Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 2-1 Chesterfield

[South Bank Hank]

ta - not seen a replay yet but happy to be proved wrong

It was just coming up on my tellybox as I was reading your post.

Scott-Morris’ happy, smiling face after both goals is everything!

 

[RHB]

We came, we saw, we conquered!

Not often I'm speechless, but at 0-1 down there was absolutely no way I expected us to run out 2-1 winners. Says a lot about our team that they didn't share my blinkered view, and for that I'm eternally grateful.

Thanks Kev and the squad for making my Saturday afternoon by seeing off League leaders Chesterfield in a way that they couldn't cope with.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Before today Chesterfield and Solihull had lost three league games all season between them. We’ve now beaten them both in a spell of 3 home games.

What encouraged me most was how they barely had a sniff once we’d taken the lead. I expected more from the leaders and for them to roar back and give us a test but that last half hour they didn’t land a glove on us and that’s to ours (and especially Maher’s) credit.

The key spell was the 15 minutes after half time though. Chesterfield upped a gear and looked to kill the game off as things went a bit ragged. I felt if we could see off that spell of pressure we’d have a chance of getting something out of the game as it had been evenly matched until then (we’d had more possession and chances: they’d been more clinical with theirs). But little did I expect what was to happen. In truth both goals were soft: not so much the penalty decision from the ref but the decision to foul Taylor, a defender, heading out of the area. The winner then was an og that the keeper will have nightmares about. But when you have more possession, more territory such incidents are more likely to fall for you. Any suggestion we were lucky was then countered by how we saw out the game. Indeed with a better ref we might have had more penalties.

A month ago the question with this team was could we do it against the good sides. Today and Solihull answered that emphatically. The next challenge is to do it away from home but for now Roots Hall is a Fortress with 24 points out of a possible 30.

 

[hlane17]

One of the best wins I've seen at Roots Hall. That performance is a big 'up yours' to the NL.

Top performance all round, even though we threatened to self-sabotage a few times with wayward passes.

Referee and his team were all equally woeful.

 

[ec2shrimper]

Great team performance. Special mention to Jack Bridge who at one point sprinted back to cover a chesterfield attack and within 10 seconds was sprinting forward in the attack. Fantastic energy.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Strange how different people see the same game differently. I felt Chesterfield were in control up until the penalty "incident"

I think they scored when we were having a good spell, and vice versa with the penalty, which came when they were having a good 5 mins.

 

[Ailsa Road Shrimper]

Cook is a genuine football man and has been gracious in defeat at Roots Hall previously. He is one of the better experienced managers unlike the likes of Appleton, Parkinson etc who seem to get EFL jobs at the drop of the hat.

Chesterfield look like a decent functional team who play percentages and are good from set pieces, no standout performers though. Despite scoring I don’t rate Will Grigg at all, I remember him being dreadful at Roots Hall previously for Wigan and Sunderland. A signing that has Phil Brown vibes about it.

Our second half performance was immense - Fonguck, Bridge and Husin are a joy to watch when they combine well together. The 10 point deduction is so frustrating as Chesterfield don’t look as strong as the likes of Stockport, Notts County or Wrexham. This could have been the year to get out of this division - let’s hope the takeover is completed asap and we still have a chance this season.

 

[Strykr]

Bloody marvellous.

First half i thought it was evens with them just having that attacking edge.

Great to see 2 teams playing proper football, cancelling themselves out at times but both pressing high.

I think Its safe to say we've used up all our good luck for the season, but its nothing more then they deserve.

Amazing to see the spirit of the team and fans and general good feeling around the club, the pundits were very very complimentary. I would like to see bentley get a mention though, its all maher maher, still, and occasionally currie, they are a team imo.

Love this squad, who knows maybe with a bit of a cash injection we could buy a couple of decent league 2 players, im not saying we go silly, but one or two signings, we must be a desirable club to come too now.

Only gripe of it all was why the f was jeff brazier interviewing maher while the match was going on? Really unnecessary imo.

