GK Darryl Flahavan | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 0 | Rating: 7 |
Another clean sheet for which Flahavan must be pleased with however Darryl’s day was more or less a complete non-event. Flahavan had only one shot to save all afternoon and that was completed with little to no worries. From the ground Flahavan was put under pressure from Bas Savage after an inaccurate pass back from Che Wilson. Darryl cleared successfully on his left foot. I hope Flahavan has a few more games this season where he has this little to do. |
RB Lewis Hunt | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5 | ||
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CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
Prior turned in another excellent performance as he again showed why he played at a higher level. Defensively he was fine and with the team conceding only two goals in five games Prior and the rest of defence can be very pleased with their performances. Prior also had one chance, as a Kevin Maher corner was floated over and Spencer arrived in the air only to head over. Prior is obviously very passionate about getting Southend promoted and in the pre-match warm ups he will often be seen motivating other members of the team. |
CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
There was not an awful lot of defending for Barrett to do on this occasion however the he was solid at the back. Barrett did catch the eye with his powering runs through the Bury team and then his superb distribution of the football as he put Southend into attacking positions. Nothing more than a solid performance from Barrett however he has performed well in February and has been noticed, nominated for Chris Kamara’s Football League Two player of the month. |
LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5 |
Wilson was probably the most effective player on the pitch as he done his job very well. Che won all the headers he possibly could, including a number against massive striker Savage. Wilson’s distribution was also second to none and I feel that he has massively improved over the season when he has been in possession. Wilson was also very quick thinking and looks to link up with skilful Gower at every opportunity. |
RM Carl Pettefer | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
I will be perfectly honest and say that I am fed up of Pettefer playing on the right-wing now and today’s performance sums it all up for me. There were so many occasions were Pettefer was back in his own half when Southend were attacking and enough occasions were Pettefer was behind Lewis Hunt who had gone and joined the attack. There was one occasion where the ball was in the Bury’s defensive third and Hunt had arrived to support the attack. Unfortunately Hunt had no other option but to put a hopeful ball into the area as Pettefer was on the half way line. There was an argument that he was covering for Hunt. Oh Please! A weak side that were playing with one forward, you don’t need to cover for an attacking full-back. Pettefer works hard, I know that, and his skills as a footballer are good but as a winger, sorry, but I’ve had enough. |
CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5 |
I dare say that there are a couple of people who have scrolled down to Bentley instantly to find out what mark I gave Mark this time around. I have come in for a little stick after giving Bentley just 6 on Tuesday evening and therefore particular attention was paid towards Beno’s excellent performance today. There are no moans from me on Bentley today although he is still lacking a little of what he had at the start of the season. Bentley found himself up and down the pitch but most importantly won the crucial free-kick that earned Southend the crucial three points. |
CM Kevin Maher | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
Another neat performance from the Blues skipper which is often the signal for the sponsors to award him with man of the match. However ‘Think Road Safety,’ who provided some fantastic half time entertainment, decided that Freddy Eastwood was to gain their recognition. Maher though led the team in his typical fashion and passed the ball around efficiently. ‘Captain Fantastic’ will be looking to lead his team to automatic promotion as only goal difference is between Southend and second position. |
LM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 79 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 6.5 |
It was not Gower’s best performance by any stretch of the imagination but it his another seventy-nine minutes of football for Gower who must be increasing in fitness all the time. Although he was replaced by Nicky Nicolau we all know that Gower can turn it on at any time and it was his free-kick that was parried away but keeper Marriott that allowed Eastwood to score. |
CF Freddy Eastwood | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
Eastwood is finding the net again and it is brilliant news for Southend as all the best players need to be firing on all cylinders in the final push for promotion. That is the second goal in two games for Eastwood who was quick to pounce on Marriott’s mistake in the goal. Eastwood has now amassed fifteen goals for Southend and he will be looking to add to this total by at least five goals, thus totalling the target of twenty goals. Freddy found a lot of space against Bury and showed this when he broke the deadlock shortly before halftime. Eastwood showed his ability in his quick feet throughout the game and the Blues fans will be hoping that Eastwood can reproduce this form for the rest of the season. |
CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
Gray tried his hardest all afternoon but having only scored one goal in the last ten first team starts Gray will be disappointed not to have done a little more on this occasion. Although Gray was a little poor he appears to compliment Eastwood well and therefore I expect Gray to feature in a weeks time in Chester. Gray was substitute in stoppage time for Tesfaye Bramble. |
LM Nicky Nicolau | Minutes on pitch: 11 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
Nicolau appeared for just eleven minutes and failed to make a significant impact in the short time he had on the pitch. To be honest Nicolau was virtually unnoticeable and therefore, unless there is an injury to another player I fully expect him to be on the substitutes bench next week. |