Yes, we know Crewe had scored a few goals recently but maybe the team talk had focused on the defensive side just a touch too much, what was that formation Luggy, they let them in as well.
If picking Luke Prosser was the start on the road to recovery for the former Port Vale centre-back after an awful game against his old club and then picking up an injury it all went sadly wrong, his confidence must be shot to pieces now and he should not put on a first team shirt again, so see you at Bury then Luke!
Sturrock decided to go with a 3-5-2 to stop their big front three, but didn't seem to tell the players what to do with it. Simpson had flu but poor Barker was deemed surplus to requirements.
Strange; as Prosser was lost, Johnny hardly crossed the centre line, and as the Crewe right-back had no idea what to do with all the space in front of him, it was all a waste of time.
It didn't help that most of the team, even the usually dependable Michael Timlin was guilty of this, gave the ball away as a matter of course.
At home Luggs, take the initiative, you haven't got a squad of rocket scientists here, just bog standard fourth tier players, and the odd non-league one at that, where they may be playing again if this continues!
As for the actual game, the Railwaymen deservedly ended their run of five straight league draws as two second-half goals clinched victory at Roots Hall.
Southend did start brightly and thought they had scored on two earlier occasions when Lee Bell cleared Anthony Grant's powerful off the line, followed by Ashley Westwood stopping Waide Fairhurst's shot from meters out also being in the right place by the post.
Crewe though should have taken the lead when Luke Prosser brought down Clayton Donaldson and the penalty correctly given, but Westwood's penalty smashed down off the crossbar and relieved Blues keeper Glenn Morris fell on the ball.
Luggy should have taken the break to change the formation back to 4-4-2, Hall came on for Prosser when the damage had been done, as there was room down the left for the home side to exploit, but he didn't, Gradi did, and reaped the reward.
It was Clayton Donaldson who took advantage of some brainless defending, eight Shrimpers just stood around waiting for something to happen, and it did, as he put Crewe ahead in the 55th minute when he headed home Luke Murphy's accurate cross for his fifth goal of the season.
Donaldson was then substituted by Shaun Miller who sealed the points with twelve minutes left when Morris failed to deal with Murphy's right-wing cross, allowing Miller to step in and volley home from close range.
And that was bloody that, if Granty's shot had not been brilliantly cleared off the line when it looked a certain goal I might be writing something different, but not much, we were very poor particularly in the second half.
Afraid you can't escape reponsibility Luggy whatever you say in your post-match statement, and with the next two games third place Bury away and fourth place Rotherham at home, it's a worrying thought where we may be in the League in a fortnight.
A point off the play-offs a couple of weeks ago might be as good as it gets!
Southend player markings: Morris - 5, Clohessy - 6, Coughlan - 5, Prosser - 4 (Hall - 6), Barker - 5, Herd - 5, Soares - 5, Timlin - 6, Grant - 7, Paterson - 5 (Crawford - 5), Fairhurst - 5 (Jarvis - 5).
Referee: Mr. A. Woolmer - 5.
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