Craven's Marks Out Of Ten

GK Bart Griemink | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 1 | Rating: 8

The big Dutch shotstopper gave an almost flawless display that was undermined by just two moments. The first occurred in the ninth minute of the clash when his defence – particularly right-back Duncan Jupp and central defensive pairing Spencer Prior and Andy Edwards – went to sleep and allowed Gary Taylor-Fletcher to pop up unmarked to open the scoring. The second came when he flapped at a ball into the penalty area during the second half and Jupp had to mop up. Despite that, he more than made up for that one error of judgement as he commanded his box perfectly, and made a trio of fantastic (and match-saving) blocks to deny the Red Imps front line. On one of those occasions he managed to quickly change direction and claw a diving header around the far post.

RB Duncan Jupp | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 5.5

Again Jupp appeared to be slightly below-par, although he did improve as the game went on. His one massive mistake was to believe that the ball had been cleared when it fell to Michael Blackwood in the ninth minute, whilst to be fair he tried to bring the defensive line up. This allowed the left-back to cross for an unmarked Taylor-Fletcher to nod home with ease. After that, the ex-Wimbledon player improved immensely, and on one rampaging run had Blackwood retreating in fear.

CB Andy Edwards | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

‘Eagle’ had a better game than he had at Roots Hall on his Shrimpers return. Then he was indecisive too often and caught out for pace, and despite the front pairing of Simon Yeo and Francis Green having bucket-loads of speed in them, only once or twice did they definitely get past Edwards and Spencer Prior. Won everything in the air and was much more confident than before.

CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Spinner again had a much-improved ninety minutes than he had endured in southeast Essex. At one stage it appeared that he would have to go off with a slight niggle, but he did not let this bother him, and in the end actually managed to reach the end of the encounter with resorting to the bench. Like Edwards he was more commanding in the air (albeit against shorter strikers), and his positional play was simply outstanding, as it would have to be under the circumstances.

LB Nicky Nicolau | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 5.5

The former Arsenal talent again struggled to make a real impact on the game, a situation summed up in one moment in stoppage time at the end of the match where he tripped over the ball when in a good position to cross for Lawrie Dudfield to nod home a late winner. He got forward a little better, supporting Carl Pettefer, and surely benefited from having the one-time Portsmouth midfielder in front of him to offer defensive support, with his full-back position barely tested.

RM/LM Mark Gower | Mins on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 5

Poor display despite being moved into his more favoured position on the right-hand side of midfield, although his display hardly warranted the foul-mouthed abuse that he received from some sections of the away support that somewhat spoilt the generally good atmosphere amongst the travellers. The playmaker was lethargic and seemed unable to really take on and go at his man, despite clearly having the ability to do so. Worryingly looked a little injured.

CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

Bentley somehow managed to complete a whole ninety minutes whereas Petts did not, although it would be fair to say that he was a virtual passenger for much of the final quarter of the clash. Before then he had taken at least fifteen minutes to get truly settled into his central midfield role, though once he had done this he was much more of a threat than Lewis Hunt or Kevin Maher had been on Saturday. One rasping shot went just inches over the crossbar at the end of the first half, and he was also stopped dead in his tracks when about to pull the trigger by some resolute defending in the second.

CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

Maher was marginally better than he had been at the weekend, but still seemed to just lack that final match sharpness. One magnificent piece of football occurred when he covered a Jupp raid down the right by slotting in at right-back and then managed to clear a Lincoln foray forwards in the same moment, but for much of the game he was strangely anonymous and lacked that bite to warrant being captain and an automatic choice.

LM Carl Pettefer | Minutes on pitch: 76 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Pettefer’s continued return from injury meant that he last until just under fifteen minutes from the end of the encounter, despite continuing to look fresh. Perhaps a little disappointingly he failed to really threaten with a series of crosses into the penalty area, but nevertheless he did a lot of fine work in the midfield as in a ‘Hoover’-type role, sucking up the loose pieces and making sure, especially after City took an early lead, that Blues regained some momentum, a fight that eventually bore the fruit of United’s contentious equaliser.

CF Drewe Broughton | Mins on pitch: 90 | Gls: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5

MotM: Few would have credited the manner in which Broughton’s return would be heralded as the saviour rising from the ashes by many after last season’s paltry League return of just two goals in thirty-odd games, and indeed he failed to find the back of the net again this evening. He did, however, come up with some fine play, including a series of stylish turns, inch-perfect flick-ons and commanding aerial headers. One moment summed up Drewe’s effort, a race to the byeline to chase down a lost cause that eventually just beat him to the line. He was disheartened, picked himself up and went off all over again. Inspired the crowd to chant, and was first over to applaud them.

CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 85 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5

The one-time Wimbledon striker now has the back-drop of a goal to his name, albeit from the penalty spot, and that should stand him and Southend United in good stead for the rest of the season. The manner in which he won the spot-kick from Alan Marriott was very fortunate, with no doubt from our distance of 70 yards away that there was gamesmanship involved. But it evens itself out in a season, and he coolly stepped up after a painstaking delay to wait for Marriott to dive before stroking the ball into the opposite corner. After that he chased down absolutely everything, but did not register another effort on goal.

CM Lewis Hunt | Minutes on pitch: 14 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Hunt was handed the last quarter-of-an-hour to run up and down the right flank in search of a good cross. One time he almost got it right with a run that had Paul Morgan stretching to get the ball away, but the ex-Derby County man just miscued the ball in. On another a left-wing cross got the slightest of touches from Ben Futcher and this put Hunt’s header off, the midfielder nodding inches wide. Not a natural out there though.

CF Lawrie Dudfield | Minutes on pitch: 5 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: -

Dudfield was a late replacement for Wayne Gray, putting himself about but not getting any more luck in front of the goal, which is where it really matters. Was unfortunate to lose his place after just one game, but with his ability he will bounces straight back.