Official Match Thread Grimsby Town v Southend United

[The Big Dady]

The Official Match Thread brought to you by ShrimperZone.com

So here we all are, our eighth away game in the Vanarama National League of the 2021/22 season. This is the Dream Team’s 3rd away game since they were appointed at the Mighty Shrimpers.

Our 8th away match is against Grimsby Town.



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It is now time for ALL of us to get behind Kevin, Darren, Mark and the team whether you are at Blundell Park, listening on the radio, or listening on Blues TV, or watching the live game on BT Sport.

The Dream Team’s Southend United Vanarama National League Away Team against Grimsby Town.



Blundell Park is ready for action at 19.45 hrs Friday 19th November 2021. It looks like it will be partly cloudy with a gentle breeze for this evening’s game





The weather forecast for this evening at Blundell Park.

Current National League away record after 7 away games

Won 1
Drawn 1
Lost 5
Goals scored 2
Goals conceded 10

League Positions Last Season

23rd (2020/21) EFL League Two Southend United (Relegated)
24th (2020/21) EFL League Two Grimsby Town (Relegated)

League Positions Current Season

3rd (2021/22) Vanarama National League Grimsby Town
20th (2021/22) Vanarama National League Southend United

Recent League Positions Change

Previous Meeting

Grimsby Town 0-0 Southend United (L2 16/01/21 Att. Covid)
Southend United 3-1 Grimsby Town (L2 15/12/20 Att. Covid 2,000))
Grimsby Town 1-1 Southend United (L2 07/05/05 Att. 6,253)
Southend United 1-1 Grimsby Town (L2 26/11/04 Att. 5,192)
Southend United 0-1 Grimsby Town (D2 07.03/98 Att. 4,829)

Head to Head record

Southend United Wins: 18
Draws: 14
Grimsby Town Wins: 24

Current Form

Grimsby Town W W L L L
Southend United L L L W L

Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Managers Pre-match Views​

Grimsby Town

Grimsby boss Paul Hurst ready for clash with Southend United

Focusing on his own side - Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst​

Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst insists he will be paying little attention to Southend United’s struggles when the two teams meet at Blundell Park on Friday night.

Blues, who were relegated alongside the Mariners last season, currently sit just above the National League drop zone.

But Hurst is firmly focused on his own side’s situation as they end a run of four successive defeats.

"I'm not getting caught up in what Southend's record is and whether they have been good or bad away from home," Hurst told Grimsby Live.

"We're just hoping to win the game of football. “

Despite their recent bad run, Town still sit third in the table after adjusting to the league far better than Blues.

And Hurst feels a summer clear out was key.

"We made a lot of changes in terms of playing personnel and that clears a lot of the baggage,” said Hurst.

"Although I was here in January, the relegation hurt, of course, it did, but it didn't carry the same weight as if I'd been there at the start of the season.

“A lot of managers would have lost their job if that was the end result.

"I don't think I quite had the weight of that and the new ownership gave the fans fresh hope if you like. There are a few contributing factors that have allowed us to (turn a corner).

"Positive results always help.

“If we'd lost the first four, I'm sure the feeling would have been very different and that clearly helps.”

But Hurst knows Blues boss Kevin Maher will be desperate to turn things around.

"For Southend, they've had a change of manager,” said Hurst.

“I know the manager that has gone in now a little bit and he will be desperate to do well at his football club.

"There has been more unrest off the pitch there.

“When you talk about it, people are entitled to opinions but when it's on game day and things are still occurring, that's not going to be a positive environment.

"I'm sure that's something they will be looking at themselves.

“We've benefitted on the opposite side of that, with a lot of goodwill around the place.

"It's important we keep that, irrespective of results.

“We all want to win, of course, we do, but it's an example of how it can have an impact on your environment.

Link to interview
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Southend United

Kevin Maher speaks to Blues TV ahead of this evening’s game against Grimsby Town

Kevin Maher during his interview on Blues TV​

Link to interview
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Kevin Maher speaks to Chris Phillips at The Echo ahead of this evening’s game against Grimsby Town

Kevin Maher wants more from Southend United's trip to Grimsby Town

Wanting more - Southend United head coach Kevin Maher takes his team to Grimsby Town on Friday night​

Southend United boss Kevin Maher will be bidding for better memories of Grimsby Town on Friday night.

The Shrimpers head to Blundell Park for a tough looking test in the National League.

