GK Darryl Flahavan | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
To be honest I can’t really think that Darryl had anything to do and I had to scour various other match reports to find out that it was in the twenty first minute that Flahavan was sent sprawling to his left in order to turn a Alun Armstrong shot around the post. The memory was jogged and in hindsight it was a good save from Flahavan that kept the game level. Other than that Flahavan had very little more to do and kept a clean sheet in the process. There was though, one scary moment for Flahavan as he miskicked the ball into the path of Alun Armstrong. Despite Flahavan being out of his goal, Armstrong's control let him down and the ball fell back to Flahavan. |
RB Lewis Hunt | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
Another really good performance from Lewis Hunt who is now surely leaving Ducan Jupp wondering how to get back into the side. Hunt really has developed into a top right back and has also formed a fantastic partnership with Carl Pettefer. Hunt uses the full width of the pitch and this allows Southend to spread to play and therefore create chances. Hunt created a number of chances today by getting into dangerous areas and putting dangerous balls into the box. |
CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
With all the pre-match hype about Darlington’s former Premiership players Hignett, Wijnhard and Armstrong it was obviously forgotten that Southend have their own fromer Premiership player. Prior showed his class today as he dealt with everything that the exciting Darlington frontline had to offer. Prior’s strength was shown on a number of occasions and he was not fooled by any of Alun Armstrong’s fancy flicks. |
CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
Barrett was another player who was very good defensively against the Darlington forward line. Often up against quick striker Wijnhard it was at times that Barrett looked as experienced as his defensive partner Prior despite being nine years his junior. Not a lot got past Barrett today and his distribution was also of a high quality. Going forward Barrett was quite and his trademark advances forward with the ball were kept to a minimum. In the air Barrett was ineffective and didn’t offer that many options. However it was the solid defensive display from Barrett, against high quality players, that warrants Barrett such praise. |
LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7 |
Another good game from Wilson who operated up and down the left flank. At times Wilson gave the ball away a little too easily and on one occasion he put Darryl Flahavan in trouble when he laid the ball back to him. Thankfully Flahavan cleared the kick far up field. Although Wilson done well throughout the game notably with his ability to tackle, he was often beaten in the air Neil Wainwright from Darlington’s goal kicks. |
RM Carl Pettefer | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 9 | ||
Motm: I know that by giving Pettefer man of the match I am going back on my words as I have often said that Pettefer does not possess all the qualities to have his best games in wide areas. However, today Pettefer turned in an amazing performance and could not really be faulted in any areas. Firstly his tackling, which is probably his greatest asset was at it’s absolute best. Pettefer often was the difference between allowing Darlington to mount an attack due to his bravery. Pettefer’s quality clearly frustrated his opposition and led to Adolfo Gregio laying a number of firm hands of Carl. Gregio was very lucky to stay on the pitch, however, amazingly survived without even getting booked.
Defensively there will always be very few moans levied at Pettefer and offensively today Carl was very good. |
CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5 |
Bentley did very well today taking his goal brilliantly in the process. Bentley received the ball from Eastwood and then proceeded to turn Craig Liddle before smashing low into the bottom corner of the net. Not only did Bentley take his goal well but he battled extremely well in the midfield. Bentley put a number of really good tackles in and tracked back stopping Darlington clear runs at the Southend defence. In addition Bentley allowed a lot of the play to go through him which took a lot of pressure of off captain Kevin Maher. Bentley turned in a performance that will probably keep him in the team for games to come. |
CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7 |
Not a fantastic performance from Maher today, however few can moan at the Shrimpers skipper when he is not in possession as he battled very well for the ball at all times. One time in the second half Maher refused to allow the Quakers the opportunity to break after Spencer Prior conceded possession. However with the ball, Maher was not at his best. His passes were often misplaced and on too many occasions he found a yellow rather than a blue shirt. |
LM Nicky Nicolau | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
Another good performance from Nicolau who continued from his man of the match performance in midweek against Swindon. He wasn’t involved quite as much as he was in the week although is ability yet again shown in a number of different parts of play. Firstly is set pieces were yet again very good. Both freekicks and corners were very good from Nicolau. Secondly was his crossing and passing ability. On a number of occasions Nicolau sent balls flashing across the penalty area as well as sending passes spraying across the field. Lastly Nicolau’s pass was crucial today as he tracked back on numerous occasions and defended very well. |
CF Lawrie Dudfield | Minutes on pitch: 89 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
It was a frustrating afternoon for Dudfield, who despite running for very long periods of the game very hard failed to produce a goal. Dudfield, did though get a great chance that set him clean through on goal with only the goalkeeper, Sam Russell to beat. However, despite having a whole goal to shoot at Dudfield tried to go underneath Russell and was denied the opportunity of a one goal lead. |
CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 68 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
Another afternoon where Gray did a lot of work out wide but was ultimately unable to have a influence on the game. Gray had one half chance when he had the ball in the six yard area but a combination of Darlington players bundled him off the ball. Gray seems to be low on confidence at the moment and may struggle to keep his place in the team however one goal for Gray could change all of this. |
CF Freddy Eastwood | Minutes on pitch: 22 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 8.5 |
Eastwood was the extra bit for Southend today as he entered the frame in the sixty-eighth minute. Eastwood showed his ability in the feet by making the real difference between the two teams, having a hand in both goals. Eastwood assisted the first goal that was scored by Mark Bentley, after he set Bentley in with a superb reverse ball. As most in the ground expected Eastwood to have a shot, he had already had a shot blocked, he surprised everyone including the Darlington defence with a perfect pass. The second goal came in stoppage time as Eastwood was given the ball by Mark Gower, this partnership worked in reverse to provide the goal at Mansfield a week earlier. Eastwood, who had his back to goal used a good touch to turn before firing into the back of the net and securing all three points for Southend. |
CM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 1 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 7 |
Gower was only on the pitch for one minute plus added time and produced a goal for Freddy Eastwood in that short time. You can’t really ask for that much more of off Gower who will now be pushing for a place in the starting line up for the Friday night fixture away to Swansea. |