Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 3-0 Wealdstone

[ChalkwellShrimper]

We make it into a play-off spot with a great performance against Wealdstone. We could and should of won by more than 3 goals but no matter a win is a win and we now have to face Gateshead next week to take us into the actual play-offs.

Coker my MOTM and a great crowd of 9,677 with 364 from Wealdstone today. Our biggest of the season.

Who's going to Gateshead?

Me. 301 miles x2...flipping hell I thought Morecambe there and back same day was tough 283 x2.
See you there.

 

[Southend Elvis]

Best performance of the season, just at the right time....

 

[Streaky]

Goodliffe and KAF were excellent today. Thought Coker made space for Husin and Bridge very well - our most tactically aware CM at the moment.

45 games in to the season is excellent time to crash the play offs places.

Wealdstone were dog

 

[cerbera45]

a perfect afternoon, enough said

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United moved into the play-off places for the first time this season with a 3-0 win against Wealdstone.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[overseas shrimper]

A few threads back some were wondering what Nathan Ralph added to the team, well, today showed just what a good defender he is. He had Reid in his pocket the whole game, and was my MoM.

Any ideas why he went off with the physio? Hoping it was just precautionary.

 

[tommy tucker]

We must go at gateshead from the start .Please dont sit back for the draw .Do that and it will come back to bite you in the arse The only way to get a result is attck as much as possable COYB Do it for the doubters .

 

[Supershrimper]

Words fail me. I can only use vowels

E I E I E I O

That is all

 

[hlane17]

Got to have a few more coaches on for Gateshead? Get as many Shrimpers up there as possible

 

[RHB]

Any ideas why he went off with the physio? Hoping it was just precautionary.

I think he got a knock, and I agree, it did look precautionary. We're really going to need him at the Heed.

 

[South Bank Hank]

This was the best atmosphere at Roots Hall in years - we have fantastic support.

Electric! Ahead of the second goal, you could feel we were on the brink of something special.

Could it just be that things are coming together at the right time? If you’re going to pull together a bit of form and a run, now’s the time to do it. Not saying we can expect it to continue for the all important next set of games. But at least there’s a feeling about it now.

Kendall, for me, is going to be key to it. His harrying from the front led the press and Wealdstone couldn’t escape all game. Some beautiful touches and a cracking goal.

But he also adds to the partnership that makes Hopper more relevant.

Whether it’s Hopper/Kendall or Bonne/Walker, returns to fitness mean we’ve finally got some options. And then some confidence coming into it.

If you were any of those teams in the playoffs, would you want to be playing us right now?

No.


On that partnership piece, KAF benefits for Husin and vice versa. Husin gives him the freedom to play. And what a player he is turning into.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Anybody who still thinks we should get rid of Husin needs their head examined. He was a class above anyone else on the pitch today

 

[Lincoln Shrimp]

I thought that was an A1 performance from all the boys today. Great to see Bridge back to his best and looking completely refreshed. His crossing was a lot better today too.

The key to today's dominance was the number of passing options the players gave each other. It was first class and meant that Wealdstone couldn't ever get a foothold into the game.

For those doubting Husin's role in this side, you saw today why he will be one of the first names on the team sheet. He always made himself available to receive a pass and chased and harried the opposition all game. Coker looks like he's rediscovering his best form at just the right time. I thought he was excellent. Our central midfield three looks so strong. They're all full of running and suffocated Wealdstone for 90 minutes.

I'm really enjoying watching Ben Goodliffe continue to excel. He looks so much quicker, stronger and more confident than in those early performances. I'd certainly like to keep him beyond the end of the season. Ralph and Taylor alongside him make up a formidable three when they're all on form.

I enjoyed Kendall's performance immensely today. Full of running, good hold up play and his ability to pull defenders into positions they're not comfortable in gives room for others to exploit. He fully deserved his goal today.

With good options off the bench, we're able to keep up the high intensity performance throughout the 90 minutes.

Onto Gateshead next Monday and it really is hard to believe we head up there sitting in the final play off place only needing a point to secure seventh spot. It's been a roller coaster of a season so I don't expect a routine victory. It will be a tough, tough afternoon. We need to pack out that away end to help get the boys over the line. Everyone needs to play their part.

 

[overseas shrimper]

Anybody who still thinks we should get rid of Husin needs their head examined. He was a class above anyone else on the pitch today

And if we keep him longer, you could have enough time to learn his name.

 

[Ipswhrimp]

Got to have a few more coaches on for Gateshead? Get as many Shrimpers up there as possible

The Three Amigos not enough for you?

 

[Leeboy]

just got back ( via the kebab shop) - so many positives from today:
Ralph and Taylor - quality
Kendall - what a finish
KAF - small guy = big energy
Bonne - ****housery (just what we’ll need v the Heed)
But my MotM goes to Goodliffe - from being a bit of a donkey a few weeks back to immense today - a goal, very nearly a second, won everything in the air and put it in Row Z when he had to
EIEIEIO…..

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Appiah-Forson makes such a massive, massive difference to this team.

He really does. Breaks up play, wins tackies and headers he has no right to win. So glad he's fought his way into the team.
I can see why Daggers fans rated him so highly

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Prediction for 2025/26, Kendall will be 20+ goals

He really put himself about today. Hassled, closed down, masses of energy and his goal was real quality. From the South Upper right behind the left hand side of the goal, you could see the ball was going in the net well before it hit the net

 

[leeblue]

Complete dominance from Kick off.
Husin in that Anchor role is a wise move. He bossed that game today, kafs energy was a joy too. And as someone who had written Coker off this season I am delighted to say his return to form is very welcome.
Fantastic atmosphere in the ground today must be immense to play in front of that.

 

[shrimperjon]

A brilliant start and the old place bouncing. Goodliffe, what a threat he is at corners now and is great defensively, don’t think he missed a header today. Thought we went a bit flat after the goal and struggled to break them down. A few half chances but Wealdstone did look well organised and solid. Second half we ramped it up and could have won by 4 or 5 but their keeper made some excellent blocks plus other last ditched blocks. Going forward I don’t think they had a chance. Ralph, Taylor and Goodliffe were superb. Coker and Keenan were excellent in midfield but didn’t think Bridge or Husin had great games. Both were ok but nothing special. I will give them credit for workrate and Noor in particular did a lot of the nasty stuff today. Bridge to his credit did look to cross the ball earlier which was good to see. Upfront I thought Kendall was excellent, probably his best game for us and hitting form at just the right time. After last weeks excellent finish he topped it today with another top draw finish. Hopper deserves credit and worked so hard and took a fair few whacks. Walker and Bonne both did well when they came on and Bonne deserved the goal for chasing the ball down and forcing the keeper into a mistake. Really wanted Leon on sooner as felt he would have enjoyed himself out there today.

Fans brilliant, TBF Wealdstone also did their bit and made some good noise. Big ask for them to beat Halifax based on that performance tonight. So onto Gateshead we go and come on shrimpers let’s travel in numbers and support the boys