But Maher will be hoping the game is less painful than his previous visit to the Mariners when he skippered a Blues side which missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the 2004/05 season.

“I remember it was the last game of the season and we needed to win to go up so it was a difficult one to take,” recalled Maher.

“We didn’t get where we wanted that day and I remember getting the wrong information on the pitch with results from elsewhere.

“But we still went up that season and it was a special time.

“That was a tough day but we bounced back from it straight away to go up in the play-offs.

“They’re great memories really around that era and it would be nice to go back there, get a result and start to make more good memories.”

The Shrimpers drew 1-1 with Grimsby back in 2005 and were pipped to third place by Swansea who won 1-0 at Bury to secure promotion.

Blues quickly bounced back from the setback and will need similar spirit tonight as they head to Grimsby having been beaten five times in their last six league games.

The poor run of results has seen them slip to within one point and one place of the relegation zone, meaning the Shrimpers are underdogs for this evening’s encounter.

Grimsby were relegated alongside Blues from League Two last season but have adjusted far quicker to the disappointment and currently sit third in the table, despite losing their last four matches.

But Maher insists Southend are looking forward to the contest, which is being shown live on BT Sport.

“It’s a tough game and they’ve been going ever so well but we’re looking forward to it and it’s a good game for us,” said Maher.

“It’s under lights with a good crowd and if you’re a footballer you want to play in this one.

"They’ve got a top manager who knows the level and the levels above to be fair but it’s one not to be afraid of.

“Despite where we are in the league and where they are I’d like to think they know they’re going to be in for a game.

“Likewise we know what we’re going into but it’s a tough one for both teams.”

Blues will be without Jack Bridge this evening but Maher is pleased the wing-back will not be missing for longer.

“It’s disappointing for him but the good news is we feared he could have been out a lot longer,” said Maher.

“They were initially talking about him being out for six months but when they had a look at it and saw what it was they said six weeks.”

Full text can be found here:-
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The Big Preview

Grimsby Town v Southend United

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Overview

Southend United face the long journey to Cleethorpes tonight, as they and Grimsby Town clash in front of the BT Sport cameras.

And Blues will be meeting with some familiar faces, the Mariners occupied the second relegation spot from League Two last season, finishing two points below Southend; Paul Hurst’s side were rock-bottom of the fourth-tier standings.

But they did not let their poor form carry into the 2021/22 season and will be yet another tough test for Kevin Maher’s men as the hosts sit third in the Vanarama National League standings.

The two sides’ meetings last season produced favourable results for Southend, then led by Mark Molesley, as they emerged 3-1 victors at Roots Hall a month before a 0-0 stalemate at Blundell Park.

You have to date back 24 years to find Grimsby’s last victory against Blues.

The Opposition:

In their long and fruitful history, Grimsby have played at various levels of the English football pyramid, including some of the very highest.

But recent history has not been so kind to the Lincolnshire side.

Five years after manager Hurst led the Mariners to promotion from the fifth tier in 2016, he oversaw their relegation back to the National League after being re-appointed in late December 2020.

But, after an ownership takeover in the summer, there was to be no relegation hangover for Town, as they raced to the top of the table early on this season.

Some disappointing results in recent weeks have seen the 143-year-old club pushed off their top spot, but they’re still very much one of the stronger outfits in the division.

And by having Hurst in the dugout, they’re guided by a manager who has experience of success in the National League, already achieving promotion with the Mariners, an accolade the 47-year-old will be gunning to achieve with the club again this season.

Form:

Blues' 2-0 defeat at home to Woking last Saturday was their fourth loss from their last five matches in all competitions.

With regards to their form away from home, Blues have yet to win since their opening day 1-0 victory against King’s Lynn Town.

Southend have scored two goals away from home in the National League this season.

As for tonight’s hosts, their impeccable early season form has set them up for a push for promotion, however, their recent results have seen them slump from the top spot they once occupied.

In both cup and league fixtures, Hurst’s men have lost four of their last five matches, including a 2-1 defeat against strugglers Aldershot Town and a 1-0 setback against National League North outfit Kidderminster Harriers.

Grimsby have lost each of those four matches by a one goal margin.

From The Boss:

"It’ll be a tough game,” said Maher.

"They’ve been going ever so well and they’ve got a top manager as well who knows the level and the levels above.

"We’re looking forward to it, it’s a good game for us, one not to be afraid of and as tough as it’ll be, it’ll be a good atmosphere and we know we have to perform.

