GK Darryl Flahavan | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
It was a nice clean sheet from Flahavan who pulled off a couple of good saves towards the end of the game after having a relatively easy afternoon. Flahavan first showed that he can stretch the whole eight feet of the goal by tipping over the bar for a corner. From that corner substitute Michael Taylor had a great chance to get a conciliation goal for Cheltenham but Flahavan showed great reflexes to turn the ball away from danger. Throughout the sunny second half Darryl enjoyed plenty of banter with the Southend fans. |
RB Duncan Jupp | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7 |
Jupp provided his usual game to be honest, showing a great ability to get forward and supporting Pettefer in attack. Jupp passed the ball well and thankfully did not get caught out when surging forward. Jupp can be pleased with his return to the first team as he experienced a first team clean sheet for the first time since Southend mauled Oxford United by four goals to nil back in November. |
CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
Another neat performance from Prior as he appears to be returning to his usual self after a few dodgy performances. Priors dealt very well with the large presence of Kayode Odejayi not allowing the forward any room or time to cause problems. Prior also distributed the ball very well and I am sure he enjoyed being involved in the ‘Ole’ chants at the end of the game. |
CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
Another commanding and responsible performance from Barrett as the vice-captain stepped into the full role in the absence of suspended Kevin Maher. Barrett will continue to do this in the Good Friday clash with Rochdale as Maher is suspended for the second game after picking up ten yellow cards. Other than that Barrett’s all round game was good as he done well in aerial battles and made some more surging runs through the middle of the park. |
LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
Another performance where Wilson stuck to the task and showed how far he has improved. In fact it was twelve months ago to the weekend that Martin Bullock showed Wilson up and since then Che has progressed leaps and bounds. Wilson done his usual stuff getting up and down the wing, using both feet brilliantly in attack and defence. |
RM Carl Pettefer | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
I personally felt that Petts improved his game by a long way today as he managed to get forward with driving runs into the penalty area with the ball. Pettefer defensive work was again exceptional but his ability to get into good attacking positions caught the eye on this occasion. Pettefer however, showed is innate crossing ability, on one instance falling over in the process of crossing the ball. |
CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
Bentley today, stepped up to the plate in the absence of Maher and dominated the midfield to great affect. The competitive nature of Bentley meant that he was well suited to the issue of replacing Maher’s characteristics. Bentley, as ever, charged forward into the attack and created a few problems for Cheltenham. Bentley managed to find space to get a good header towards goal, only to be foiled by keeper Shane Higgs. |
CM Alan McCormack | Minutes on pitch: 90 |Goals: 0 |Assists: 0 |Rating: 5.5 |
A debut for the midfielder loaned in from Preston however this does not give me a reason to be more lenient on McCormack. To be fair McCormack did make every effort, especially in getting stuck in however I did not feel that Dublin born midfielder had anywhere near the quality to cut it in a Football League first team. McCormack passing was poor and his shooting was even worse. Hopefully in anymore games that he plays in he will prove me wrong but until then I will have a bad impression of Alan McCormack. |
LM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 81 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
Another game where Gower did not show everything that he has to offer and did not look as sharp as he has done. He used the ball well in the first half but faded out of the game in the second half and was eventually substituted. Gower will probably start against Rochdale on Good Friday but with Southend’s squad being reasonably large he will have to improve his performance if he wishes to stay in the first team. |
CF Freddy Eastwood | Minutes on pitch: 76 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 2| Rating: 8.5 |
That is six goals in six games for Freddy as he brought his total goals tally to nineteen for the season. Eastwood’s strike was, an absolute blinder as he I hit a Wayne Gray centre first time past the helpless Higgs. To say his dad was pleased is an understatement. Eastwood was influential throughout setting up two goals for Wayne Gray. Eastwood’s all round performance has also improved massively as he brings other players into the game whilst he has also learnt to get in front of his man in order to win aerial. |
CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 2 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 9 | ||
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CF Lawrie Dudfield | Minutes on pitch: 14 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
There was only really one occasion when Lawrie was heavily involved in play as he was given the opportunity to have a shot from around twenty yards. Unfortunately for the twenty-four-year-old striker he dragged his shot wide of the post. Other than that Dudfield was quite when he came on and failed to make a significant impact. |
LM Luke Guttridge | Minutes on pitch: 9 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6.5 |
A short debut match for Guttridge, however he managed to get involved in the game on a couple of occasions. Guttridge looked quick and will be a very useful player when he gains match fitness. One thing that I did notice about Guttridge was his lack of willingness to use his left foot as he often used the outside of his right. |
CB Darren Blewitt | Minutes on pitch: 1 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: - |
Just a quick mention for Blewitt who was the third player to make his Southend debut in the game despite it being only in stoppage time. Blewitt, who featured in the reserves last Wednesday is likely to be used just from the bench on his month loan spell as Barrett and Prior form a successful partnership. |
Matt Donohue