fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐🦐
Two good sides, a good open game of football, and a welcome 3 points.
Southend started the better and a great Pettefer cross found Gray in the area, but his goalbound header deflected off a defender for a corner. However, shortly afterwards, Northampton got around the back and squared the ball to McGleish, who should have hit the target.
The first half-hour was like that... each side talking their turn in a few minutes pressure and then creating a chance. However, I have to say that the Cobblers had much the better and clearer cut chances than we did. Still, they didn't hit the target... and two of them were open goals with Darryl beaten.
Blues took the lead after about 30 minutes when Gower took the ball across the box from the left and hit an unstoppable rocket into the net from 20 yards. A great strike!
We hit a purple patch for a few minutes and really looked as though we would extend the lead. Then, out of nowhere really, Sabin danced his way around 2 Southend defenders and Che Wilson brought him down for a clear penalty. Darryl however made a great save low to his left. That wasn't the end of the drama though, as Northampton had 2 more clear chances before half time, the second one being when McGleish struck the ball towards an empty net with Darryl nowhere, but the ball hit one of his own players and went for a goal kick.
So, at half time, we were 1-0 up, but to be fair could easily have been 4 or 5 down. We didn't play badly, but Northampton just took us to pieces and created chance after chance. They have so much width all over the pitch and used it to great effect. However, if you don't hit the target you won't score a goal.
In the second half Blues were under the cosh immediately and it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors got an equaliser. But this Blues team were very resilient, and there were some excellent tackles and challenges by Maher, Jupp and Prior that meant that the second half chances for Northampton were few and far between. As the half progressed, Blues came more into it and on 75 minutes, the hard working Wayne Gray dispossessed a defender to race clear, making a superb angle for himself and finishing in style.
There was some concern as to whether Gray had fouled the defender... I think it was a 50/50 "tussle", and a foul could have been given either way to be honest. I wouldn't have been surprised if the ref had blown for a foul. But today, it was our turn to get the rub of the green.
Northampton seemed to get very frustrated now and Bentley, who had come on for the tiring Gower, seemed to be singled out for special treatment by Williamson, who was lucky to stay on the pitch IMHO. He was subbed presumably to stop him being sent off. We seemed to get several free kicks late on, but Northampton couldn't really understand that they were actually committing fouls all the time.
Just when it seemed as though Darryl would keep a clean sheet, Sabin hit a low shot from 20 yards with little pace, but it was so well placed that it went in the far corner. I can't say that Darryl had any chance really, but I would think that any keeper would be disappointed to let a soft shot from outside the box in.
This set up a grandstand last few minutes - trust the Blues never to do things the easy way - but we hung on for the points.
Two final things before the ratings:
1) The ref - by far the best I've seen at the Hall this season. He let the game flow and played advantage brilliantly. No doubt Northampton would not agree - but I don't think he got much wrong personally.
2) Our performance. I have seen elsewhere that some think this was a poor performance from us. I think we have to give tremendous credit to Northampton for the way they played and were easily the best visiting side I've seen for some time. But, they remind me of how we played at times last season... loads of chances, no goals. Apart from the penalty, I don't think Darryl had a save to make. But they just missed the target LOADS of times.
Ratings -
Flahavan - 7.5 - Great penalty save and a couple of fast pieces of distribution too. For all their pressure and chances he didn't actually have much to do, but what he did do he did competently
Jupp - 7 - after a nightmare first 20 minutes, he settled and made some fantastic tackles in the second half, particularly. Looks devoid of confidence and I would imagine reads the Echo, so will have seen all the anti-Jupp letters this week. A bit harsh I think.
Prior - 8 - Commanding against quality opposition and had a good tussle with Alsop when he came on. Didn't miss much.
Barrett - 7 - Was skinned in the first half by Sabin but battled back and brought the ball out of defence well.
Wilson - 6 - He will surely not face a more fearsome right side in this division (Low and Sabin) but stuck to his task. He did however give away the penalty, and on at least 2 occasions backed off of a ball he should have won, allowing the attacker to take him on. That's worrying and bad defending.
Gower - 7 - Great goal, and showed glimpses of great play. But got very tired. I don't think he is actually match fit and hasn't been for some time.
Maher - 8 - Class and battling performance... and he kept his mouth shut! More of the same please Kev!
Hunt - 8 - Has actually formed a good partnership with Maher and had a pretty good game today. He even worked a couple of scoring opportunities that were off target. Sorry - I can't get excited when he has a chance as I don't think he will score.
Pettefer - 7 - Lots of running and battling, Northampton showed us what width can do, and Petts doesn't give us that natural width.
Eastwood - 6. He couldn't live up to the start he made and today looked off the pace. Was deservedly subbed for Dudfield after Grays goal. He missed 2 half chances and some of his lay offs were lazy. I'd still have him though!
Gray - 9 - MOM. Capped another hard working performance with another goal. Battled incessantly and caused them problems when he got the ball.
