It's always reassuring to see it when teams turn up and their strikers are the same "athletic" size as you and Ade Akinfenwa, the bloke we were apparently after, didn't dissapoint. To be fair to him it was his shot which led to the corner from which they scored but he didn't have a great game. After Tuesday I really don't want to come across as a moaner, and had we won I'd have probably let everything go, but we didn't, so here it is.
1. BBC Essex - Since when has an already relegated Col U match with Leicester been more important than two teams battling for the play offs. The person who chose that the live commentary game should come from the Walkers Stadium on Saturday should have been shot.
2. The Ref and his linesman - I can't even remember the referees name and his performance on Saturday doesn't even merit me looking for it on the net - the bloke was a joke and his mate who ran so blindly infront me in the west stand had a shocker - I actually doubt he had his eyes open apart from making sure corners were taken from directly in the corner 90 degree angle
3 - The Stewards/Riot Squad - Barring in mind I sit in the family stand, (not the liveliest/most likely to cause a mass invasion), the decision to stick fifty fat blokes in orange jackets infront of us with 10 mins left really asks questions of what the hell they're doing/thinking. When we asked the steward why infront of us had been deemed a no go zone he said "Today you could qualify for the play offs" - well firstly yes we could have done but results elsewhere and the fact we were drawing meant it was a no no. We have at least one game left and if we do qualify for the play off 2 games left at the Hall, so who in their right mind would want to risk a ban and therefore seeing us attempt to get promoted. We are Southend not Millwall!
I am getting concerned with Leeds run of late and they are only 5 behind us with a game in hand - the only thing that I can smile about this weekend is the fact that Wrexham lost and are as good as doomed!
Flavs - 7; Not a great deal to do but when he was needed made a blinding save - there was nothing he could have done with their goal
Francis - 7; Not his best game but solid enough the beard continues to grow!
Clarke - 7; Again not his best but solid enough the short Michael Ricketts gave him a fair bit of grief
Barrett - 7; Same as Clarkey really - solid but the fatboy at times gave him a scare or two
Mulgrew - 8; Blinding - it was his free kick which led to the goal - he gets better and better
Black - 6; Time for a rest next week I think. In a similar way to Marky G plays alot on confidence and judging by this he hasn't got much of late
Macca - 7; Gave the ball away bit to much for my liking but you cant help to be impressed by the fact that he just continues to run for you
Bailey - 7; Simple stuff well - even the fact that at one stage he ended up in the North Bank didn't stop him covering every blade of grass
Gower - 8; Always running, always looking for the ball and put in some excellent crosses, going through a purple patch obviously.
BARNEY - 8.5; Only shades it for MOM from Mulgrew for me down to his goal - great work all game and deserved his poachers goal if only we had him earlier in the season thinks could be oh so different now
Walker - 6; A slightly below par game from him - had a good chance in the second half which you'd feel had it fell to Barney he'd have scored but he is only a nipper so hey ho
Subs;
Revell - 6; Thought he did ok upfront when he came on, (for Black, 77th mte.), and gave us something a bit different. Still reminds me of Matty Harrold except in essence Alex actually wins the ball when he goes up in the air for it. Question is should we get there is he a Championship player - I think not.