Post-Match Thread and Ratings Rochdale 3-4 Southend United

[MisterStubbs]

Even as a betting man, at 3-1 down with 15 minutes to go, I’m not backing us to win that game. It would have taken a very brave person to have done so.. but brave is just one of the words you could have used after that tonight. That never say die, that never knowing when we are beat attitude Kev has installed in to this squad continues to be the difference maker when games are close. Onwards to Forest Green. COYB

 

[Supershrimper]

Just got in. Glad I'm not a milkman, I'd have been late for work. Voice has gone, but the memories of last night will live on.

Up there as one of the best comebacks by Southend ever

 

[hlane17]

Just got in. Has to be one of the best Southend games ever and a memory I hope we all keep for a lifetime.

Tad emotional really as a year ago we had no idea whether we'd even see another season. Here we are just 2 games away from the EFL.

 

[JCB]

Just home as well. Up for work in two hours! Gonna be a long day today

 

[Blues ‘n’ twos]

Snap just got home as well, still buzzing from one of the best games seen for a long time!
This club and team refuse to give in!

 

[Shrimper95]

Just got back now, a very long drive but well worth it for that result! On to Forest Green now!

 

[dbailey3]

As you're all getting in, take a minute before bed to appreciate what happened tonight. Days like this don't come around all the time (although a certain Wednesday next week might have something to say about that). As I was watching somewhat sporadically at work, I didn't realise in the moment what a special game this was and how it is probably going to live on in our memory for a while.

 

[Southend Elvis]

That was like watching a Rocky film, in the 8th round we had just been knocked down twice, then bang, Hopper who for me started the comeback. That 2nd goal showed such determination, then wow Bonne that cross, and Hoppers shot for Cliff Parilion to scramble in.
I think we must have visualised the Ref was Ron, and we would beat him at any cost.
I wasn't suffering during that game, as I still didn't think we would win, and will keep that ploy going into the FGR game.
Kev needs to bring in the hypnotist from Little Britain, to make the boys see Dale Vince as the Rat...Look into the eyes, not around the eyes!!!
Here's to us being 3 nil down on Wednesday and us scoring 4 in injury time... that's just how we roll.

 

[manor15]

Un ****ing believable. What a night, genuinely up there as one of my all time favourites. Flew in from Spain just for this game, waiting to board to go back again now, and it’s worth every penny and every eyebag after 2 hours of sleep.

We looked cagey, but if anything I’d say after that first 30 seconds, they looked the more nervous of the two teams. We just then looked shaky every time they played that long ball over the top which Ralph and Goodliffe simply couldn’t handle. Other than the two goals, Rochdale maybe had one other chance in the first half, whereas we had several.

Big big credit for King Kev who got his subs spot on to turn the game on its head and to get this squad believing. Both goals to equalise were pure grit and determination and that’s the spirit that he’s built into this squad as well. Leon was superb off the bench, Keenan could keep running all the way home to Essex, Gus is a warrior. So many to single out for credit.

Hayes 7 Handled what he had to well for the most part, he doesn’t entirely fill me with confidence and as much as he shouted and screamed at his defence in the first half, his hesitations didn’t help.

Taylor 7 At times it felt like he was one of the few players who let the pressure get to him a little, but at others he was his usual unbeatable self.
Goodliffe 7 Really struggled early on but got better with every passing minute and was key to managing the backline.
Ralph 8 The ultimate pro, well taken goal, well handled defensively after a few first half hiccups.

GSM 8 Didn’t stop fighting down the right, looked exhausted by the end and could see why. Sometimes a little rash, but put in some excellent deliveries.
Husin 8 Thought this was a vintage Husin performance, generally good on the ball and bringing a bit of composure when it was missing elsewhere.
Keenan 9 What a performance. A class above in terms of quality and simply never gave up, I don’t know how he could sustain that intensity for 120 minutes.
Coker 7 Gave us more of an outlet and grew into the game, I think him and Keenan in midfield let us get bullied a bit early on, but his desire to bring the ball down and play was crucial at times when it became a bit like watching ping pong.
Bridge 6 If he had the legs of 2 years ago, I think it’d be different. He’s not the best defensively, he can’t beat his man like he used to, and he ends up in a bit of a no-man’s land.

Hopper 8 Worked his socks off and really gave us a target to aim for and managed to hold it up more often than not.
Walker 6 The only player who didn’t look on the same wavelength as the rest. Started pressing well but faded and his runs in behind were almost all offside.

Subs
Leon 8 Really added something different with his presence out wide and took his man on and showed his technical ability.
Bonne 8 Did the dirty work when he had to and is so much fitter than the previous times I’ve seen him in the flesh.
Miley 7 Bringing a player like Cav on in this scenario is a real luxury, he managed the tempo well and dropped in to defend effectively.
Kendall 8 Didn’t stop running, the perfect sub at the perfect time. And that goal showed he was just that edge more alert which made all the difference.
Gubbins - Got his noggin on it a few times.

Superb away support throughout from the travelling Shrimpers, and a real feeling that we can do something. I’m not too optimistic about FGR but really think this team can beat anyone on their day. Yesterday we weren’t on it at our best for much of the first 60/70 minutes but when we turned it on, that was enough to win this league even if we don’t go up this year. But obviously we will.

