As good as 1-0 wins are for the defence and management teams there's nothing like a stirring comeback to warm the blood of home supporters and Southend did just that on Saturday against their limited but not poor Yorkshire opponents that took them into the top five. Getting nervous Orient?
Collis - 7; Good game justifying Tilly's decision to place Darryl on the bench. Seemed unsighted with the Donny free-kick that went past him and justifiably bemused with the second that could have gone anywhere but settled in the back of the net. Nothing spectacular but gives the defence confidence with his decision making. Maybe he saves himself the bother of pulling off great saves by coming off his line and grabbing the ball before any danger actually occurs?
Hunt - 7; Woe, there's been some criticism here. "Amazed he played 35 games for us last season", wrote one poster. Some others can't be reprinted on a family web site. Tilly might just have played him because he gives nothing less than 100%, makes powerful runs up and down the field of play and tackles as if his life depends on it. (Was picked in a Championship team of the week for the number of successful tackles he made in a game, not bad in a relegation bound side.) I was surprised that Tilly picked him over Francis when Gilbert got injured but that's why Tilly is manager and I'm writing this on a sunny Sunday September morning. Yes, he did go AWOL at times but that's for the midfield to keep an eye out for, we need attacking full backs to score goals, and when his fellow full back goes walkabout, though he actually did score, he gets picked man of the match and 8's all round. Being a legend gives you some credit I suppose but I'm very happy to see Lewis stay in the side for the time being.
Richards - 7; Not a lot you can say about Mr. Richards, other than thanking the FA for throwing out 'referree' Kettles ridiculous decision, what you see is what you most certainly get. A couple of useful and annoying Donny forwards were dealt with, along with Clarke, by the simple but efficient trademark play of what could turn out to be one of T&B's more astute signings. I never thought I'd have something to thank the Farmers for.
P. Clarke - 7; As I commented on last week Clarke seems to have become tougher in the tackle and grown a couple of inches with his heading ability since the boy from
Barrett - 7; Now no criticism of Adam was intended in my section on Lewis just that there seemed to be some hypocrisy with the two players who, in my opinion, had similar games. A.B. does leave huge areas of the pitch unattended when he goes on his, sometimes, more central runs but again the midfield should be savvy enough to cover. As ever a performance full of effort, heart and skill deserving his bit of luck with the goal which was helped by a deflection off a Donny defender. Adds height at full back for corners and free kicks that Cheese or Hammell, now that's going to be interesting, that we so missed last season, and earlier this, when it was Clarke and Barrett in the centre with little Darryl behind them. A huge character that Tilly would find difficult to ever drop from the side.
Black - 6; Well we all pushed Tilly to play him and he did look good in pre-season and when coming on a sub. He was getting a little lost last week at Oldham before Mr. Kettle's intervention saw him sacrificed and against Rovers he carried on in the same vain. Suddenly he seems to be tackled at the first attempt of a run down the wing putting pressure on the full backs or cuts inside too early cluttering up an already packed midfield. A great cross that led to the equaliser but could have sealed the match on 66 minutes when one on one with Rover's veteran keeper Neil Sullivan he hit the ball right at him. A sort of Gower lite. We might well see the real thing back sooner that we thought once his back injury responds to treatment. Needs to rediscover that early season spark or maybe just a good weapon to bring off the bench?
Maher - 7; Deserves a seven for that peach of a pass that led to Barrett's goal. Certainly never hid, trying all the Maher tricks that we have come to love over the years. His fine shot on the half hour pulling a good save from Sullivan. However, do others see a few more passes now going astray, being over hit giving the intended choice of player no chance. The needless arguments with the ref, a stupid yellow here, showing more frustration than normal. After more seasons than he would care to remember are we seeing the beginning of the end of Captain Kev's loyal and full hearted era in a Blue shirt?
Bailey - 6; The gem that is Bailey could not go on as he has been and he took a back seat in this one, hopefully saving his energies for next week's trip to the Potteries. Still showed patches of his undoubted skill, finding colleagues at ease, always in the fight. At his young age will always have some quieter games but will be undoubtedly be back to cause more damage to some other unsuspecting opponent.
McCORMACK - 8; A hard match to pick an outstanding candidate from a fine team performance but Alan just wins it by a short head. We all know what he brings to the squad but his goal was a thing of beauty. A lovely head on by the Prince, meant this time, which Mac headed in with the accuracy of an Exocet past the well beaten Sullivan. Bliss. Turned the game back the Blues way only 4 mts. into the second half. After that continued to do what he does best, annoying the crap out of opposition midfielders, defenders, hell, even the forwards. Ridiculous decision against him that gave Doncaster the free kick that got them unfairly back in the game, outstanding tackle.
L. Clarke - 7; Three out of three for Big Leon as well as the team. A quieter game but still makes sure the defenders marking him know they are in a game as well as those sublime touches that defy the size of the man. Could win a few more in the air and seemed to be affected more than most with the over watering of the pitch before the game. No argument he was bought down in the box, should it have been a red card for the Donny defender, the last man?, poor Harry didn't stand a chance with taking it! Leon the Man was the only guy and didn't he just, smacking it right down the middle, amazing how many times they go in. (See it here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM65AsDcIV8 ) News filtering out that the loan can be made permanent as soon as the window opens in January is excellent news to everyone with the success of Southend at heart.
Harrold - 7; Oh I've got to give him a seven, though it was a more of a six performance. Never stopped running ect. ect., gave his all ect. ect., who would be a hypocrite now if I was over critical of the man who would be King? In the Cricketers before hand, where all most of the countries problems are dealt with before 14.30, let alone Southend's, I was reminded that my dream forward line of Clarke and MacDonald might never win the ball in the air and that Clarke is probably more appreciative of Harry's battering ram tactics that may seem obvious to those in the comfort of the West Stand. Point taken and a fair one, though I could argue that he's not mega consistent in the ball in air winning stakes, but I will bow to the management talents of T&B once again, they obviously see something I'm missing. Not a bad old header on for Mc's equaliser though and didn't he want that penalty? Hope he scores soon to help shut a few of us up for a while.
Subs; MacDonald - 6; Ran about to kill off time to good effect after coming on for Harry, not long enough to see if it would work with Leon long term. (83rd mte.)
Foran - 6; Same as above really replacing McCormack, probably to save him getting a card! (85th mte.)
Referee: Clive Penton - 5; Now I don't want to club supporters to start a blame culture, it would cheer up the lower end of opposition support too much, but we really have had a bum hand so far. Lets hope the cliché of it all evens out in the end starts to take effect. A great tackle by McCiormack given as a free kick that was scored from turned the game in the way it could have done last week with the daft sending off. However justice was done over the 90 minutes and congrats to the team for not letting it get to them for the second week running. Proof that these set of lads are now made of sterner stuff.