Beating the Farmers is one thing, the team from Roots Hall another. There really is just one team in Essex!
When I was asked by Total Tranmere to name a Southend player I'd order a taxi for I initially said this wasn't the time to have a go at anyone in the Blues squad.
However, I changed my mind. Name the player who has annoyed me, and a few other Shrimpers, all season. The player who has just not shown the potential many believe he has but we don't see it very often.
Taxi for Mr. Kevin Betsy then. You can guess the rest!
Betsy came off the bench on 84 minutes and slotted the ball home from close range following Dougie Freedman's centre from the left byline!
The Shrimpers had the perfect start on three minutes when Simon Francis' cross from the right was cleared into the path of Theo Robinson.
The on-loan Watford striker saw his initial shot parried by veteran goalkeeper John Achterberg, making his first start since August after Danny Coyne was injured at Colchester, but he composed himself to net at the second attempt from 12 yards.
Francis then fired a 30-yard free-kick straight at Achterberg, while the visitors' first attempt on target came midway through the half when Chris Shuker fired in a right-foot effort from 30 yards which was saved by a diving Mildenhall.
In midfield Moussa, his best game for the club in my opinion, along with McCormack and Christophe, dominated that area. Hard to believe who was fighting for a play-off position that a Tranmere win may have seen them go into.
Both sides struggled to create any real chances after that until three minutes before the break when a Francis corner from the right fell to defender Peter Clarke but Achterberg blocked his shot with his legs. Good keeping but he really shouldn't have been given the chance.
The 38-year-old shot stopper then turned a rising Robinson effort out for a corner as the half ended with Southend believing they had done enough to warrant more than a one goal lead.
Tranmere certainly came out with a more aggressive attitude and had the first say of the second-half when Charlie Barnett fired straight at Mildenhall from just inside the box.
Southend replied with a flowing move involving Freedman and Robinson, the latter set-up Alan McCormack for an effort which Achterberg blocked with his legs.
After the Yeovil keeper a couple of weeks ago it was frustrating to see another away keeper having a blinder, especially a reserve!
Tranmere then got their equaliser in controversial circumstances. Ian Moore levelled for the play-off pushing visitors from the penalty spot after Freedman was adjudged to have handled a Chris Shuker cross into the box.
How the referee, behind both players, no flag from the linesman, the ball hit hard at Freedman's body from point blank range, could have given the decision was in the view of the home crowd at least, ludicrous.
The away support, poor really considering their position, Birkenhead must be a town of romantics, were not arguing and celebrated as wildly as their number would allow.
Moore fired his spot-kick low into the right-hand corner of the goal beyond Steve Mildenhall's dive on 62 minutes.
Rovers had started to look the brighter of the two sides in the second period before the goal, and some Shrimpers started to fear the worst. On saying this they failed to test Mildenhall, with only Shuker blasting a shot straight at the stopper.
The home side hung on though, continuing to put up with strong tackling from Tranmere that was on the line at times but accepted by the referee. Worse was the continued diving and foul play from the awful Savage who really should have seen a red card long before the end.
At the other end of the pitch, as Southend's passing game returned to it's first half accuracy, the now completly fit and lively Freedman had an effort from close range ruled out for offside before Betsy, who had come on for a tirering Robinson, grabbed the late and deserved winner from his brilliant cross.
A vital three points of what could be the first of twelve as the Blues play three games at Roots Hall in ten days along with a trip to the Farmers. The table next Wednesday could make for interesting reading.
Now, who wants a taxi after the Crewe game?
When I was asked by Total Tranmere to name a Southend player I'd order a taxi for I initially said this wasn't the time to have a go at anyone in the Blues squad.
However, I changed my mind. Name the player who has annoyed me, and a few other Shrimpers, all season. The player who has just not shown the potential many believe he has but we don't see it very often.
Taxi for Mr. Kevin Betsy then. You can guess the rest!
Betsy came off the bench on 84 minutes and slotted the ball home from close range following Dougie Freedman's centre from the left byline!
The Shrimpers had the perfect start on three minutes when Simon Francis' cross from the right was cleared into the path of Theo Robinson.
The on-loan Watford striker saw his initial shot parried by veteran goalkeeper John Achterberg, making his first start since August after Danny Coyne was injured at Colchester, but he composed himself to net at the second attempt from 12 yards.
Francis then fired a 30-yard free-kick straight at Achterberg, while the visitors' first attempt on target came midway through the half when Chris Shuker fired in a right-foot effort from 30 yards which was saved by a diving Mildenhall.
In midfield Moussa, his best game for the club in my opinion, along with McCormack and Christophe, dominated that area. Hard to believe who was fighting for a play-off position that a Tranmere win may have seen them go into.
Both sides struggled to create any real chances after that until three minutes before the break when a Francis corner from the right fell to defender Peter Clarke but Achterberg blocked his shot with his legs. Good keeping but he really shouldn't have been given the chance.
The 38-year-old shot stopper then turned a rising Robinson effort out for a corner as the half ended with Southend believing they had done enough to warrant more than a one goal lead.
Tranmere certainly came out with a more aggressive attitude and had the first say of the second-half when Charlie Barnett fired straight at Mildenhall from just inside the box.
Southend replied with a flowing move involving Freedman and Robinson, the latter set-up Alan McCormack for an effort which Achterberg blocked with his legs.
After the Yeovil keeper a couple of weeks ago it was frustrating to see another away keeper having a blinder, especially a reserve!
Tranmere then got their equaliser in controversial circumstances. Ian Moore levelled for the play-off pushing visitors from the penalty spot after Freedman was adjudged to have handled a Chris Shuker cross into the box.
How the referee, behind both players, no flag from the linesman, the ball hit hard at Freedman's body from point blank range, could have given the decision was in the view of the home crowd at least, ludicrous.
The away support, poor really considering their position, Birkenhead must be a town of romantics, were not arguing and celebrated as wildly as their number would allow.
Moore fired his spot-kick low into the right-hand corner of the goal beyond Steve Mildenhall's dive on 62 minutes.
Rovers had started to look the brighter of the two sides in the second period before the goal, and some Shrimpers started to fear the worst. On saying this they failed to test Mildenhall, with only Shuker blasting a shot straight at the stopper.
The home side hung on though, continuing to put up with strong tackling from Tranmere that was on the line at times but accepted by the referee. Worse was the continued diving and foul play from the awful Savage who really should have seen a red card long before the end.
At the other end of the pitch, as Southend's passing game returned to it's first half accuracy, the now completly fit and lively Freedman had an effort from close range ruled out for offside before Betsy, who had come on for a tirering Robinson, grabbed the late and deserved winner from his brilliant cross.
A vital three points of what could be the first of twelve as the Blues play three games at Roots Hall in ten days along with a trip to the Farmers. The table next Wednesday could make for interesting reading.
Now, who wants a taxi after the Crewe game?