 

[Napster]

Well. I listened to the first half on the radio and thought we were dead and buried. I turned off at 3-1 down because I was in the bar at the airport hotel and thought that was the end. Turned back on at 3-3 and watched the old school way through Twitter. Currently at Gatwick awaiting a flight to Jersey, and loving the reports.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

Well, what a game. We summoned all the fighting spirit and our subs were spot on and perfectly timed. Pinching myself that we could win 2 games and could be in L2. What an end to the season.

One thing I do take issue with is this “this shows the ****s on the matchday thread when we were 3-1 down” .. the matchday thread is heat of the moment and well .. we were 3-1 down so of course it’d be mainly negative. Who could’ve predicted THAT? A team who can’t score goals firing in 3 to win. It’s the beauty of football. At the match, the fans never wavered in support and I swear, when we’re up against it that makes such a difference. You all looked/sounded great on DAZN.

MoM for me was KAF by a mile, he’s really firing .. Leon and Macauley Bonne and Kendall too, all bench players…all came on and scared the **** out of Rochdale. Squad depth eh?! Brilliant. Now let’s take on FGR!!

 

[* ORM *]

The morning after!!! As I can attest to on my morning walk Rochdale is not a **** hole but I do want to go home later. Call me a lightweight I'm flying back Monday so I'll be missing the FGR game but I'll see you all at Wembley !

 

[Prawn]

OK, I'll admit I woke up at 4:15am (Perth time), looked at the score (3-1) and thought, carp! Turned over and tried to go back to sleep. I couldn't and fifteen minutes later looked at the score with a double take.

Turned on the BBC commentary and listened to ET. Jumped up and yelled when Kendall scored.

Will have to go to bed a bit earlier next Wednesday so I can wake up at 3:45am and listen to the game.

 

[londonblue]

KAF, Bonne, Parillon and Kendall completely changed the game. The latter three should have arguably started.

We were incredibly poor until Hopper’s goal - but what an attitude to turn it around. I must say I wrote us off at 3-1 as did many others… delighted to be proved wrong!

I'm proud to say I didn't. I kept saying to anyone that would listen (not many) that we just needed 2 to take it to extra time.

 

[E for B and Billy Best]

I'm bollocksed. One and half hours sleep and I didn't even stray from my armchair, last evening. I'm a complete emotional, knackered wreck. Today is scrubbed off the calendar, I'm going straight to the 17th May and, of course, I can't wait to do it all again next week.

 

[duncan bulgaria]

It's amazing how down their fans are about McNulty. They're in their second season at this level, an absolute swamp especially when you first come down, and they've only finished below three sides who have absolutely thrown the cash about. Yet they all seem to want him out. Where do they think they should finish?

Their fans seem to think McNulty's subs lost them the game, and I suppose all fans look for someone on their own side to blame rather than applaud the opposition - our fans are just as bad for this. But just consider this absolute substitution masterclass:

'74 Parillon (sub) crosses for Hopper - 2-3
'80 Bonne (sub) crosses for Parillon (sub) - 3-3
'101 Miley (sub) crosses for Goodliffe, who heads back across goal for Kendall (sub) - 3-4.

Kev's generally pretty good with his subs but even by his standards this was an absolute masterclass.

I said it at the time that the front 2 looked dangerous and their only chance of scoring , I was delighted he tinkered with the team and bringing on Henderson played right into our hands as we could squeeze up knowing he’s not the legs to hurt us behind our back line

Thanks mcnulty

 

[londonblue]

FGR going over 2 weeks without a game. Doesn’t seem like a good thing to have such a gap before a massive game

Maybe, but the counter is we've only got 6 days to recover from a pretty gruelling match which would have taken a lot, mentally and physically, out of the squad.

 

[londonblue]

Do hope its the last we see of Walker did sweet FA all game apart from giving aWAY THE PEN .bUT WHAT A FANTASTIC FIGHT BACK FROM 3 1 doen UTB all the way to the final .

It was Noor.

 

[londonblue]

No one’s really mentioned the Roots Hall atmosphere so far.

Absolutely ELECTRIC even just watching on the two screens.

Volume was cranked up which led to a pretty magical moment when we could hear our traveling supporters so clearly and loudly that the Roots Hall crowd was able to unite with them as one voice in two parts of the world. Felt like a full stadium, all sides of the ground singing at times.

Weirdly, as good an atmosphere as we’ve had at Roots Hall in some time!

Thank you to the club for sorting this out. Fantastic night for us at the Hall.

Especially the "**** with a whistle ", which had my two boys in stitches.

 

[londonblue]

Does this count as a draw (after 90 mins), as not winning more than 2 games in a row all season is worrying me.

I need a lie down after that. Felt it was all over at 3-1, but what a time for a comeback.

All of them superb, and a thought it was a bit harsh being 3-1 down anyway as there wasn’t much in it, but once we got the 2nd, it was game on!

LCP great assist and goal, Bonnie superb, Goodliffe is a serious threat at set pieces and KAf is a machine.

Oh and the ref was garbarge, how he didn’t give that penalty in will never know.

You're right, we didn't win over 90 minutes, but we didn't have to. We don't have to in the next match, or the one after that if we make it that far.

I don't really understand why that worries you?