Backing by a fantastic away support numbering almost 4,000, the Shrimpers actually dominated most of the match and undoubtedly created the best of the goalscoring chances and were unluckily hit with two breakaway goals by Marlon Harewood, the second of which arrived in injury time.
The only changes to the side which drew a blank with Cambridge United three days earlier at Roots Hall saw striker Lawrie Dudfield come in to replace Wayne Gray and defender Adam Barrett, coming in for his full debut, to replace Spencer Prior. Tesfaye Bramble, back from a three-match ban, had t make do with a place on the substitutes bench.
It was the home side who made the early running, whilst Southend tried to adapt to the tempo of the game, West Ham are, after all, last season’s beaten Championship play-off finalists.
Nigel Reo-Coker, a talented ex-Milton Keynes Dons midfielder, nodded a Sergei Rebrov corner of target with two minutes on the clock, before the Hammers took the lead on eleven minutes, Harewood latching onto a decisive Reo-Coker through ball before placing an accurate angled finish past the diving Bart Griemink. (1-0)
From the moment however, it was mainly the visitors from south Essex who made all the running. Some fine build up play saw Drewe Broughton head a Mark Gower centre just off target on eighteen minutes.
Griemink was then called into action however when he did well to push Harewood’s effort around the post before he was able to watch a Harewood free kick fly over the crossbar and into the massed ranks of Southend supporters behind the goal.
The Shrimpers, who had began to easily deal of the speed of the home sides play, continued having the better of the attacks, although maybe lacked a bit of confidence in the final third and didn’t really test former Walsall goalkeeper James Walker as much as they could have done.
Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of Steve Tilson’s side, the interval arrived with the Shrimpers still a goal behind.
Half-time: West Ham United 1 Southend United 0
The early second half exchanges saw Blues skipper Kevin Maher twice see curling efforts zip just off target before Dudfield flicked a Duncan Jupp cross just wide of Walker’s upright.
Then, on 77 minutes many of the visiting supporters thought their side had earned what would have been a very well-deserved equaliser. However Dudfield’s angled drive, followimg a Mark Bentley through ball, did not bulge the roof of the net, but in fact only the side netting following a fine save by Walker.
A rare chance of the home side then saw Griemink, who was actually wearing a bright orange West Ham jersey, despite it still adorning his own name and number, make a fine diving save to deny Adam Nowland’s drive.
West Ham boss Alan Pardew through on former England star Teddy Sheringham to try and sure his side up a little but as they continung to look susceptible to the Southend attacks, although a leveller could also have been forthcoming on 85 minutes when Bramble, impressing as a substitute crossed for Carl Pettefer to head into the arms of Walker.
Then, with time slipping away, another Southend surge forward saw possession lost, and with Jupp the only defender back, Harewood raced clear before slipping a calm low finish past Griemink. (2-0)
As the brave Shrimpers side applauded the impressive away support, chants of ‘Southend and we’re proud of it’ rung round the Boleyn Ground, and perfoemances like this showed us just why we are. However Tilson must ensure that his side takes this performance into Friday night, when it really matters, with a trip to Bristol Rovers in League Two on the cards.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com