"They’re right up there, and knowing the manager as I do he’ll have them at it and we have to be prepared to go and get a result.

"We want to win every game; it’s obviously disappointing we haven’t picked up more points but we want to win football matches.

”Blues’ Team News:

Jack Bridge will be out of action for six weeks, as he underwent a knee operation this week.

Tom Clifford has stepped up his training as he recovers from a long-term ankle injury, but the Grimsby clash will come too soon for the left-back.

Josh Coulson and Simeon Akinola remain out long-term.

Ref Watch:

Jacob Miles will oversee proceedings tonight at Blundell Park.

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In his second season as a National League referee, Miles has issued 13 yellow cards and no reds across four games so far this campaign.

He was an assistant as Blues were defeated 2-0 by Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the 18/19 season.

He will be aided by Timothy Walker and Daniel Robinson; Dean Watson will be fourth official.

Elsewhere in the National League:

Barnet v Torquay United

Boreham Wood v Maidenhead United

Bromley v King’s Lynn Town

Dagenham and Redbridge v Yeovil Town

Dover Athletic v FC Halifax

Eastleigh v Notts County

Solihull Moors v Chesterfield

Weymouth v Altrincham

Woking v Stockport County

Wrexham v Wealdstone

How to Follow:

Tonight’s clash will be televised live on BT Sport with coverage starting from 19:15.

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Tickets are available on the day for Blues fans, following the conclusion of the pre-sale at 180 sold - we wish those heading to Blundell Park a safe journey this afternoon.

Blues fans unable to attend Blundell Park will still be able to 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 2021/22 season.

Full text can be found here:-
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Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Bridge, Phillips, and Dalby Out

Ferguson, Atkinson, and Walsh in

Ralph and Ogogo out injured

 

[The Big Dady]

Grimsby Town Team

 

[Cricko]

Heaven help us. ?

 

[JAL]

Pathetic team selection.

Why do Southend United seem so reluctant to sign anyone.

 

[Barling Magna]

Blimey.....we're trying to park the bus. Where are the forwards other than Murphy....?

 

[Flinty]

Hmm it’s going to be a long 90 minutes !…..now watch us win

 

[Tampa Blue]

Arnold
White Lopata Hobson
Demetriou Dunne Ferguson Atkinson
Walsh Brunt
Murphy


Like this? Or do you reckon 5 at the back?

 

[Chapperz]

Arnold
White Lopata Hobson
Demetriou Dunne Ferguson Atkinson
Walsh Brunt
Murphy


Like this? Or do you reckon 5 at the back?

Probably most likely.

Demetriou and Atkinson as wing-backs with White and Hobson covering them makes me want to cry.

 

[Ricey]

We are getting SPANKED!!!

 

[kentblues]

Arnold
White Lopata Hobson
Demetriou Dunne Ferguson Atkinson
Walsh Brunt
Murphy


Like this? Or do you reckon 5 at the back?

There are some different ways this could line up so let’s wait and see before we sink into a sea of whinging and despair :-)

 

[jarvisyeh]

Blimey.....we're trying to park the bus. Where are the forwards other than Murphy....?

Everyone complains when we play 5 at the back. Everyone complains when we switch to 4 at the back.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

Looks the injury gremlins are still with us.

 

[gatecrasher]

Is there a point even playing with that side - awful , awful team just give them the 3 points and save us the pain of watching it....get players in now!

 

[Fairport]

I was hoping that we had seen the last of Atkinson.

 

[delr]

Looks the injury gremlins are still with us.

looks like the #### players are still with us?

 

[Boreham Blue]

Someone clearly goes to a lot of trouble to write the intro for this thread but as it comes up at team news time and goes straight into comment do many people actually read it or like me scroll through the to the comments? I wonder if opening the thread a bit earlier might get it read more?

 

[SHRIMPERPETER]

Arnold
White Lopata Hobson
Demetriou Dunne Ferguson Atkinson
Walsh Brunt
Murphy


Like this? Or do you reckon 5 at the back?

Probably 10 at the back!

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

...................Arnold
Demi,Hobson, Lopata White
..................Dunne
Walsh, Brunt, Atko
.................Fergi
.............Murphy.

Would be a preferred line up for me.

No way can Demi or Atko be dreamed of as wing backs, too slow and too 3 yrs + past that.
And JW is a better left back than Hobson, who is a more mobile, aerial defender, centrally than JW