TLG 2004/5 Season Review - August

Southend United’s season started the same way that it had done just one year earlier with a home fixture to Cheltenham Town. Many analogies had been made to the way that the Blues started the previous campaign, with a dazzling two goal victory, only to fade away into a disappointing League campaign. However a new season, as always, meant new hope at Roots Hall and with Steve Tilson in his first full season in charge there was plenty of optimism amongst the Southend faithful.

However the afternoon became very frustrating for anyone associated with Southend United as after just seventeen minutes the Shrimpers found themselves one nil down. A new signing for the Robins, JJ Meligan got on the score sheet as he curled a shot off of the post from around 16 yards. As the travelling faithful from Cheltenham celebrated the first inquest of the year started. The ‘blame culture’ of Southend fans decided that the lack of pace shown from Prior and Edwards was the deciding factor in Southend going conceding the first score of the season.

However more worrying was the lack of link up play by the forward pairing of new boy Wayne Gray and Lawrie Dudfield. Gray, who had performed brilliantly in pre-season was expected to accompany Drewe Broughton in the striking positions. However Broughton was injured after competing, for a ball he had no chance of getting, in the friendly match against Billericay Town. Therefore Dudfield, who was also not fully fit, stepped in to partner Gray although not to the desired affect as Southend struggled to create all afternoon.

Although Southend did have a lot of possession as they looked to impress in the glorious Roots Hall sunshine they fell further behind as Martin Devaney and solo striker Kayode Odejayi linked up perfectly to leave new goalkeeper Bart Griemink and the rest of the back five with no answer. With just 28 minutes of the 2004/2005 season gone, it looked like Roots Hall was going to be a miserable place for yet another season.

The second half faded out into largely a non-event as Cheltenham cruised to victory despite Steve Tilson introducing the attacking forces of Michael Husbands and Tesfaye Bramble. Although both made very little impact to the overall game Bramble was involved in an incident that resulted in a red card being shown to the Ipswich born striker. Bramble, slid in on Martin Devaney and despite getting the ball the two-footed challenge was deemed serious enough for the Shrimpers to end the game with ten men.

Southend next travelled to Lincolnshire for a tough game against Lincoln, a team who would be expected to be ‘there or thereabouts’ at the end of the season. Unfortunately for the travelling Shrimpers, Lincoln manager, Keith Alexander felt that Southend would not be ‘there or thereabouts’ at the end of the season and he made his thoughts quite clear in the programme. Alexander also declared Southend a ‘large, physical side;’ With Drewe Broughton the only starter in the midfield and attack over six foot, I think that Mr. Alexander got his tactics wrong even from the start of the season.

However in the opening stages Lincoln appeared to be far the better team as they put Southend under a lot of pressure. In fact it took Lincoln just 9 minutes to break the deadlock as Gary Taylor-Fletcher managed to head in a cross from close range after a good cross from Francis Green. Taylor-Fletcher had added Fletcher to his surname over the summer due to his marriage.

The Red Imps attacker could do little about Southend’s goal as controversy surrounded the penalty that was won and converted by new boy Wayne Gray. Gray raced away from the Lincoln defence, knocked the ball past keeper Marriott and crumbled in what appeared to be a collision between the two. Whilst Lincoln players and fans appealed for what seemed to be simulation, assistant referee Geoff Law signalled for a penalty kick. A good two or three minutes passed as Lincoln players protested in vein and Southend fans discussed the fate of Marriott. Most expected referee Gary Lewis to show the red card but instead the official, who was new to the Football League decided that a penalty was a suffice punishment.

After Lincoln had decided that there physical presence was not enough to change the officials’ minds Gray successfully stroked home the penalty and scored his first competitive goal in a Southend shirt. Spencer Prior clenched his fists towards the 251 Southend fans’ in celebration and as the game reached half time the scores were level.

The second half never really produced the drama and entertainment of the first half and neither team really looked like conceding a goal. Despite this Southend did have to defend four corners from a Lincoln team who offer lots of height from set pieces.

Sporting their new red away kit Southend took the field looking very much like the Arsenal team, who at the time were on the road to their record breaking 49 games unbeaten. Nicky Nicolau’s Arsenal links where noticed, whilst Wayne Gray was compared to Thierry Henry.

If only Southend could play like Arsenal! TLG’s Robert Craven later likened Wayne Gray to Mark Rawle and not Theirry Henry after what could only be descibed as a shocking performance from everyone representing Southend.

