After the first game played at Roots Hall since November 16th, and a fourth home defeat after two back-to-back 2-0 away wins, one against to-day's opponents, you can forgive the Shrimpers faithful for wanting another period away from south-east Essex, sadly the next game is at home again five days, to leaders Chesterfield!
There was the before-the-game news that Anthony Grant was declared fit, new signing Miguel Cummings had received international clearance, and Peter Gilbert back from his ban, but all are on the subs bench along with keeper Glen Morris, who might well be back for the next game, as Luggy stuck with the team that did so well at the Kassam Stadium.
However, we did warn that playing veteran Graham Coughlan and youngster Kane Ferdinand twice in three days, especially when we had those players mentioned above ready and waiting to do their stuff, might be pushing it a bit against 8th placed opponents, and our luck run out, just.
Brian Smirkle had already sent a shot over the bar for the Robins when two goals in the first five minutes as good as settled the match.
A free-kick after only four of them was given away by Coughlan thirty yards out and saw Marlon Peck shoot high into the middle of the goal where Blues No.1 Rhys Evans did his case to keep Morris out of the team no good at all by allowing it top pass over his head instead of pushing it to safety.
A minute later and Smirkle passes to Wesley Thomas lurking on the edge of the area who shoots past Evans when it looked easier to save into the right hand corner of the United goal.
Oh bugger, we flirt with those play-offs and the good Lord sends us back down again, but Luggy must have been making changes in his head as he watched this disaster unfold in front of his eyes.
Still, not all over yet, and sure enough the Blues boss takes off young Kane for Grant before the first quarter is up.
Some pressure from the home side, Blair Sturrock has a go, captain Craig Easton with a header just wide, but by the end the half chances have been few and far between and the Shrimpers have work to do to get back into this.
A decent effort by Grant starts the second period but the Robins continue to hold firm and even go close themselves, Evans this time keeping out a sliding effort by Robins skipper Michael Pook.
By now a seagull on the pitch was getting louder cheers than the players!
Just before the hour the former Cardiff midfielder Miguel Comminges takes over from the ever frustrating winger Louie Soares to make his Southend debut.
Son of Luggy also comes off for Matt Paterson, suddenly back in the fold again after replacing Barry Corr on Saturday, and five minutes later he's in the thick of the action forcing a save by Robins keeper Scott P Brown.
Shots are exchanged from either side then, Smirkle goes close again, with a header this time, when, at last, that man Corr gives the Roots Hall faithful some hope with 13 minutes left.
The former Exeter man had already seen a decent strike saved when Ryan Hall conjured up a low cross from the left to find Barry Corr lurking in the six-yard box and the Blues top scorer moved into double figures for the season with a smart finish that found the bottom right hand corner.
Sadly, as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time, there was not to be an equaliser, in fact Smirkle saw an effort ruled out for off-side, and Cheltenham gained sweet revenge for that Whaddon Road defeat practically three weeks to the day before this latest loss on the hallowed turf.
The confident Spirerites will test out our dodgy home form on Saturday and Luggy must start with his strongest line-up this time around.
Southend player markings: Evans 4, Clohessy 5, Barker 7, Coughlan 7, Herd 7, Easton 6, Ferdinand 4 (Grant 18 - 8), Hall 6, Soares 4 (Comminges 60 - 7), Sturrock 5 (Paterson 60 - 7), Corr 7.
Referee: Mr. P. Gibbs - 6.
Shrimpers 1-2 Robins: View commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
There was the before-the-game news that Anthony Grant was declared fit, new signing Miguel Cummings had received international clearance, and Peter Gilbert back from his ban, but all are on the subs bench along with keeper Glen Morris, who might well be back for the next game, as Luggy stuck with the team that did so well at the Kassam Stadium.
However, we did warn that playing veteran Graham Coughlan and youngster Kane Ferdinand twice in three days, especially when we had those players mentioned above ready and waiting to do their stuff, might be pushing it a bit against 8th placed opponents, and our luck run out, just.
Brian Smirkle had already sent a shot over the bar for the Robins when two goals in the first five minutes as good as settled the match.
A free-kick after only four of them was given away by Coughlan thirty yards out and saw Marlon Peck shoot high into the middle of the goal where Blues No.1 Rhys Evans did his case to keep Morris out of the team no good at all by allowing it top pass over his head instead of pushing it to safety.
A minute later and Smirkle passes to Wesley Thomas lurking on the edge of the area who shoots past Evans when it looked easier to save into the right hand corner of the United goal.
Oh bugger, we flirt with those play-offs and the good Lord sends us back down again, but Luggy must have been making changes in his head as he watched this disaster unfold in front of his eyes.
Still, not all over yet, and sure enough the Blues boss takes off young Kane for Grant before the first quarter is up.
Some pressure from the home side, Blair Sturrock has a go, captain Craig Easton with a header just wide, but by the end the half chances have been few and far between and the Shrimpers have work to do to get back into this.
A decent effort by Grant starts the second period but the Robins continue to hold firm and even go close themselves, Evans this time keeping out a sliding effort by Robins skipper Michael Pook.
By now a seagull on the pitch was getting louder cheers than the players!
Just before the hour the former Cardiff midfielder Miguel Comminges takes over from the ever frustrating winger Louie Soares to make his Southend debut.
Son of Luggy also comes off for Matt Paterson, suddenly back in the fold again after replacing Barry Corr on Saturday, and five minutes later he's in the thick of the action forcing a save by Robins keeper Scott P Brown.
Shots are exchanged from either side then, Smirkle goes close again, with a header this time, when, at last, that man Corr gives the Roots Hall faithful some hope with 13 minutes left.
The former Exeter man had already seen a decent strike saved when Ryan Hall conjured up a low cross from the left to find Barry Corr lurking in the six-yard box and the Blues top scorer moved into double figures for the season with a smart finish that found the bottom right hand corner.
Sadly, as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time, there was not to be an equaliser, in fact Smirkle saw an effort ruled out for off-side, and Cheltenham gained sweet revenge for that Whaddon Road defeat practically three weeks to the day before this latest loss on the hallowed turf.
The confident Spirerites will test out our dodgy home form on Saturday and Luggy must start with his strongest line-up this time around.
Southend player markings: Evans 4, Clohessy 5, Barker 7, Coughlan 7, Herd 7, Easton 6, Ferdinand 4 (Grant 18 - 8), Hall 6, Soares 4 (Comminges 60 - 7), Sturrock 5 (Paterson 60 - 7), Corr 7.
Referee: Mr. P. Gibbs - 6.
Shrimpers 1-2 Robins: View commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.