Harry Bullocks
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Another excellent pre-match review Big DadyManagers Pre-match Views
Gateshead
Gateshead Manager Mike Williamson who is favourite to take over as York City’s new manager did not do a interview before their game against Southend United
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Southend United
Kevin Maher speaks to Blues TV ahead of this afternoon’s game against Gateshead
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Kevin Maher speaks to Southend United OS looking ahead of this afternoon’s game against Gateshead
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Southend United’s head coach Kevin Maher
Blues Head Coach Kevin Maher couldn’t speak highly enough of centre-back Shaun Hobson after he won the Vanarama National League Player of the Month award for October.
Hobson was a key part of the defence that conceded only two goals in six league games across the month, and his performances were recognised with that award.
On the 24-year-old, Maher said: “Since I’ve come to the club, Shaun’s been one of the first names on the teamsheet. I think he’s only missed one game through illness, he doesn’t miss a minute and he trains properly.
“He’s someone who the club should be looking to build around. We’ve got a lot of players like that here and he’s an integral part of that.
“It’s testament to his character how far he’s come. He was in the team that was losing quite a lot when he was still a young player, but he’s in an environment now that allows him to flourish. He’s a model professional and someone who deserves that accolade.”
Blues are currently unbeaten in 11 league games and have risen all the way up to fifth in the table. Maher was full of praise for the whole squad.
“The players have been brilliant throughout and they apply themselves every day. They get on with it and make the best of every situation. They’re enjoying their football, they enjoy coming into work every day and that’s the main thing.
“We’re not thinking of extending any run or protecting anything. It’s about the next game and our focus is fully on that.
“It’s about doing the things that we know we’re good at and sticking to our principles. Every game is different at this level – you’ve got to turn up on a Saturday at 3 o’clock and hit the standards that you want to hit.”
That next game is away to Gateshead on Saturday, last season’s National League North champions who are currently bottom of the fifth tier.
On the fixture, Maher added: “We managed to keep a clean sheet against a dangerous side last week and we want to do the same this week. They play good football and they can hurt you.
“We’ve got to focus on ourselves and we’ve got a bit of competition for places that’ll help as well.”
Blues eased past Brentwood Town 3-0 in the third round of the BBC Essex Senior Cup in midweek, with the side a mixture of youth players and first-team players coming back from injury.
Maher was pleased to see the likes of Harry Cardwell, Dan Mooney and Nathan Ralph get some time on the pitch.
“It had been Saturday, Tuesday for a while so now we want to manage the balance between rest and training, getting some good detail into the players.
“Some of them got minutes during the week which was important for them to get that under their belt. Everyone who played a part did well and came out of it with a lot of credit.
“They’ll be pushing for a starting place and the ones who have had the shirt will have to work to keep it. If we think a change is needed then we’ll make it.”
It’s set to be another impressive Shrimpers following for the journey in excess of five hours to the north east, and the Head Coach spoke of his appreciation of the supporters.
“The amount we’re taking to Gateshead is unbelievable considering the cost of living and being in the run-up to Christmas.
“To take the numbers we do is incredible and it’s something I’m not surprised about because I know how good our fans are.
“The gesture we’ve had from Shrimpers Trust, PG Site Services and the whole Supporter's Group with the fundraising as well certainly doesn’t go amiss from our side of things.
“I know how much it’s appreciated at the club and by all the staff. [CEO] Tom Lawrence has tough decisions to make but he has to take a lot of credit for the job he does.”
Tickets for the game at the Gateshead International Stadium are available here.
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Kevin Maher speaks to Chris Phillips at The Echo about team selection ahead of this afternoon’s game against Gateshead
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Expecting a tough test – Southend United boss Kevin Maher
Southend United boss Kevin Maher will be paying little attention to the league table when Blues take on Gateshead this weekend
The Shrimpers sit fifth in the standings ahead of Saturday’s clash with rock bottom Gateshead.
But Maher feels that will count for nothing this weekend and is expecting another tough test.
“They’re a team who play good football,” said Maher.
“We’ve watched a couple of their games and they can hurt you.
“We’ve got to focus on ourselves and do what we do right.
“But we’re not thinking of extending any run or protecting anything.
“It’s about the next game and focusing fully on that.
“We know it will be a tough place to go but it’s about doing the things we know we’re good at and sticking to them.
“You have to turn up at 3pm on a Saturday and you have to hit the standards we want to reach.
“If we can do that then hopefully we’ll be competitive.”
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Big Preview
Gateshead v Southend United
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Overview
Blues visit the northern-most club in the Vanarama National League on Saturday aiming to extend their unbeaten run in the division to 12 games.
With the first half of the season approaching its conclusion, Gateshead are the final newly-promoted side for Blues to come up against, as Southend play at the Gateshead International Stadium for the first time.
Kevin Maher’s men picked up a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Dorking last weekend, a result that never really looked in doubt and saw the rise up the league continue to fifth.
