Blackpool 1 Southend United 2

As I woke up to the sound of champagne and orange juice being poured I suddenly realised I was in a very foggy Blackpool and I was bloody old! The fog went, my age, sadly remains the same.

And the news was that Blackpool was shut, everything, even the Pepsi Max, everyone had gone home or were walking around with a permanent hangover. Much like a few of the Southend players!

For many of this side, poor Adam Barrett certainly, this was a game too far, God knows who upset the fixture computer but I fear for Saturday at Oldham!

Four changes from Bournemouth with Eastwood and Gower on the bench, Gower soon on though as Pettefer went off after a clash of heads. The fresh blood did not help at the start as Blackpool were forging forward, missing a good chance which blazed into the setting sun at the empty end of an impressive Bloomfield Road for the home supporters, luckily it was a dry day for the 300 odd Southend supporters who had made the journey up, many by plane. Pats on back all round.

Then the penny dropped, bar a well marshaled back four led by former Blackburn captain Wilcox Blackpool were pretty crap. Vigorous defending, simple midfield passes, strong running by the front two, especially Gray before he went AWOL, and it was only a matter of time before we scored. And after the inside of the post

was hit by a superb header by the boy Lawson, Gower got in a great cross which was asking for a header to place it in the net, Bentley obliged, just beating Barrett and the Shrimpers were 1-0 up. Feet up time, the second would surely arrive, best team in league, sorted. Well, no, this was the definitive game of two halves. Blackpool used all there subs in the second half and decided to turn up. Southend decided to have a rest. Shots rained in, poor Darryl must have wondered who the strangers were in front of him. Take a bow Eagle who saved the day on several occasions with terrific last ditch tackles. At last Keigan Parker made a great turn just outside the box, cut in; a great shot and Blackpool were level. There was now only one winner........and that was somehow Southend!

On with 20 mins left, the goal scoring machine known as Freddy Eastwood received the ball after another desperate clearance, ran towards the Blackpool goal as the bemused defender made the fatal error of giving him too much time on the ball, a little dummy, which made keeper Lee Jones go slightly to his right leaving a small gap on his near post. Oh dear! Not small enough for Freddie who smashed the ball into the net and Southend were 2-1 winners and top of the league. I had witnessed a mugging!

Still enough time for Wilson to give away a certain penalty in stoppage time except it wasn’t given! We cannot complain about these set of officials, though the ref should have given a foul on Wilson just before his ill-judged, and very tired, tackle.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Luke Guttridge: Never stopped working and it can't surprise anyone that Captain Kev plays with such freedom when he has the tenacious tackling and running machine that is our Saint Luke by his side. Oh yes, we seem to win a few games as well!

With Trundle injured for Swansea and Huddesfield in mixed form, even Brentford dropping points, a certain visit to North Essex could be the defining game of this incredible and never boring Southend season.

EXILED ESSEX BOY

Chris Daniels