Craven's Marks Out Of Ten

GK Bart Griemink | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 3 | Rating: 6.5

The goalkeeping situation at Roots Hall has split supporters right down the middle, and reports on BBC Essex apparently appear to suggest that Dutchman Griemink was at fault in conceding Yeovil’s first goal. Whether that was because of his attempted save that slipped out of his hands on a skiddy, wet surface in the lead up or the fact that the Glovers top goalscorer Phil Jevons just got to the ball inches before him to nod into the net is uncertain, but any criticism would be extremely unfair.

What is certain is that Griemink’s confidence has been undermined in recent matches, most palpably by his error for Luton Town’s first goal like on SKY television last week, but he nonetheless made a series of fine saves with both his hands and his legs during the first 75 minutes to keep Blues in the match, a fact that has been sadly overlooked.

RB/CB Lewis Hunt | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

There had to be some way of getting both Hunt and Mark Bentley into the side, and dropping Duncan Jupp was the perceived best option. As it turned out it possibly was not, but then we only saw half-an-hour of the former Derby County man in that position before he had to switch to the middle alongside Adam Barrett. He was certainly more comfortable early on, although Gavin Williams caused him (and later Jupp) all sorts of problems.

CB Andy Edwards | Minutes on pitch: 28 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6

Eagle came back into the side at the expense of an injured Spencer Prior, but picked up an injury in the centre of the park just 28 minutes into his return. Before that he had been dramatically overshadowed by Barrett’s display in the middle, and in truth had not been involved in much of the action. Nonetheless worth another go ahead of Prior if he is available for selection against Grimsby on Friday.

CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8

In joining Freddy Eastwood as the club’s top goalscorer again, Barrett seemed to revel in his new found position at was full of confidence and swagger as he celebrated with his team-mates and the Shrimpers faithful on a cold, wet terrace. His confidence spread to the back-line, where he was similarly outstanding, making no fewer than three brilliant blocks to aid Griemink with Jevons and Tarachulski’s firepower in the opening fifteen minutes, and doing his best to contain their ability in a makeshift central pairing. Picked up one of the harshest bookings as he was a victim of Mick Fletcher’s ignorance.

LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Left-back Wilson was solid if not spectacular, his one main consistent error being allowing Andreas Stolcers to run at him (and go past him) on a number of occasions. Other than that, though, the threat was much less potent down his side – until the introduction of highly-rated front man Kevin Gall to play on the right in the final quarter-of-an-hour. Gall’s appearance, coupled with Kevin Maher’s ridiculous sending-off, changed the course of game, and highlighted Wilson’s problems with pacy wide men.

RM Carl Pettefer | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Again, reasonably solid if not spectacular display from Pettefer employed on the right. He is not a natural winger, and on that topic I’ve probably now bored everyone to death, but Blues do not have any genuine attacking width unless one of Wayne Gray, Tesfaye Bramble or Lawrie Dudfield is used slightly out of position on the flank. Petts kept on battling, but was largely anonymous.

CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7

Beno came back into the side for his first start since the 4-0 defeat against Darlington a month-and-a-half ago, and to be truthful looked rusty to start with. He was not up to the pace of the game, and could have been booked legitimately for a late challenge before he picked up a silly one from an unawares Fletcher six minutes before half-time.

But Bentley got better and better as the game progressed, and buoyed by a couple of spurts into the penalty area in the second part of the first period, hit the crossbar after Gray had been pathetically pulled up for a foul, and later did likewise with a header in the dying seconds when the result was beyond doubt. Never gave up, and deserves to retain his place.

CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 7

Bentley will, though, more than likely be partnered by Lewis Hunt against Grimsby Town after Kevin Maher picked up a suspension for being sent off for two bookable offences – only one of which was even remotely bookable! The first, for a ‘high’ foot not even above knee height, let alone waist, was laughable if it were not so serious, and the second was for his momentum bringing down Williams at full speed cutting across him. Well, it would be laughable were it not so serious.

He was constantly chirping at Fletcher, possibly something that contributed to his bookings, as he was persistently frustrated by his Shrimpers side’s shoddy treatment. But when he did knuckle down to the game he was challenging, and despite a huge fuss about his delivery from set pieces, set up his tenth goal of the season – double what the next Seasider has to his name.

LM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Quiet game for Gower, who did not seem particularly bothered about getting involved in wet conditions. It was probably a glitch though amidst a wonderful run, and his bad day was summed up in an attempted pass to Che Wilson that set Stolcers up on an attack down the right. Was always liable to be a threat though, and that is why Steve Tilson left him on the field – you can never be sure if he will just conjure up that bit of magic.

CF Freddy Eastwood | Mins on pitch: 78 | Gls: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 5.5

No goals again for a lacklustre Freddy, but such is his nature that he will have games like this. Once again, he is a man who can come up with anything – just witness that wonder-strike against Oxford United in a game where he was otherwise away from the action, and though his little flicks didn’t come off today, they will on another day.

CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8

MotM: Quite how Gray left Somerset without a goal to his name is beyond me. In the first half he had a low shot slipping over saved at the second attempt by Chris Weale, but he saved the best for the second half when, just after Barrett had equalised, he burst free of his marker and sent a shot speeding towards the top right-hand corner, only for Weale to somehow get his fingertips to the ball and push it away for a corner – yet another defining moment in the game.

But Gray was always the man that the Glovers feared, and his run of form shows no signs of abating. Anything that looked remotely like a Southend goal saw the former Leyton Orient loanee involved at some stage, and his pace was truly frightening for Glovers players and supporters alike. May work even better with Bramble or Dudfield alongside him, but for now he must nurture a relationship with Eastwood.

RB Duncan Jupp | Minutes on pitch: 62 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

After being dropped for just about the first time in his Southend career, Jupp came back into the side just half-an-hour in, and was troubled consistently by Gavin Williams on Yeovil’s left flank. However, that is not to say that Juppy did not have a decent game, and he looked solid again at right full-back.

CF Tes Bramble| Minutes on pitch: 12 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5

Unfortunately Tessie did not have much time to impress his army of supporters, but showed enough to suggest that he is still hungry for more action on the field, and his power, pace and ability will make him a tough proposition. Perhaps could have been brought on fifteen minutes earlier to pose more of a threat.