Another game, another defeat. But this was a completely different game to the defeats at Sunderland, when we were simply outclassed by a quality team, and the home game against Palace, where both teams played poorly but Palace snatched victory.
We started brightly with Maher releasing Foran only for Wednesday's debutant keeper to stick up an arm to deny him. For the first 15 minutes we were on top. Wednesday's defensive structure was far from convincing and you felt if Gower could keep up the probing balls from midfield we could have some joy. As it was, our reward came not from open play, but from a set piece. A corner headed towards goal was diverted in at the far end - apparently by Lewis Hunt according to someone's wap phone - but we couldn't care less as the faithful celebrated another rare away goal.
The lead only lasted a minute or so. Che Wilson fouled his man and then completely lost his marker to leave Tudgay in acres of space with the simple task of heading past Flahavan from 8 yards.
Despite this set-back the Blues pushed forward with both Efe and Bradbury missing chances from corners but you couldn't help wondering how expensive such misses could be, particularly with Che looking completely out of his depth on our left flank.
As it was, Wednesday took the lead with a freak goal. Efe's mistake let Tudgay hammer in a low cross across the 6 yard box which Flahavan should have dealt with, instead he left it to Spinner who was facing his own net and in attempting to clear it managed to slam an unstoppable shot just inside the post. 2-1 down wasn't a great situation to be in, but I felt we could definitely still get something out of the game as we looked to have the beating of Wednesday's defence. The trouble was, without McCormack we were struggling to win the ball and with Che an absolute liability at left-back it was looking only a matter of time before Wednesday extended their lead.
Che was struggling to stay in the same postcode as Jermaine Johnson, Wednesday's version of JCR, and Johnson either beat him with ease or Wilson backed off so far there was no need to beat him and Johnson repeatedly got to the corner of the penalty area with time and space to pick out a team-mate. Wilson was frantically trying to pass Johnson onto one of his team-mates, but even when he managed to do this he then managed to lose the man he was supposed to be picking up instead. With Wilson failing to get in a single tackle or block all half and repeatedly getting beaten, this was dragging the rest of our defence out of position and we were looking ragged whilst Wednesday were growing in confidence. Somehow Wednesday failed to capitalise with a woeful display of shooting, the like of which hadn't been witnessed at Hillsborough since our forwards' and midfielders' pre-match warm-up efforts. Burton fired wide, Tudgay scuffed one which Flahavan managed to half save and Efe scrambled clear, Johnson missed a chance and Burton smacked the cross-bar from about 10 yards out and Brunt shot wide. All these chances were coming from our left-back position so half-time and the chance to sub Wilson couldn't come soon enough. All our defensive problems were stemming from this, and if we could solidify this position the rest of our defence would be fine and I felt confident that we could still get something out of the game as we had the beating of the Wednesday defence.
Tilly doesn't often make substitutions, so it speaks volumes about Che's performance that Francis came on. Hunt moved to left-back and Francis went right-back. Wednesday barely threatened for the rest of the game and instead it was all Southend as we pressed forward. Bradbury headed tamely at Turner from 12 yards from a JCR cross before Gower who clearly enjoys playing in the middle put Freddy through who calmly rounded Turner and tapped home from the edge of the area for his 15th goal of what has apparently been a poor season for him!
By now we were well on top and we're looking for all three points. Foran was a real threat on the left-hand side of midfield and went close with a couple of drilled shots that Turner managed to keep out. Then with minutes to play, we thought we had won it when a ball was played into Freddy 6 yards out who swung his boot at it and managed to trap it rather than blast it into the net, but the ball came out to Bradbury who made no mistake from 4 yards only for the lino to wave his flag, presumably for offside although I've no idea who was off-side.
Then in injury time came the cruel twist, Hunt dived into block Johnson's powerful shot which hit his hand and the ref cruelly pointed to the spot. Flahavan seemed to get his hands on the spot-kick but it went in and we had to make the long return trip emptied handed when we should have and could have had all three points.
Ratings
Flahavan 6 - should have claimed the cross for the second goal, otherwise a quiet game but had to pick the ball out of the net three times.
Hunt 7 - scored but until the penalty had kept the dangerous Johnson quiet second half
Wilson 3 - abject. An absolute horror show. It will be a major surprise if he ever pulls on a Southend shirt again.
Prior 7 - apart from the freak own goal he was a class act at the back with experience making defending look easy
Sodje 6 - still not at his best, but despite conceding 3 goals the Prior-Sodje combination looks our strongest pairing defensively, if not going forward
Maher 6 - needs a ball-winner alongside him
JCR 7 - visibly tired second half but that and his inability to play the early ball would have been an 8
Gower 8 - enjoys the freedom in the middle of the park and looks a lot more dangerous than when playing out-side, but
Foran 7 - another solid display
Eastwood 7 - his 15th goal of the season should hopefully shut up his critics. Give him the ball when he's not trebled-marked and he delivers
Bradbury 6 - held the ball up but his lack of pace is a real problem
Ref 4 - I think it was his first game at this level, or at least it certainly looked like it.
