GK Darryl Flahavan | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals Conceded: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
Another clean sheet for Flahavan who has managed to conceded only nine goals in fourteen games since coming back into the team for the injured Bart Griemink. This is a fantastic feat for Flahavan who pulled off two good saves, both whilst the game was goal-less. The first save came as Darryl stretched to his left to grasp as a shot from Rickie Lambert was fired in. However Flahavan really earned his money when Che Wilson’s backpass found only Marc Richards. Thankfully Flahavan foiled Richards and Southend kept another clean sheet. |
RB Duncan Jupp | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8 |
I was very impressed with Jupp today as he bombed up and down the flank but did not regard his defensive duties. From an attacking point of view there will be very little criticism aimed at ‘Juppy’ but today his defensive qualities caught the eye as he went in well with his tackles. Jupp dealt well with Rochdale’s attack, often faced with tricky player Leo Burtos. |
CB Spencer Prior | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
Prior impressed again today as he controlled the defence with style and keeping Dale’ debutant Marc Richards quite throughout the game. Prior, at times, holds the defence at Southend together and today was another example as Prior rose to the challenge when Southend were under a little pressure in the first half. |
CB Adam Barrett | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7.5 |
Barrett completed his second game as captain in place of the suspended Kevin Maher and done a very good job as he lead the team in voice and in presence. On many occasions, Barrett could be heard above the Roots Hall crowd and he some quarters of the Southend support have been calling for Barrett to become full time captain. Although I think Maher is a more than worthy captain, much that is coming out of Roots Hall this season has been very positive about Adam Barrett. |
LB Che Wilson | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7 |
Wilson had a very good game and this mark would have been higher if it were not for the awfully short backpass that forced a good save from Flahavan (as previously mentioned). Wilson won a lot of headers of a day where much of Rochdale’s attacking play came via aerial balls into the danger zone. |
RM/LM Carl Pettefer | Minutes on pitch: 69 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 7 |
Another far improved performance from Pettefer who was substituted when the game was won at three goals to nil. Pettefer’s play appears to be a lot more direct in the last two games, this has been needed in order for Southend to really kill games off. Petts spent much more time on the left side of play than he normally does as he swapped with Gower. |
CM Mark Bentley | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 8.5 |
Another driving midfield performance from Bentley who commanded much of the midfield for the majority of the match. Bentley continually ran up and down the middle of the midfield in order to win the ball and then distribute it to the strikers. Bentley also managed to muster the energy to arrive late into the penalty area to apply a rebounded header into the back of the net after a Freddy Eastwood shot was saved. |
CM Alan McCormack | Minutes on pitch: 90 |Goals: 0 |Assists: 0 |Rating: 7.5 |
A far improved performance from McCormack who looked much more of a professional footballer than he did six days previous. McCormack’s basic passing of the football was a lot better as he looked a lot more composed on the ball. The Preston loanee also managed to simplify the play a lot more as he kept the ball on the floor rather than attempting to spray the ball to all parts. On a negative note, McCormack’s shooting appears not to have improved after hitting one shot nearer to the corner flag than he did the goal. |
LM/RM Mark Gower | Minutes on pitch: 81| Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 5.5 |
White boots and Southend players clearly don’t go! It was just a year and five days ago that a certain Drewe Broughton donned the white boots at the Millennium Stadium and look at the performance he put in there. It was no different today for Mark Gower as he slipped on a neat pair of ‘Reebok Total Control’s,’ that should be reserved only for the Premiership. Unfortunately it was a day that Gower’s failed to have total control and player really quite poorly. Gower was often let down by his first touch and then often again by his crossing and passing of the ball. Although Gower drifted from one wing to the other, he rarely linked up with either of the full backs and lacked any real conviction in his play. Hopefully Gower’s performance and boots will dramatically improved at Cambridge on Easter Monday. |
CF Freddy Eastwood | Minutes on pitch: 74 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 2| Rating: 9 |
Motm: Seven in seven for Eastwood who is surely playing his way into Southend’s history books with every goal he scores. Eastwood’s anticipation was shown to be at its very best, as, on the stroke of half time, the former Grays man was the first to react to a Wayne Gray shot that was saved by keeper Matthew Gilks. Although Eastwood had only to tap-in from inside the six yard area, Roots Hall erupted to the sound of ‘Da Da Da Da Freddy Eastwood.’ Eastwood’s afternoon was not to finish there as he had a hand in both the other goals that Southend scored. Firstly Eastwood showed a great touch to turn his defender before firing a rasping shot towards goal. Gilks saved this shot, but Bentley nodded home. Eastwood’s second assist was a simple pass square to strike partner Wayne Gray who tapped in. |
CF Wayne Gray | Minutes on pitch: 90 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 1 | Rating: 8.5 |
It has become a familiar site to see the Wayne Gray’s trademark ‘sliding knees’ celebration after he has found the back of the net. Gray has netted four times in four games as his all-round play has really improved. Indeed had it not been for Gilks saving Gray’s powerful effort (that rebounded to Eastwood), the former MK-Dons man may have been running away in ecstasy once more. I’m sure that Gray was more than happy to help out Eastwood and contribute to the team game. |
RM Luke Guttridge | Minutes on pitch: 21 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
Guttridge came off the bench to make his home debut although with only twenty one minutes on the pitch made very little impact. The diminutive midfielder got stuck in and ran about in search of an opening but unfortunately to no avail as the game petered out. |
CF Lawrie Dudfield | Minutes on pitch: 16 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
Dudfield was another man who, when coming off of the bench failed to make any kind of impact that is worth writing about. Although Lawrie puts in all he has it is often the case that with just a short amount of time that he fails to get into the game. It is a difficult situation for Dudfield, but with eight league games left, there is more than enough time for Lawrie to make an impact on the season. |
LM Nicky Nicolau | Minutes on pitch: 9 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Rating: 6 |
Just a short run out for Nicolau who will now look to Cambridge and hope he gets more of a game there. |