But to tell the truth it was a great strike that sent Rochdale on their way. Rochdale’s Gary Jones sent a 25-yard belter past Bart Griemink who flew to his left to no aveil. Rochdale were clearly the better side as Southend failed to get hold of the game and the Dale, tipped by most for relegation, entertained the home fans.

There was a huge glimmer of hope for Southend in the second half when Greek midfielder Leo Bertos kicked out at Mark Gower and correctly received a red card from referee Russell Booth. Booth dissmissed the midfielder with minimal fuss although he soon became a villain in the minds of Shrimpers supporters as he gave a dubious penalty against the hand of Adam Barrett.

Quite how the official could give a decision against Barrett, who had earlier come on for the injured Prior was beyond most watching the game. Barrett slid in to block a hard driven shot from Paul Tait but the ball inadvertadly deflected onto his hand. Booth must have taken the ‘even it up’ approach and promptly pointed towards the penalty spot much to the discrace of everyone involved with Southend United. Gary Jones then converted the penalty, his second goal of the game and gave Rochdale a two-goal lead.

Southend United played what had to be described as the worse game at Roots Hall against an already poor Cambridge who looked destined for a poor season. The atmosphere inside Roots Hall was poor with Danny Webb providing Southend fans with something to boo for the afternoon. There also seemed to be very little optimism from the fans that showed in Prittlewell on a sunny afternoon.

The game itself was of a very low standard however the first chance of the afternoon came fell to Southend as they set the tone for the afternoon. The onrushing John Ruddy foiled Wayne Gray at his feet after the striker met a flick on from Mark Bentley. The young goalkeeper was however troubled by the corners of Nicky Nicolau who was swinging them into the penalty area for the first time in his Southend career. Nicolau’s set plays looked dangerous throughout the game and it was certainly a sign of what was to come in the future.

In fact the rest of the first half saw Nicolau corners produce most the chances. Firstly Ruddy dropped a cross from Wayne Gray which saw Maher smash the ball over the bar. Mark Bentley then had two chances, one from a Nicolau corner and another that he smashed against the cross bar. Despite having all the play, Southend were failing to hit the target.

The second half was a rather dull affair again with few chances of any note. Nicolau’s corners against caused worry in the Cambridge defence but in fairness the U’s defended the danger quite well. Spencer Prior had a half chance but Ruddy fairly easily saved his header.

Maher battles in the Carling Cup against West Ham

The first eleven minutes were just as most Southend supporters expected. Whilst the 4,000 travelling fans were brilliant and clearly out-sung the 14,000 odd Hammers on the pitch the Southend players appeared overwhelmed by the added class of West Ham. It seemed only a matter of time until the Irons found the back of the net and as Marlon Harewood smashed past Bart Griemink. The Southend fans were silenced, if only for a minute and it looked as if the Shrimpers might take a bit of a pasting.

However that goal livened the boys on the pitch into action as for the first time in the season they played like winners. Southend kicked into action, creating chances and seriously worrying West Ham for the whole of the rest of the evening. Suddenly the expectation rose and there were more than a few people who thought that the Shrimpers could nick a goal and possibly do the unthinkable!

Southend had chance after chance and it all began when a fantastic cross from Mark Gower saw Drewe Broughton head just wide. To tell the truth the big striker should really have hit the target but with still only 18 minutes gone Southend looked likely to equalise and were having much the better of the game. Southend then produced another chance when Mark Bentley managed to thump the cross bar before the Dudfield, who was following up was deemed to be offside.

Southend, who had plenty of possession did not trouble goalkeeper Jimmy Walker as they dominated the best part of the rest of the first half. However what ever the team talk was at half time, it certainly worked.

The second period of play saw the Shrimpers absolutely batter the Irons as they done everything but score a goal. Chance after chance came and went as Kevin Maher curled a few efforts off target. Southend then attacked further with two front men linking up; Lawrie Dudfield surged away and when it seemed simple to square the ball to Drewe Broughton young defender Trent McClenahan got his body in the way of the ball to see off the chance.

However Southend’s best chance of the game came when Mark Bentley managed to blister a shot towards goal only for his effort to be blocked as he followed his attempt up the ball seemed to find the back of the net. Cue celebrations from many of the Southend following only to look up a few seconds later and realise that the Blues had been awarded only a corner. Apparently Thomas Repka had deflected Bentley’s effort wide of goal.

There where another couple of half chances but the game appeared to be heading for a West Ham win. The Blues attacked right to the bitter end but got caught out after another corner. Marlon Harewood broke away from the last defender Duncan Jupp and smashed the ball past Bart Griemink for a two goal victory.