Away support 9 - great stuff, singing throughout and getting behind the team.
We started brightly with Maher releasing Foran only for Wednesday's debutant keeper to stick up an arm to deny him. For the first 15 minutes we were on top. Wednesday's defensive structure was far from convincing and you felt if Gower could keep up the probing balls from midfield we could have some joy. As it was, our reward came not from open play, but from a set piece. A corner headed towards goal was diverted in at the far end - apparently by Lewis Hunt according to someone's wap phone - but we couldn't care less as the faithful celebrated another rare away goal.
The lead only lasted a minute or so. Che Wilson fouled his man and then completely lost his marker to leave Tudgay in acres of space with the simple task of heading past Flahavan from 8 yards.
Despite this set-back the Blues pushed forward with both Efe and Bradbury missing chances from corners but you couldn't help wondering how expensive such misses could be, particularly with Che looking completely out of his depth on our left flank.
As it was, Wednesday took the lead with a freak goal. Efe's mistake let Tudgay hammer in a low cross across the 6 yard box which Flahavan should have dealt with, instead he left it to Spinner who was facing his own net and in attempting to clear it managed to slam an unstoppable shot just inside the post. 2-1 down wasn't a great situation to be in, but I felt we could definitely still get something out of the game as we looked to have the beating of Wednesday's defence. The trouble was, without McCormack we were struggling to win the ball and with Che an absolute liability at left-back it was looking only a matter of time before Wednesday extended their lead.
Che was struggling to stay in the same postcode as Jermaine Johnson, Wednesday's version of JCR, and Johnson either beat him with ease or Wilson backed off so far there was no need to beat him and Johnson repeatedly got to the corner of the penalty area with time and space to pick out a team-mate. Wilson was frantically trying to pass Johnson onto one of his team-mates, but even when he managed to do this he then managed to lose the man he was supposed to be picking up instead. With Wilson failing to get in a single tackle or block all half and repeatedly getting beaten, this was dragging the rest of our defence out of position and we were looking ragged whilst Wednesday were growing in confidence. Somehow Wednesday failed to capitalise with a woeful display of shooting, the like of which hadn't been witnessed at Hillsborough since our forwards' and midfielders' pre-match warm-up efforts. Burton fired wide, Tudgay scuffed one which Flahavan managed to half save and Efe scrambled clear, Johnson missed a chance and Burton smacked the cross-bar from about 10 yards out and Brunt shot wide. All these chances were coming from our left-back position so half-time and the chance to sub Wilson couldn't come soon enough. All our defensive problems were stemming from this, and if we could solidify this position the rest of our defence would be fine and I felt confident that we could still get something out of the game as we had the beating of the Wednesday defence.
Tilly doesn't often make substitutions, so it speaks volumes about Che's performance that Francis came on. Hunt moved to left-back and Francis went right-back. Wednesday barely threatened for the rest of the game and instead it was all Southend as we pressed forward. Bradbury headed tamely at Turner from 12 yards from a JCR cross before Gower who clearly enjoys playing in the middle put Freddy through who calmly rounded Turner and tapped home from the edge of the area for his 15th goal of what has apparently been a poor season for him!
By now we were well on top and we're looking for all three points. Foran was a real threat on the left-hand side of midfield and went close with a couple of drilled shots that Turner managed to keep out. Then with minutes to play, we thought we had won it when a ball was played into Freddy 6 yards out who swung his boot at it and managed to trap it rather than blast it into the net, but the ball came out to Bradbury who made no mistake from 4 yards only for the lino to wave his flag, presumably for offside although I've no idea who was off-side.
Then in injury time came the cruel twist, Hunt dived into block Johnson's powerful shot which hit his hand and the ref cruelly pointed to the spot. Flahavan seemed to get his hands on the spot-kick but it went in and we had to make the long return trip emptied handed when we should have and could have had all three points.
Ratings
Flahavan 6 - should have claimed the cross for the second goal, otherwise a quiet game but had to pick the ball out of the net three times.
Hunt 7 - scored but until the penalty had kept the dangerous Johnson quiet second half
Wilson 3 - abject. An absolute horror show. It will be a major surprise if he ever pulls on a Southend shirt again.
Prior 7 - apart from the freak own goal he was a class act at the back with experience making defending look easy
Sodje 6 - still not at his best, but despite conceding 3 goals the Prior-Sodje combination looks our strongest pairing defensively, if not going forward
Maher 6 - needs a ball-winner alongside him
JCR 7 - visibly tired second half but that and his inability to play the early ball would have been an 8
Gower 8 - enjoys the freedom in the middle of the park and looks a lot more dangerous than when playing out-side, but
Foran 7 - another solid display
Eastwood 7 - his 15th goal of the season should hopefully shut up his critics. Give him the ball when he's not trebled-marked and he delivers
Bradbury 6 - held the ball up but his lack of pace is a real problem
Ref 4 - I think it was his first game at this level, or at least it certainly looked like it.
Away support 9 - great stuff, singing throughout and getting behind the team.
