It was off to Victoria for a five hour coach journey I'd got for a pound two months ago. There stood three coaches together, all off at 8am to famous towns known throughout the football world. The 455 to Manchester, the 550 to Liverpool and the 545 to, er, Mansfield.
The M6 behaved and we were in Stoke by 11.45 and Liverpool 20 minutes early at 12.50. The only trouble was the heating had buggered up leaving the coach feeling like a sauna on the hottest day of the year. The smell of the loo was drifting uncomfortably through the bus. Luckily I had bullied my way to the front seat which was escaping the worse, my back seat days with Ossie and the boys long gone!
The fresh air of the scouser capital arrived and ten minutes later I was in the Head of Steam pub practically in Lime Street station. This one had none of the charm of the Huddersfield branch having been a former hotel, magnificent in its hay day I'm sure, but big and spacious it lost the friendly feel of it's Yorkshire sibling.
What was fascinating was the red and white bunting around the saloon bar that was still celebrating St. George's Day 72 hours after the event. The barmaids, who had both seen better days bless them, were covered in it, even more bizarre was the three real ales on tap that were all named after England's patron saint. First I tried St. George and the Dragon, then the stronger St. George Heritage Ale, both hit the spot and cost a reasonable 2.20.
Texts arrived that I would be on my own until the Mersey Clipper next to the ground so I resisted the urge to have the third choice on offer but catch the 13.43 to Rock Ferry. Time for the gents, well no, you needed a code! Now I know scousers have a reputation but surely not for nicking loo paper.
Anyway I passed and went to look for the train which wasn't displayed, oh dear was I at the wrong station? No, I needed the Wirral Line that was down the escalators where I spotted several blue shirts on the only platform waiting to start the 15 minute journey. Another quarter hour passed and I was in the Clipper joining a large contingent of Shrimpers along with my late but welcome colleague Lee. Sadly here it had to be two pints of the dreaded draft Strongbow. Not much else was on offer for non-larger drinkers.
The match itself has been well documented now and the overriding view is it was a non event. Unfortunate for the hundreds that had travelled miles to watch the game especially the ones who had made the effort to come in fancy dress, pats on back all round, there was some great outfits there. Obviously several players felt the regular season had ended with the Lords late winner at Carlisle last week, the game had a real end of season feel about it when the Blues should really have been focusing on the outside chance of the automatics, something three points would have kept us in the hunt for.
The defensive improvement of Simon Francis has helped cover the weaknesses of Tommy Black, sadly as Francis went AWOL here there was nothing to stop Tranmere players dominating the left hand of the pitch, at least Gower did some running back.
The surges into the opposition penalty box from Macca and Bailey was just not there, energy levels all round were low, until Nicky decided to place his head on Maccas that is! (Texts have been sent to me saying they were seen on the town Sunday evening looking the best of mates, as they were before the 'incident'. Not good though and I made the comment last week that Bailey is young and his attitude will improve, however time for Tilly to have a word I think as the pressure will only increase over the next few weeks.)
The loss, or saving, of Lee Barnard gave Alex Revell a chance and overall he was ordinary, though he did force a good save from the impressive home keeper Danny Coyne, that's three superb shot stoppers we've come across in a row. Alex is recovering from injury but should stay in the side for Vale. I would not play Lee next week fit or not, he is absolutely vital if we are to get to Wembley especially as the second leg is now guaranteed to be away from home.
Maybe the players were mentally down when we did not score from Mulgrews early free kick, usually we do so I can't blame them! Coyne getting his angles right and pushing over the bar.
Talking of keepers, plaudits to little Darryl who did what he does best with a stunning save when the ball cannoned off Adam and looked certain to go into the top corner before Flavs turned in mid-air and tipped the ball over the bar. Brilliant.
