jaffa1
Manager
Southend v Port Vale
Southend United won promotion last season with only the 14th best attack, so it may be no surprise that their defence has adjusted to League One quicker than their front line. The Shrimpers have conceded just 11 goals this term, a defensive record bettered only by 3 of League One’s top 5, but they have only scored 11 – 3 of the bottom 5 have scored fewer.
This blog is normally supportive of defensive-minded teams, but the question for Southend is whether they have enough firepower to stay up, because none of their players have scored more than 2 league goals this season. In many ways, it reflects badly on their forward men that Adam Barrett, a centre-back who has missed the last 3 league games due to injury, is their joint-top scorer.
There is a sense that Southend have not yet proved themselves against a good team in this division. They played Peterborough when Posh were languishing in 18th under previous boss Dave Robertson, they played Millwall when the Lions were 1 point outside the drop zone, and they had to rely on a series of remarkable saves to preserve a point at Coventry. That draw at the Ricoh represents Southend’s only point against a team that was above the bottom 8 prior to kick-off. The Shrimpers have been scraping results against poor teams and this blog would argue that they are due a reality check.
Port Vale could be the team to provide it. The Valiants have started the season strongly but more importantly, they have proved themselves against quality opposition. The Burslem side have already beaten the top 2 pre-season promotion favourites, Wigan and Robert Page’s old club, Sheffield United. Vale were hugely impressive in the first half of that 2-1 victory over the Blades and although they came under pressure in the latter stages, their defence held firm.
Uche Ikpeazu netted his 5th league goal of the season that day and in the former Watford man, Port Vale now have a reliable goalscorer. It may be difficult for Southend to find one themselves, although Joe Pigott netted twice in the JPT on Tuesday and he may be the man that Shrimpers fans hang their hopes on.
(from The Football Lab)
Southend United won promotion last season with only the 14th best attack, so it may be no surprise that their defence has adjusted to League One quicker than their front line. The Shrimpers have conceded just 11 goals this term, a defensive record bettered only by 3 of League One’s top 5, but they have only scored 11 – 3 of the bottom 5 have scored fewer.
This blog is normally supportive of defensive-minded teams, but the question for Southend is whether they have enough firepower to stay up, because none of their players have scored more than 2 league goals this season. In many ways, it reflects badly on their forward men that Adam Barrett, a centre-back who has missed the last 3 league games due to injury, is their joint-top scorer.
There is a sense that Southend have not yet proved themselves against a good team in this division. They played Peterborough when Posh were languishing in 18th under previous boss Dave Robertson, they played Millwall when the Lions were 1 point outside the drop zone, and they had to rely on a series of remarkable saves to preserve a point at Coventry. That draw at the Ricoh represents Southend’s only point against a team that was above the bottom 8 prior to kick-off. The Shrimpers have been scraping results against poor teams and this blog would argue that they are due a reality check.
Port Vale could be the team to provide it. The Valiants have started the season strongly but more importantly, they have proved themselves against quality opposition. The Burslem side have already beaten the top 2 pre-season promotion favourites, Wigan and Robert Page’s old club, Sheffield United. Vale were hugely impressive in the first half of that 2-1 victory over the Blades and although they came under pressure in the latter stages, their defence held firm.
Uche Ikpeazu netted his 5th league goal of the season that day and in the former Watford man, Port Vale now have a reliable goalscorer. It may be difficult for Southend to find one themselves, although Joe Pigott netted twice in the JPT on Tuesday and he may be the man that Shrimpers fans hang their hopes on.
(from The Football Lab)