Southend started the better and a great Pettefer cross found Gray in the area, but his goalbound header deflected off a defender for a corner. However, shortly afterwards, Northampton got around the back and squared the ball to McGleish, who should have hit the target.
The first half-hour was like that... each side talking their turn in a few minutes pressure and then creating a chance. However, I have to say that the Cobblers had much the better and clearer cut chances than we did. Still, they didn't hit the target... and two of them were open goals with Darryl beaten.
Blues took the lead after about 30 minutes when Gower took the ball across the box from the left and hit an unstoppable rocket into the net from 20 yards. A great strike!
We hit a purple patch for a few minutes and really looked as though we would extend the lead. Then, out of nowhere really, Sabin danced his way around 2 Southend defenders and Che Wilson brought him down for a clear penalty. Darryl however made a great save low to his left. That wasn't the end of the drama though, as Northampton had 2 more clear chances before half time, the second one being when McGleish struck the ball towards an empty net with Darryl nowhere, but the ball hit one of his own players and went for a goal kick.
So, at half time, we were 1-0 up, but to be fair could easily have been 4 or 5 down. We didn't play badly, but Northampton just took us to pieces and created chance after chance. They have so much width all over the pitch and used it to great effect. However, if you don't hit the target you won't score a goal.
In the second half Blues were under the cosh immediately and it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors got an equaliser. But this Blues team were very resilient, and there were some excellent tackles and challenges by Maher, Jupp and Prior that meant that the second half chances for Northampton were few and far between. As the half progressed, Blues came more into it and on 75 minutes, the hard working Wayne Gray dispossessed a defender to race clear, making a superb angle for himself and finishing in style.
There was some concern as to whether Gray had fouled the defender... I think it was a 50/50 "tussle", and a foul could have been given either way to be honest. I wouldn't have been surprised if the ref had blown for a foul. But today, it was our turn to get the rub of the green.
Northampton seemed to get very frustrated now and Bentley, who had come on for the tiring Gower, seemed to be singled out for special treatment by Williamson, who was lucky to stay on the pitch IMHO. He was subbed presumably to stop him being sent off. We seemed to get several free kicks late on, but Northampton couldn't really understand that they were actually committing fouls all the time.
Just when it seemed as though Darryl would keep a clean sheet, Sabin hit a low shot from 20 yards with little pace, but it was so well placed that it went in the far corner. I can't say that Darryl had any chance really, but I would think that any keeper would be disappointed to let a soft shot from outside the box in.
This set up a grandstand last few minutes - trust the Blues never to do things the easy way - but we hung on for the points.
Two final things before the ratings:
1) The ref - by far the best I've seen at the Hall this season. He let the game flow and played advantage brilliantly. No doubt Northampton would not agree - but I don't think he got much wrong personally.
2) Our performance. I have seen elsewhere that some think this was a poor performance from us. I think we have to give tremendous credit to Northampton for the way they played and were easily the best visiting side I've seen for some time. But, they remind me of how we played at times last season... loads of chances, no goals. Apart from the penalty, I don't think Darryl had a save to make. But they just missed the target LOADS of times.
Ratings -
Flahavan - 7.5 - Great penalty save and a couple of fast pieces of distribution too. For all their pressure and chances he didn't actually have much to do, but what he did do he did competently
Jupp - 7 - after a nightmare first 20 minutes, he settled and made some fantastic tackles in the second half, particularly. Looks devoid of confidence and I would imagine reads the Echo, so will have seen all the anti-Jupp letters this week. A bit harsh I think.
Prior - 8 - Commanding against quality opposition and had a good tussle with Alsop when he came on. Didn't miss much.
Barrett - 7 - Was skinned in the first half by Sabin but battled back and brought the ball out of defence well.
Wilson - 6 - He will surely not face a more fearsome right side in this division (Low and Sabin) but stuck to his task. He did however give away the penalty, and on at least 2 occasions backed off of a ball he should have won, allowing the attacker to take him on. That's worrying and bad defending.
Gower - 7 - Great goal, and showed glimpses of great play. But got very tired. I don't think he is actually match fit and hasn't been for some time.
Maher - 8 - Class and battling performance... and he kept his mouth shut! More of the same please Kev!
Hunt - 8 - Has actually formed a good partnership with Maher and had a pretty good game today. He even worked a couple of scoring opportunities that were off target. Sorry - I can't get excited when he has a chance as I don't think he will score.
Pettefer - 7 - Lots of running and battling, Northampton showed us what width can do, and Petts doesn't give us that natural width.
Eastwood - 6. He couldn't live up to the start he made and today looked off the pace. Was deservedly subbed for Dudfield after Grays goal. He missed 2 half chances and some of his lay offs were lazy. I'd still have him though!
Gray - 9 - MOM. Capped another hard working performance with another goal. Battled incessantly and caused them problems when he got the ball.
