Southend 2, Saints 1

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Saints had won four in succession, Southend were without a league win since August... we all know what happens next.

Actually I had thought we'd grown out of that annoying little habit, but Flahavan somehow managed to keep out an early effort from Wright-Phillips while our keeper and most of those in front of him seemed to have forgotten that Eastwood was probably the only player on the home side who could get a place in our starting line up. It was a fine 22nd minute strike from the caravan dweller, but surely he was the only one we had to be careful of, lads?

It's never easy chasing the game at any level, and Southend had shown in their Carling Cup exploits that they can fight very hard to hold onto what they have. Jones came on to make the physical battle more even, but Saints forwards were denied by defending that was at time desperate but nevertheless effective.

After a particularly intense barrage, the football gods had their fun with us when Southend had a rare excursion upfield and scored again. This was an even better finish than Eastwood's, scored by an obscure someone called McCormack. Saints used all their bench options and still pressed hard: Skacel netted but had handled while Wright-Phillips hit the post. To be fair, there were plenty of gaps developing at the other end, and but for Davis the scoreline might have become embarrassing. As it was, Rasiak was next to score with an opportunist finish, but that clear cut chance in the last few minutes just wouldn't come.

Man of the Match: Bradley Wright-Phillips, who for a long time looked our best hope of a goal. Until his surprise substitution that is!