The large away support deserved better in the second half but sadly it got worse. Another huge gap on 53 minutes opened down the left which was filled by Shane Sherriff to send over a pinpoint cross that found the head of the unmarked Anthony Kay to head home. Adam and Clarkey on their traditional once a game walkabout did not get away with this one.
We huffed and puffed a bit but all the prayers from the several nuns behind the Cowshed goal could not get anything moving while Greenacre at the other end continued to be a nuisance for the Blues defense.
The final whistle brought a welcome end to proceedings with an embarrassed Brushy leading the players to take, and give, suitably subdued applause that summed up a poor 90 minutes for Southend.
However it's worth remembering that in all the games during our run, taking out Walsall at home, did we dominate from start to finish. Improved defense with hard midfield running along with the finishing of the good Lord has put us where we are and whoever we get in the play-offs I see no reason, taking out injury or suspension, why it will not return when it really matters.
Time for drink in a local Rock Ferry pub where we met a scouse Shrimper who only had a couple of stops to get home! The Crew and Tranmere games are home matches to him, well done and good to have a chat. Some Birkenhead regulars wearing Liverpool shirts informed me that glasses with a southern accent can be an excuse to pass out a death sentence, guys if ugliness and stupidity was an offence you wouldn't have been allowed to leave the hospital at birth. That scouse wit, hilarious.
Luckily another Heritage Ale in the Head of Steam before catching the 18.10 back to London, (13pounds), meant leaving Liverpool with a smile on our faces more than the actual game would have.
Flahaven - 7; Looked at his best which he had to be with the mass switch off in front of him. Brilliant first half save and left with no chance with the power header from Kay for the winner.
Francis - 5; Oh Simon, after all the hard work of the last few weeks, had a mare, nothing seemed to go right for him.
Clarke - 5; Young Lee next to me wondered how many passes from Clarkey actually find his team mates. More than he believes probably but his comment sums up a poor match from the former Blackpool man. Who should have been marking Kay?
Barrett - 6; Not much better than this central defensive colleague but Captain Adam gets an extra point for his usual sleeves rolled up attitude and his referring skills for keeping Nicky and Macca apart!
MULGREW - 7; Felt he did as well as has been, another cracking free-kick, defensively looked OK, tried to get things going but not a lot happening in front of him. Maybe seven is generous but I have to justify the time and effort of making the 13 hour round trip somewhere, the fact I would have given half the Tranmere team the same mark, and one or two an 8, sums it all up.
Black - 4; Has been getting a five as the form of Francis has been covering his faults. Did not help defensively at any point of the game. Was told by a Shrimper at Orient that Black and Gower together is a luxury we cannot afford away from home. You were wrong mate, Black is a luxury home and away.
McCormack - 6; You felt Macca was trying to get going, a couple of forward runs were ended by some cynical tackling and a shot just past the post, but on the day his game was similar to his team-mates.
Bailey - 6; Felt he was at his best after the Macca 'incident' as he was after the Carlisle 'red card' last week. OK Tilly give him something to smash into during the warm up so we keep him on the pitch for the whole of the play-offs. May be worth 'resting' him on Saturday.
Gower - 6; Mark's crab like runs were in evidence they just never looked like causing the Tranmere defense any trouble. OK game though.
Revell - 5; Still willing to give Alex the benefit of the doubt and one low header nearly opened his account with the Blues but it is getting harder to see why he was such a favourite with the Brighton faithful. Barnard is a huge loss for more than just his goal scoring.
Walker - 6; The usual James game of trying to trap the ball, sometimes goes three yards in front of him and gets cleared, or gets the time to go round and round in a circle, over and over again! Passing usually up to a good standard but again, even less without Lee, never looks like actually scoring.
SUBS: MacDonald for Revell (71mts - 5), Scannel for Black (84mts - 6), Moussa for Gower (84mts - 6). Scannel should have been on earlier for the very poor Black; the Moose didn't make much difference but put in some effort; MacDonald, sadly, looked as ineffective as Revell had been, arguably less so!