This was not a pretty game, and Barnet have a couple of drawfs in midfield who could see them out of trouble yet, but the result was only ever going one way, this is a Southend side that incresingly look like they could make a serious impact on the play-off places before the season's out.
Anyway, no change from Luggy with the possibly Premership bound Bilel Mohsni staying up front, honestly you have to laugh, but as a mate said before the game if he goes to Blackpool and they stay up he'll probably be worth 20 million this time next year!
A typical League Two start, former Blues trailist Izale McLeod blew a decent chance, but you could see the Shrimpers were the more accomplished footballers, a touch faster to the ball, movement good off the ball, trying to find the man with the ball on the floor.
Sturrock earns credit with what he's done since the summer, and that includes signing his boy, this could turn out to be his greatest managerial triumph.
We should have gone up one up when Granty was placed clean through but allowed Bees keeper Liam O'Brien to save, he made sure he didn't do that again.
On 25 minutes, Bilel Mohsni's through ball, Anthony Grant strokes the ball this time into the corner of the net.
Barnet raised their game after the break with Mark Marshall particularly busy, but even his effort didn't test Rhys Evans in the Shrimpers goal.
Soon after Blair Sturrock was able to flick the ball onto substitute Barry Corr, on for an injured Graham Coughlan which allowed Bilel to move back and show his defensive skills, who poked the ball into the top corner, only for the strike to be wiped off after a slight push on a Bees defender.
It didn't matter, victory was assured after a comedy of errors in the Barnet goalmouth led to O'Brien's pass being intercepted by Ryan Hall, Mr. Consistancy itself nowadays, passed to Corr who rounded the keeper and finish in style on 67 minutes.
The travelling faithull, nearly half the attendance at 1,148, were superb.
No wonder when Barnet won the toss the home skipper made sure we were kicking away from our support in the second half, not that it did them any good!
Later on, Louie Soares was to come on for a hard working Blair Sturrock, and Lee Sawyer returned to Underhill towards the end to tie things up for Grant.
The game was played out after that but the was only ever one team that was going to taste victory.
Onwards and Oxford at Roots Hall on Tuesday, now let's have a look at that league table.
Southend Player Markings: Evans - 7, Clohessy - 7, Coughlan - 7 (Corr - 7), Barker - 7, Gibert - 6, Ferdinand - 7, Grant - 7 (Sawyer 84), Easton - 8, Hall - 7, Mohsni - 7, Sturrock - 6 (Soares 76 - 6).
Referee - Mr. T. Kettle - 5.
A Barnet view from our sister site:
www.barnet-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/
barnet_v_southend_united_match_report_626522/index.shtml
| Npower League Two, Saturday, 29th January 2011 @ 15:00 |
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| | 51.1% | Possession | 48.9% | | 0 | Goal Attempts | 2 | | 0 | On Target | 2 | | 0 | Off Target | 0 | | 0 | Hit Woodwork | 0 | | 4 | Corners | 4 |
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| Referee | | Trevor Kettle | | Attendance | | 2,867 |
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| Barnet Cards | | Jarvis | 60 | Unsporting behaviour | | Southend Utd. Cards | | Easton | 60 | Unsporting behaviour | | Hall | 63 | Dissent |
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