Southend Self Destruct in Second Half Horrow Show

Last updated : 31 August 2008 By Exiled Essex Boy

I should have known.

I was here when Walsall last beat us at the Bescott in 1997, eleven years to the day. I have seen us score three, (twice actually, I left at 1-5!), while Walsall have scored eleven. I had tickets arranged for last years 2-0 win when I pulled out to help the wife back from Gatwick airport.

We were doomed I tell you, doomed!

Ishmel Demontagnac has struggled to establish himself in the Walsall side but the youngster appears to have guaranteed himself a regular spot after scoring a second-half hat-trick helped by a Southend defence that fell to pieces, Dan Harding excluded, he was the one shining light.

Demontagnac, starting his first game since early last season, demonstrated skill and goalscoring flair which made it difficult to understand why he has been continually over-looked by the Walsall management.  Then again he could have been sent off in the first half when he showed his studs to Harding who he had already tried to obstruct just before. Strange behaviour which resulted in a yellow.

The turning point of the high scoring game occurred when Walsall capitalised upon two bad defensive mistakes to get back on track after being derailed at Crewe last week. Two crazy minutes at the start of the second period after the first half had been an evenly-contested affair.

Southend had previously displayed plenty of promising play but were shocked when Anthony Grant turned in a left-wing cross from Marco Reich to enable Walsall to regain the lead. A header worthy of anything ever seen at the Borient!

Before they had time to recover Southend found themselves in further arrears Peter Clarke left a defensive header back to Blues keeper Mildenhall well short who rushed out to block from Walsall striker Jabo, the loose ball fell to Demontagnac who lashed the ball home.

The new-look Walsall side took a long time to settle and this allowed Southend several opportunities to pose problems to the home side.

Fortunately for the home side Anthony Gerrard, linked with a possible move to Reading before the transfer deadline, was superb in defence and kept the Saddlers in the match.

Demontagnac highlighted his possible threat when he hit the base of the post with a speculative shot which encouraged Walsall to mount another attack which resulted in Reich chesting down a Chris Palmer cross before hammering home a powerful drive after being given plenty of time and space to line up his shot.

Soon after Alex Revell escaped the home defence to slot home a low cross from Sawyer after good work from him and Betsy. Sadly the linesman saw fit to raise his flag and I need the Virgin highlights to see if that was a correct decision, it looked OK from the stand. Alex was booked for voicing his opinion on the decision.

Even if it proves it was offside this was another set of poor officials with the referee a master of inconsistancy. A yellow for Sawyer but a lecture for a Walsall player who flew into Harding with a tackle far worse than the one which got the Moose sent off last week. He, and his assistant, missed what seemed a clear elbow into Revell's face which should have resulted in a penalty.

However Southend, who suffered their second successive defeat here, did hit back to equalise in the 33rd minute. A long cross from the right was headed back by Alex Revell into the path of Hal Robson-Kanu to score with a low shot.

Revell, who has at last shown a touch of form, then had a chance that could have given us the lead. A great cross from Robson-Kanu on the left found the tall ex-Seagull whose point blank header in the six yard box was straight at the keeper when an inch either side would have found the ball in the back of the net. All that good work Alex!

You may get an idea why there was some confidence that now we were back in the game, even though there were warning signs at the back while all was obviously not well with the midfield pairing of Grant and Sawyer, we may go on to win.

But the Blues were caught napping at the start of the second period when they were hit by Walsall's two-goal blast. Afterwards it was always an uphill struggle despite some encouraging work from Lee Sawyer.

Demontagnac hurled himself forward to head home a Palmer cross in the 69th minute for his second goal but his most spectacular effort came in the 84th minute when he cheekily scored with a cross from the left.

There were not too many kind words for Mildenhall from the Southend support for that one and many felt his poor punching from a Saddlers corner had led to Walsall's third but he had pulled off one great save in the second period to keep the score down.

At least Lee Barnard, who had earlier seen a header go just over the bar, ended his relative goal drought by pulling back an 87th-minute consolation but all the honours belonged to Demontagnac.

Tilly needs to be more than "stunned" to get the team back on track for Tuesday and who would he drop anyway from the defensive back five for next weeks more important trip to Carlisle?

More, as if you want more, in a Day Tripper tomorrow when I get over the shock!

Walsall: Ince, Palmer, Boertien, Roberts (Smith 46), Gerrard, Deeney, Hughes (Bradley 74), Taundry, Demontagnac, Reich, Ibehre (Nicholls 83).
Subs Not Used: Gilmartin, Zaaboub.

Booked: Demontagnac.

Goals: Reich 23, Grant 48 og, Demontagnac 50, 69, 84.

Southend: Mildenhall, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Harding, Betsy, Grant, Sawyer, Robson-Kanu (Scannell 77), Barnard, Revell (Walker 66).
Subs Not Used: Joyce, Sankofa, Furlong.

Booked: Sawyer.

Goals: Robson-Kanu 33, Barnard 87.

Att: 3,843.

Ref: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).