It was another clean sheet after the run of consecutive shut-outs was ended against Notts County, but despite that, the backline have let in a measly four goals in the last 11 league games.
A fringe Blues side were in action on Tuesday in the BBC Essex Senior Cup, and ran out 3-0 winners against Brentwood Town, with Harry Cardwell, Dan Mooney and Nathan Ralph also continuing their respective returns from injury.
The opposition
Gateshead scored 99 goals last season as they charged to the National League North title with 94 points.
Now-Notts County duo Macaulay Langstaff and Cedwyn Scott netted more than half of those goals, scoring 28 and 24 respectively.
The Heed would’ve hoped to adapt to life back in fifth tier slightly quicker, sitting bottom of the table with just two wins from their first 18.
Both of those wins came in the first 10, against Maidstone and Maidenhead, and since then, they’ve lost to the likes of Altrincham, Scunthorpe and Yeovil.
Mike Williamson’s side began the season with three consecutive draws, most notably against Notts County, and have also taken points off Bromley and Solihull.
They had 11 consecutive seasons at this level between 2008 and 2019, finishing as high as third in 2013/14, and were eventually relegated because of financial irregularities despite finishing 17th.
The Tyneside outfit are back now, and have former Notts County man Adam Campbell, lower league journeyman Adi Yussuf and winner of Sky talent show Football Icon, Carl Magnay in their ranks.
Previous meetings
The two clubs have never met in any competition despite Southend and the old Gateshead AFC being in the same tier for much of the 1950s.
Southend were in Division Three South while Gateshead were in Division Three North, and the latter dropped out of the Football League in 1960.
The current version of the north-east club was formed in 1977 and had never been in the same league as Blues until this season.
From the boss
“The players have been brilliant throughout and they apply themselves every day,” said Maher.
“They get on with it and make the best of every situation. They’re enjoying their football, they enjoy coming into work every day and that’s the main thing.
“We’re not thinking of extending any run or protecting anything. It’s about the next game and our focus is fully on that.
“It’s about doing the things that we know we’re good at and sticking to our principles. Every game is different at this level – you’ve got to turn up on a Saturday at 3 o’clock and hit the standards that you want to hit.
“We managed to keep a clean sheet against a dangerous side last week and we want to do the same this week. They play good football and they can hurt you.”
Blues team news
As mentioned, Harry Cardwell, Dan Mooney and Nathan Ralph continue to progress and are nearing a return to full fitness.
Noor Husin took a slight knock before the Dorking game but it isn’t serious and he is in contention, with his fitness levels to be fully determined on Friday.
Rhys Murphy continues to be out, while Aaron Cosgrave is fine to play despite an ankle knock against Brentwood.
Ref watch
Matthew Dicicco will take charge of his seventh National League game of the season.
He refereed Gateshead earlier in the campaign in their home defeat to Wealdstone, and his most recent outing came at The Hive as Barnet beat Maidenhead.
This is actually his 50th National League fixture in all, which includes one Blues game, the 1-0 defeat to Wrexham last season.
Dicicco’s assistants are Adam Nichol and Micheal Johnson, and the fourth official is Martin Conroy.
Tickets
Admission is by payment in advance on Gateshead’s website here or on the day, cash or card, via Turnstile 12 in the East Stand, which is all seated.
Ticket prices are as follows.
Elsewhere in the Vanarama National League
- Adults: £17
- Concessions (65+/blue light/armed forces): £11
- Young adult (17-21): £7
- Unaccompanied youth (15-16): £4
- Accompanied child (under-16): Free
- Carer: Free
It’s another full slate of National League fixtures on Saturday, with Solihull Moors’ visit to Chesterfield live on BT Sport.
Due to there being no Premier League or Championship games, that one kicks off at 3pm alongside the other 11 games.
Arguably the game with the most riding on it this weekend comes in Kent as Maidstone United and Oldham Athletic clash, two sides separated by the dotted line.
Barnet v Torquay United
Chesterfield v Solihull Moors
Dagenham & Redbridge v Scunthorpe United
Dorking Wanderers v Bromley
FC Halifax Town v Boreham Wood
Maidenhead United v Eastleigh
Maidstone United v Oldham Athletic
Notts County v Yeovil Town
Woking v Altrincham
Wrexham v Aldershot Town
York City v Wealdstone
How to follow
Blues fans unable to attend the Gateshead International Stadium can follow all the live action by subscribing to Blues TV where you’ll get live match commentary from the BBC Essex team from all first-team matches this season.
Blues TV costs £4.49 per month or a one-off cost of £45 for the season, with your subscription not only giving you match commentary, but also exclusive access to extended match highlights, full pre-match press conferences, interviews, features and more.
You can also follow live minute-by-minute updates on social media via the club’s official Twitter account by following @SUFCRootsHall on Twitter, which will ensure you get all the latest news and more throughout the 2022/23 season.
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BBC ESSEX Radio
BBC Essex Link
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