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

[JB Shrimper]

After all the heart ache of the last 5 years, the worry, the absolute ball ache of an owner. To have such positivity on the pitch is so so good. Can not wait for FGR regardless of the result.

That we can agree on

 

[leeblue]

That we can agree on

You see...easy peasy.
Love you x

 

[ms brush]

Speechless!

 

[The Late One]

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.

You mean there was an atmosphere in the East Stand??

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Just back to my hotel, what a night Phenomenal performance from everyone, including the management. Not sure I’ll get much sleep before my train at 07:00 in the morning, but who cares….

Just seen a video of the pen, and that ref should be struck off for not seeing it. That was as clear cut as it gets

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

I felt way back in November all the critcism for players and Kev, especially Kev, was a bit OTT.
By the time early Feb had turned up, you could see the squad felt settled knowing this was it until the end of the season, these boys would be getting on with it, and what a run theyve been on. It was a togetherness and damn hard workrate that got them through tonight. Backed by incredible fans that even sung when Dale scored their third, like it was a badge of honour. If the fans dont fall apart why should the team? Heads drop? Nope. Rochdale banned our drum, paid the ref, got a couple of lucky goals (granted the first was a peach) but i felt we were on top despite being 3-1 down.
We closed space, brought on fresh legs, Hopper scored that vital goal at a great time and before you know it, boom 3-3.

We moaned about our defence, theirs looked even worse every time a ball got played in the box.
Big games are for big game teams, this team are exactly that. Dale bottled it, make no mistake and as usual we were there to pick them off late in the game and extra time. Kendal again, right place, right angle for a nod in to the net. Leon's first goal for the club, he was floating after that.
Bonne and Kendal for me, reign supreme as the best duo. Tamworth couldnt handle them, Rochdale fell apart.

Bereft of quality in our wing play for once, it was left to the rest of them to force it over the line. Ralph, ooofft great goal. Goodliffe, beautiful nod to Kendal for the goal.
Then there's KAF. is he plugged into a USB charger?

Congrats Kev. And the sidekicks. Awesome. Massive thankyou to the 1200, you made us proud. What a night.

 

[Strykr]

Its been quite some time since we had a game so epic that it will live on in our memories.

Emotional rollercoaster and an infinitely satisfying victory.

The substitutions were bang on, its great to finally look at the starting line up and think its solid and look at the bench and see some game changing potency.

We all know the weaknesses that need addressing squad and management wise but tonight theres no point addressing then as we did the business.

Proud of them all and special mention for kaf who was outrageously good, bonne who demonstrated with his general play that hes a step ahead mentally then all others on the pitch, and ralph who showed immense determination.

Onwards and upwards.

 

[Fitz]

Wow, buzzing, sat at services, home at 4.30am, but so worth it. When have we ever won from 3-1 down with the winner in extra time?!

KAF was awesome but whole team amazing, never say die!

 

[Billy was Best]

I wonder what's going on in Harry C's head at the moment? He left a basket case, even though they stuck with him through injuries. I don't begrudge him the need to put some extra dosh in the pocket, but he now faces a healthy club with a superb following and the very real possibility of being dumped out by them. I'm not saying he should have stayed, but what if that is what he will think if the Shrimpers remove the veg?

 

[IloveShrimp]

Feel sorry for anyone that didn’t go to that game. It’s up there with the play off final.

And just like the playoff final I couldn’t go due to health (hospital) reasons :(

 

[crangoner]

Highlights are now up

 

[stewart]

Whackoh the diddleoh, a bonzer performance!

Whacko the Dildo !!!!

 

[Jai]

From the Rochdale Fans Forum:

"Something almost inevitable about that. You always felt that this team had it in them to crumble. The fighting attitude and never say die approach from Southend is completely absent from our team. That comes from the manager. I doubt very much that after a 4th place finish JM will be going anywhere but make no mistake - we will never get out of this division with him in charge."

"Really bad decision making when it comes to subs has cost us tonight. McNulty has to acknowledge that and accept he got wrong. Too many players impacted by one substitution. We were saying before the game that the worry was that he maybe had too many options. And so it came to pass.

All night long Southend looked like scoring from crosses and corners though, those out on the pitch didn’t do enough to stop them.