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

just got in - wow just wow

thought first half it was pretty even they just had that extra bit of quality up top

second half we seemed to up a gear and thank God for dodgy officials as our pen was defo outside the box, and thank God for their keeper who looked suspect the whole game

My MotM - Taylor

The Pen and don't forget it's where first contact is made, not where the player falls, was inside by about a foot. From the TV commentators, no doubt and nailed on, even before replays proved the ref absolutely right.

 

[Whispering Bob]

Still buzzing, what a performance, and the first time we have come from behind to win this season. Martin was more than solid in every department today, the defence were great, our midfield shone once we stopped going long and bypassing them. Young Coker might not have had his best day with the ball but boy did he make up for that with his closing down. Cards won numerous flick ins and worked tirelessly .Quite enjoyed Mooney’s late cameo too.
The thing that impressed me the most was how indecisive Chesterfield looked on the ball once we’d gone ahead. They simply had no options, so good was our pressing and shape, great discipline (and coaching).

 

[southend4eva]

I love this club.
Can’t believe what we’ve been through for years now and yet we’re still standing.
A good message for life.
If we got promoted this year, Ryan Reynolds should turn this season into a movie

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

One of the best wins I've seen at Roots Hall. That performance is a big 'up yours' to the NL.

Top performance all round, even though we threatened to self-sabotage a few times with wayward passes.

Referee and his team were all equally woeful.

Unfortunately, the NL will think how clever are we to enforce the game. They will now use it as a precedent.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Just a performance that optimized this team. Hard work, never say die. **** I love this team.

 

[Southminster Shrimper]

Beg to differ my good man.View attachment 29945View attachment 29946

Thank fk we don't have VAR, if it was, VAR would rule it out on the basis it was outside the box

 

[Tinks]

I thought the ref was never going to blow his blooming whistle and I was on the edge of my seat willing the time to go as Chesterfield have been very good lately in scoring in the dying minutes.

is there nothing this team cannot achieve?
Only 2 subs on the bench and everyone of those boys today played their hearts out and gave their all.
I thought Chesterfield were their own downfall today and that is not taking anything away from our lads but, we worked hard and got the result

Great crowd today who never stopping singing.

 

[Leeboy]

Thank fk we don't have VAR, if it was, VAR would rule it out on the basis it was outside the box

so I was right!

 

[Stan33]

Simply astounding, and I'm fast running out of superlatives to describe these boys. Easily the most likeable team since Tilly's....maybe even more so.

That was a team unbeaten in 15......and we could only have a matchday squad of 13.

To be honest I thought we were sloppy with the ball at times today, first half especially, but what won us the game was what the boys did without the ball. Our work out of possession is astonishing, exemplified by Harry Taylor today, whose positioning, reading of the game and strength in the block/tackle was outstanding.

The way we press from the front, set traps, close down, pick up loose balls is excellent, and huge credit to the coaches for the tactical drilling that these boys are getting. It's of a very, very high level.

I also thought a little tweak at half-time helped us, and that was to overload the left hand side. They were quite solid and had Bridge sussed out in the first half, and Wes wasn't making inroads out there either. Rather than keep banging heads against a wall down there, or to give up and switch to the right, it seems like they were encouraged at half time to overload. We had 4 players high up the pitch down our left side at times in the second half, and Chesterfield couldn't cope with it.

Add all of that to the fact that they're absolute mentality monsters, and you have a great mix!

I keep saying it but we need to get this sale over the line and then watch it take off.

Martin 6
Taylor 8 MOM
Kensdale 7
Ralph 7
GSM 7
Bridge 7
Husin 7
Coker 7
Fonguck 8
Cardwell 7
Wood 6

Subs:
Mooney 6
Kabongolo 6

A bit harsh on Martin ?

 

[Stan33]

This!!

Had him joint MOM for the effort and grass he covered- never stopped and was good with the ball as well.

Also thought Martin was exemplary, commanded his area and took pressure off the defence by coming off his line and claiming crosses.

A man who watched the same game as moi!

 

[overseas shrimper]

so I was right!

You work for VAR, don't you. Admit it.

 

[Leeboy]

You work for VAR, don't you. Admit it.