Bristol City 0 Southend United 3

However the main topic of discussion before the game was about injured custodian Darryl Flahavan. The 27-year-old broke a finger in training on Friday and will be out for 4-6 weeks, and Blues fans were concerned that substitute ‘keeper Bart Griemink wasn’t fit either. This was quickly ruled out, as the tall Dutchman was in fact named in the starting eleven, whilst other changes included recalls to the first team for Shaun Goater and Mitchell Cole.

Despite both sides starting relatively brightly, it wasn’t until the 17^th minute of proceedings until either side had anything to shout about. The home side were a matter of just a couple of yards away from taking the lead, as a high long ball forward was contested by Griemink and City striker Scott Brown. Whilst neither player could connect with the ball as it whizzed over their heads, the ball spun off of the surface and struck Adam Barrett’s hip before almost rolling agonisingly over the line, but fortunately Barrett recovered and cleared the danger.

Bristol City had another chance almost immediately as Scott Murray’s cross was almost headed into his own goal by Luke Guttridge, but fortunately for the former Charlton Athletic target, Bart Griemink was on hand to divert the ball over the crossbar.

However, it was the Shrimpers that did eventually take the lead as City dwelled on their missed chances. Luke Guttridge’s stinging right footed strike from twenty yards was too hot to handle for Steve Phillips in the City goal, and his parried block was quickly anticipated by birthday boy Eastwood who coolly slotted the ball over the now grounded goalkeeper.

And it was Southend who made the attacking movement again, as Mitchell Cole should have been given a penalty having been fouled by City left back Louis Carey. However the referee bizarrely gave a free-kick on the edge of the box instead of a spot kick, and Kevin Maher was the man to swing in the free-kick only to see the ball rebound off of the crossbar and out of play for a goal kick.

The home team then had the perfect opportunity to equalise with four minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, but Scott Murray’s cross was headed over by Brown after he had lost the attentions of Lewis Hunt. Both Murray and Brown had been playing a big part of City’s attacking play in the first half, and would continue to have an impact in the second half.

At the half time whistle the score remained 1-0, with the game for the taking for either side in the second half, and that’s what both sides tried to do – take the game to their opponents although Bristol City for all of their talented attacking options failed to do that.

So in theory, it was no real surprise to anybody when after 47 minutes – just 2 minutes into the second half – Southend doubled their lead. Kevin Maher’s corner was headed into the six yard box by Shaun Goater and Eastwood was again on hand to knock the ball into the back of the net.

This goal really hit City with a blow, and they failed to ever recover, occasionally having a brief and scrappy attack at the Southend goal. The Shimpers didn’t mind this – with a two goal lead that never really looked like being dented, they just sat back and dealt with the Reds’ attacks without any real concerns.

However Steve Tilson and his side were almost extremely concerned on the hour mark. Marcus Stewart had previously come on just before the Blues second goal, and he had a great opportunity to cut down Southend’s advantage to just one goal again. Instead of shooting though, Stewart played a superb lobbed pass that Brown latched onto, but instead of placing the ball out of Bart Griemink’s reach and into the goal, the tall frontrunner could only shoot straight at the Dutch goalkeeper.

It took a full fifteen minutes for City to create another goalscoring opportunity, but once again it was wasted. Dave Cotterill playing on the left wing crossed the ball over, and after Che Wilson had beaten a hapless Brown to the header, Marcus Stewart volleyed the loose ball over the bar before furiously shaking his head in dismay.

That was a big miss for Stewart and City, and if they weren’t defeated after that, they certainly were after Eastwood completed his hat-trick with a stunning 30-yard drive. The 22-year-old picked the ball up and with nothing on, smashed the ball which swerved past a helpless Steve Phillips and into the top corner.

There was one more chance for Gary Johnson’s Bristol City – Scott Murray’s low driven free-kick was marvellously saved by stand-in keeper Griemink, but overall it was a day to forget for the club as a whole, as City slump precariously towards the bottom of the table, whilst it was a day to remember for Freddy Eastwood as looks set for a very successful career for many birthday’s to come!

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By Adam Duffill
www.thelittlegazette.com