GK Darryl Flahavan | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 0 | Rating: 7.5 | ||
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RB Lewis Hunt | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
One of many players who was guilty of a relatively poor performance. Hunt’s usual energy seemed to be lacking as often he failed to be in attacking positions when needed. Defensively there can be very little moans aimed towards Hunt however going forward Hunt was not at his best on a frustrating evening for the Shrimpers. |
CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7 |
Another high quality performance from Prior who has been showing his class of late for the Blues. Prior was again of a high quality with his control of the defence being really top class. Prior will hope to continue these high quality performances into an important stretch of games for Southend in both the League and LDV Vans Trophy. |
CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
The usual from Barrett. Solid at the back and with another clean sheet for the Shrimpers little more could be asked of the locally born defender. Going forward Barrett seems to pose less of a threat in the air these days. Whilst the set pieces have not been as good as they were earlier in the season, Barrett is being closely marked in the air and gets few opportunities to score goals from headers. Barrett will now look forward to the LDV Vans Area Final First Leg against his former club Bristol Rovers on Tuesday evening. |
LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 5 |
I don’t enjoy being critical of the players that, less face it, have been fantastic this season in comparison to previous years. However tonight I can find very little good to say about Che Wilson. Wilson, who came in for some stick last season, has been far better this season, however tonight Wilson was a different player, and worse for it. On a yellow card he seemed afraid to tackle for most of the evening, however it was when Wilson was in possession that the real moans can be aimed at him. With the exception of Wilson’s centre for Bentley’s double chance late on, I am struggling to think of too many more occasions that Wilson managed to find a blue shirt when he was on the ball. Although he had a poor game tonight this is one of a few for Wilson who otherwise has been fantastic this season. |
RM Carl Pettefer | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
Another average performance from Pettefer who unluckily picked up his fourth caution of the season leaving him one away from suspension as Southend approach the final push for promotion. Pettefer was good as Southend defended but failed to distribute the ball well for much of the night. Towards the end of the game Pettefer failed to take two half chances, on both occasions a poor first touch got the better of him. |
CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
You could tell on his face, that he was absolutely gutted and after an opportunity like that you can understand why. It’s one of those things that you just can not do too much about but as Bentley latched onto Che Wilson’s centre the vast majority of the 8,224 in attendance fully expected Bentley to score. With just Paul Musselwhite to beat, Bentley took one touch too many and then shot right at the Scunthorpe stopper rather than aiming for the corners of the net. As the ball was parried away, Bentley, understandably snatched at the rebound with little to no time to think about what he was doing. It was unfortunate for the former Dagenham man but if he had have netted, Southend would have been two points better off. Other than the chance Bentley was largely unimpressive. He failed to stamp his authority on the game, nor did he tackle with his usual strength and aggression. Another player who didn’t perform to his best on the night. |
CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
As ever the play went through Captain Fantastic and there can be very little arguments with Maher’s general play. However, Maher was another who could not have a major influence on the game as it seemed to pass him by. Neither a bad nor a good performance from Maher and for that I was surprised that the sponsors didn’t give him Man of the Match! |
LM Nicky Nicolau | Minutes on pitch: 67 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
Another who just didn’t get into the game. Nicolau was often let down by poor passing on the evening but when he was in possession he did not make the most of it. Substituted mid way into the second half for Mark Gower, Nicolau will now be left wondering if he will continue in the team for the game against Bristol Rovers in midweek. |
CF Freddy Eastwood | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7 |
Returning to the team in the place of Lawrie Dudfield, Eastwood was found frustrated after failing to see a lot of the ball for most of the night. When involved in play Eastwood showed touches of class including a fantastic dummy that sent Mark Bentley in for the chance of the match. However Eastwood didn’t do an awful lot all evening and despite trying his best will be a touch disappointed with his overall contribution. |
CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 67 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
After a great performance last week from Gray, the former Wimbledon striker failed to impress all evening as he seemed a little lacklustre. ‘Chalk and cheese’ type performances from Gray as a week ago in Swansea he popped up everywhere where as tonight he failed to chase a lot of balls down whilst on the ball he was pretty poor. Not the only player guilty of a poor performance Gray will be looking towards future games to improve on tonight’s display. |
CF Lawrie Dudfield | Minutes on pitch: 23 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
Dudfield will be disappointed not to have started the game this evening having done very little to deserve being dropped. However when he entered the frame he and Gower did make a difference to the game. Although Dudfield done very little he does seem to bring something more to the team and I would like to see him start on Tuesday. |
LM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 23 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
On the field for Nicky Nicolau, Gower is always a player who appears to ooze class and tonight was no different as Southend enjoyed their best period with Gower on the pitch. The former Tottenham trainee will be hoping to start the game against Bristol Rovers in the week and I see no reason why he should be held back any longer after the Shrimpers are obviously at their most creative when Gower is on the pitch. |