So it was the south part of Essex that entered the weekend top of the table with a performance that was just enough to get the three points but not much else. Complacency seems to be the word of the day at Roots Hall and that just about sums it up.
A more confident Rotherham forward line in the box should have got at least one goal, a missed chance in the second half was unbelievable, and any Brentford spies among the 7,879 crowd would have gone away fairly confident they can turn last months result around. However, it’s always a sign of a good side who can do what they have to do to win and I’m sure we will see a much more competitive Southend performance on Tuesday night. (From the back four especially.) Quite simply, it has to be!
With Adam Barrett missing his first game of the season through suspension Che Wilson slotted into his left back position in an otherwise full strength team with the fit again Goater once again keeping new signing Lee Bradbury on the bench.
Southend had their usual sharp start, passing the ball around confidently, and took the lead in the 12th minute with a strange goal that seemed almost to be in slow motion. Gower seemed to take an age to shoot from inside the penalty, the Rotherham defenders showing why they are in the position they are by giving him all the time in the world, the ball came off the post where the Goat, having been fed, slotted in the rebound. (I must give some praise to the very influential Goater who, bar the odd misplaced pass, looked on top of his game and does not deserve the negative crap he gets from sections of the crowd. He’s been injured guys! The man’s pure class and continues to take a lot of pressure away from his team mates with his intelligent runs and layoffs.)
Rotherham started to get into the game and they certainly possessed some lively players, Forte especially upfront, but you always felt Southend were playing within themselves and could step up a gear if they wanted too. Bentley certainly had a couple of decent chances to score before Freddie doubled the lead in the 37th minute. A series of swapped passes with Goater, the last seeming to be too near the Rotherham keeper Montgomery, found Freddie at a tight angle but he still had the skill and power to find the back of the net.
A very important goal for the latter part of the season, you could see the confidence return with a clenched fisted salute to the West Stand and for the rest of the game we saw the Freddie we know and love, jinking passed defenders, shooting from all angle’s and, generally, making a nuisance of himself. Welcome back Fred!
The second half played itself out with little to take notice of with Rotherham doing there best not to score. A mention to little Darryl here who did what he had to do with his usual efficiency, it really needs to be a special strike to beat him at the moment. Is there a better goalkeeper in League One on present form?
Bradbury came on for Goater in the 74th minute and looked strong and lively, having the Blue’s final chance with a diving header from Eastwoods whipped in cross.
With the final results in from Saturday there is now a 12 point gap between the Blues and 7th place Chesterfield this correspondent is confident enough to say it will take an incredible loss of form to miss the play offs however it’s still going to be a tough run in to get automatic promotion. (I have mixed feelings about Colchester’s result, good to see them lose of course but it gives Huddersfield a boost and Swansea have returned to winning ways, and there is always Brentford and the fast emerging Barnsley. Phew! Don’t book any holidays until after the LATE May holiday!)
It all adds up to an exciting time at Roots Hall in this extraordinary season for the club. Next chapter The Valentines Day showdown, I can’t wait, go on, be a true romantic, take the missus for a hot dog and onions. She’ll love ya for it!
Man of the Match: Mark Gower. An exciting performance from the former Barnet man whose confidence and form returns with every match. Worked his socks off as Tilly would say added to some very skilful touches along with his shooting boots. One of the reasons I’m confident the play offs are within our grasp and the automatics a very strong possibility.
By Chris Daniels