Southend United

1-2

(Attendance: 4,025)

Huddersfield Town

Leke Odunsi 43

Match Time: 94:44

1st half: 46:27, 2nd half: 49:17

Andy Booth 45

Danny Schofield 89

Darryl Flahavan

Duncan Jupp

Jamie Stuart

Leon Cort

Mark Warren

Leke Odunsi

Kevin Maher

Jamie Fullarton

Mark Gower

Leon Constantine

Drewe Broughton

7
7
7
7
7
8(72)

6
7
7

6
4(54)

Ian Gray

Efetobe Sodje --

Steve Yates

Nathan Clarke

Jonathan Worthington

Danny Schofield

Lee Fowler --

Paul Macari

Tony Carss --

Jonathan Stead --

Andy Booth

5

5

6

6

7

7

6(86)

5

6(90)

5

6

Ryan Robinson

Dave McSweeney

Tesfaye Bramble

Neil Jenkins

Jay Smith

-

-

9(54)

-

4(72)

Jon Newby

Dwayne Mattis

Andy Holdsworth

Phillip Senior

Anthony Lloyd

-

6(86)

-

-

6(90)

21

10

8

3

0

19

9

4

Total Goal Attempts

Shots/headers On Target

Shots/headers off Target

Blocked Shots

Hit Woodwork

Free-Kicks

Corners

Caught Offside

10

4

4

2

0

12

4

6

Match Report

By Mark Wallis

WHEN your struggling, luck very rarely goes your way and Southend United emphasised that statement after Huddersfield Town stole a most undeserved victory from Roots Hall on Saturday afternoon…

Steve Wignall's Shrimpers side have now slipped back into the dreaded Division Three relegation zone following this latest home reverse - already United's third of the season - but it should have been so much different in a match where, in the second half particularly, Southend were by far the better of the two sides.

However, no matter how well the Essex side performed, Wignall must surely be criticised for his negative decision to approach the match with just one forward. The tactic was tried in last week’s away matches at Darlington and Scunthorpe United, it can maybe be accepted away from home, but at home it simply cannot. For the second successive match in-form front man Leon Constantine was shunted out onto the wing whilst Drewe Broughton became the lone striker.

Of course the Editors of this website endeavour to remain positive at all times, but Broughton has failed to score this season despite featuring in all but one of the matches, and never really threatens to break his duck, whilst Tes Bramble, United's most prolific goalscorer of the last three years warms the bench. Tell me so if you feel I'm wrong, but Wignall's decision seemed like sheer madness to me.

It was the same starting line-up that drew a goalless blank at the Reynolds Arena four days earlier, but this was a much more lively performance, and Southend were on top right from the start, and on just four minutes Broughton's 25 yard chip dropped into the arms of Town goalkeeper Ian Gray. Then, just seconds later a fine run by Leke Odunsi saw the midfielder poke the ball through to Mark Gower who fired over the top from the edge of the penalty area.

Terriers' engine-man Jonathan Worthington came to the rescue of his side on eight minutes when he headed off the line after Jamie Stuart had nodded a Gower corner goalwards, then, just another two minutes further in and another Gower flag kick saw Leon Cort's powerful header headed out by Nathan Clarke.

The visitors first opportunity arrived three minutes later, leading marksman Jonathan Stead holding the ball, finding space and smashing a 25 yard shot inches wide of the upright.

In what was certainly an entertaining match, Gower cut in from the left before curling a shot at Gray from 20 yards before the same man volleyed over the bar following neat work by Broughton and Stuart.

A fine run by Constantine saw Clarke do very well to get in a strong block following a low shot, and then, on 37 minutes, Jamie Fullarton superbly won a ball on the edge of his own area before beautifully picking out Gower on the left flank, he played a neat one-two with Broughton before stabbing the ball at the legs of Gray from an acute angle.

It was the Shrimpers turn to clear off the line on 41 minutes, Odunsi nodding away Andy Booth's header following a curling Carss corner, but then, just two minutes later the Shrimpers deservedly took the lead. A long, pinpoint Stuart cross fell to Constantine on the right hand side of the box. The tall front man-cum-winger lifted the ball into the danger area and Odunsi wonderfully turned before firing a great volley into the far corner from 15 yards.

Unfortunately, with only seconds remaining until the interval, Huddersfield found time for an equaliser, an almighty long throw-in by Carss saw Booth jump high and loop a header over the head of Darryl Flahavan and into the South Stand net.

It was after the break though that United really came to life, and especially after Bramble had replaced Broughton nine minutes after the re-start, and even more so when the home side finally shuffled into their customary 4-4-2 formation with Constantine at last moving up front.

Indeed it was Bramble, a constant threat to the Town rearguard, who created the first chance of the half on 67 minutes, knocking the ball past the advancing Gray before cutting back and curling a shot inches off target.

Four minutes later though, United were dealt a major blow when Odunsi, enjoying by far the best match of his short Shrimpers career, was carried off following a collision on the edge of the area. His place in midfield was taken by Jay Smith.

As the clocked ticked into the 75th minute Gower chipped a 25 yard free kick at Gray before a fine run by the ex-Barnet man played in Constantine who in turn slipped the ball to Duncan Jupp, but the right backs shot drifted well over the bar.

The visitors first real opportunity of the half came on 78 minutes, Flahavan doing well to tip Booth's low shot wide of the post, but then, only seconds later Bramble flicked the ball onto Gower who turned before seeing his effort well held by Gray.

Amazingly, though, with only their second decent chance of the half Huddersfield grabbed a shock winner with just a minute remaining. It came from a Shrimpers attack, Smith unfortunately treading on the ball and conceding possession to Danny Schofield who outpaced Maher, running almost the length of the field before slotting past the advancing Flahavan.

Overall

Matches: 22

Southend United wins: 6

Huddersfield Town wins: 12

Draws: 4

Southend United goals: 29

Huddersfield Town goals: 36

Biggest Southend United win: 4-0 (Roots Hall; 1st May 1982; League Division Three)

Biggest Huddersfield Town win: 4-1 (Leeds Road, 4th March 1975; League Division Three)

In The League

Matches: 21

Southend United wins: 5

Huddersfield Town wins: 12

Draws: 4

Southend United goals: 27

Huddersfield Town goals: 35

Biggest Southend United win: 4-0 (Roots Hall, 1st May 1982; Division Three [old])

Biggest Huddersfield Town win: 4-1 (Leeds Road, 4th March 1975; Division Three [old])

At Leeds Road (1907-94) and the Alfred McAlpine Stadium (1994-)

Matches: 11

Southend United wins: 3

Huddersfield Town wins: 6

Draws: 2

Southend United goals: 13

Huddersfield Town goals: 20

Biggest Southend United win: 2-1 (23rd January 1993; F.A. Cup, 25th August 1990; League Division Three)

Biggest Huddersfield Town win: 4-1 (4th March 1975; League Division Three)