In 46 league games and one play off we’ve conceded 48 goals. A quarter of them in three home games. When push came to shove we haven’t had that steel and resilience to prevent this occurring."
"Fair play to Southend, never stopped believing and tactically outsmarted Jim. As for us, a performance to perfectly sum up our season under McNulty. Threw it away against Bromley in the FA cup, threw it away against Spennymoor in the FA Trophy, thew it away tonight. His substitutions are what killed us tonight. The minute we brought on an extra CB on 64 mins I knew there'd be trouble. Then we need an outlet up top to relieve some pressure, bringing Bird off for Mitchell is absolutely criminal."

"I don't think we ever looked comfortable tbh, I felt they bossed the midfield and completely dominated us on set pieces.
I felt our keeper just wasn't strong enough a presence for such a game.
Surely any manager at 3-1 up would look to solidify his defence, it certainly didn't work though.
Bird was never going to last a full game, I personally would have put Rodney and Hendon together up top and not put Mitchell on.
Everything is easy in hindsight, it was never a typical Dale performance, we were crying out for some of that keep ball we are renowned for, Southend wouldn't allow it and going long to Bird was a good option at times, but going long to Mitchell, that's just wasteful."

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.

 

[bazzashrimper]

I was a part of a team running a charity event arranged a few months ago. My role was to mingle with people and help them through some challenges. I did so with DAZN on my mobile - it was a bit rude, but hey ho. I let some cheers out at some inappropriate times - when the 4th goal went in I was judging some adults dancing and stood up and screamed. They were awful so it was awkward.

I saw the 90 minutes + first half of ET in that mode. Probably watching half of the game on and off. I thought that we were the better team, but they were dangerous whenever they attacked. Their first goal was a brilliant piece of skill at this level.

Even seeing the game in patches, KAF was awesome. I’ve never seen Bonne play well (in about 25 games) but he did tonight - he looked so dangerous in the channel. Defensively we were nervous in that first half though, maybe excluding Ralph.

As the second half of extra time started I was able to find a corner to watch with a beer. The early nerves seemed to have dipped and we didn’t look like conceding.

Being away from the game and the zone though, I was frustrated and gutted at 3-1, but I also thought - good season, we go again next year with a few reinforcements. But then it all happened! We have nothing to lose now - we’ve already got further than we should have. Maybe that mentality may help the defence relax a bit in the first half next week.

 

[Ramsdenblue]

Getting bored driving home.

For those of you travelling, what times does your SAT NAV say you will be home.

Mine says 3.00am

 

[stewart]

Never listened to the game or match threads as it didnt start until 2-45am here ,so when i woke up this morning did not look at the result just went straight to to match threads and read everyone ,like many of you at 3-1 down i thought the game was over, but goodness gracious me what a comeback ,like someone said at the time ,it reminded them of a couple off seasons ago when we only had 12 players, The fighting never give up spirit, that to me is the spirit off Southend for decades now , not knowing when we are defeated ,You think about it going back long before the Rat family under previous ownerships, even in our match against Chelsea with thet last gasp equalizer , the displays against Man Utd , ,Spurs , Liverpool and so many others. I hope now we can continue this not just next week but in the future, we are Southend and a very proud club with the best supporters in the world .

 

[dbailey3]

I just had four Canadian lads, who before this week had never heard of Southend United, jumping up and down at work when Kendalls header went in. That’s the power of football and more importantly thats the power of Southend United.

UTB

 

[Ted]

Appiah unreal!

Goalkeeper and Defence have got away with a poor display today. Don’t see why Hopper and Walker started unless it’s a deliberate ploy that Rochdale were expected to tire, but Bonne and Kendall were great when they came on. Parillon is a top player too who should be starting. Husin was iffy, positionally he’s questionable, lost out on a few challenges. Starting line up should be closer to the one that finished next week.

Must admit at 3-1 down I got my head around the fact that we just aren’t good enough and would struggle against Forest green, now I need to go through it all again next week.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

One of the all time great nights, the type that vindicates all those long journeys following the team.

Without doubt a top 10 Southend match of all time. It had everything: sprinklers coming on, goals disallowed, a penalty, a stone wall penalty not given, an epic come back and the good guys winning.

Not sure why people were so down about that first half. They hit us on the break but we were the better team. Maher got his tactics spot on by holding back Bonne and Kendall to go against tiring defences - they had tired badly at Roots Hall when Bonne had all sorts of joy down the right against weary defenders. Our second equaliser was a near carbon copy of our equaliser back in March.

I really need to go to bed but I’m still buzzing.

 

[leeblue]

Given we were three one down, one of the greatest games ever?? Especially in a play off game.