| Colchester United 2 Southend United 0: A brace by Anthony Wordsworth, the first in bizarre circumstances, was enough to defeat a Shrimpers side who at least tried to play football on the mud in North Essex. |
Both Francis Laurent and Damien Scannell were passed fit before the game and started in an attacking looking Southend line-up.
The playing surface at the Weston Homes Community Stadium was as awful as reported, but even so you couldn't predict the third-minute goal that gave the Farmers the lead.
First M'Voto slipped allowing Clive Platt cross to find Anthony Wordsworth at the far post and the midfielder's scuffed shot looked to be covered by skipper Adam Barrett running back to his own goal line, but his foot caught a mound where grass should have been, and the ball rolled in. For most of the match after that farce it was all Southend, continually playing the ball on the ground, while the home side seemed happy to feed on the scraps given them.
Laurent being at the centre of things on several occasions and somehow making the wrong decision every time.
Blues keeper Steve Mildenhall though was called upon to make a couple of smart saves and looked solid all night.
Sadly for the Shrimpers, one such scap was a David Prutton corner which Kayode Odejayi headed back across goal where Christophe failed to clear at his near post when the ball failed to bounce on the mud allowing Wordsworth to tap in practicly on the goal line.
ColU shot stopper Ben Williams made a smart save from sub Matt Paterson, who had been put through by a busy Scannell whose hard work and imaginative runs deserved better finishing from his colleagues.
Frank Moussa had a long range effort palmed away by Williams
before it looked as if Southend might be in with one of those come backs as Barrett headed in a perfectly good goal from a corner with seven minutes left.
Sadly, referee Miller, who overall had a good game, decided he'd seen a push which replays have shown was a harsh decision.
However, when your down and all that.
So the Farmers do the double, and would I like to be where they are, of course, but week in, week out, watching that rubbish, I'm with the right team if you actually love football.
Still lots to take from the game, though Barney's loss really is showing, but with everyone back for Tranmere I'm confident from Saturday the Shrimper march back up the table will begin!
Southend player markings: Mildenhall - 7, Francis - 6, M'Voto - 5, Barrett - 6, Malone - 6, Scannell - 8, Christophe - 6, Moussa - 6, Watt - 6, Laurent - 6, Spencer - 6 (Paterson 73 - 5).
| Coca-Cola League One, Monday, 8th February 2010 @ 19:45; The Weston Homes Community Stadium |
| | | | 9 | Goal Attempts | 9 | | 5 | On Target | 7 | | 4 | Off Target | 2 | | 0 | Hit Woodwork | 0 | | 1 | Offsides | 4 | | 3 | Corners | 5 | | 12 | Fouls | 6 |
| | | Referee | | N Miller, Durham - 7 | | Attendance | | 6466 |
| | Colchester U. Cards | | Izzet | 59 | unsporting behaviour | | Southend Utd. Cards | | Laurent | 25 | unsporting behaviour |
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