So I arrived at Roots Hall extremely later than anticipated, only to find all the changes that were spoken of after the Swindon might as well fallen on deaf ears.


Early on I found Southend were playing the obvious passes, and playing them slowly making it easy for Gillingham to pressure Blues.


This pressure paid dividends for Gillingham and gave them the first shot of the game, although wildly off target from Danny Spiller.


Chances came to Gillingham in the following minutes, a standard diagonal ball from right-back Barry Fuller which was missed by an under pressure Mark Phillips and fell to Danny Kedwell. A good opportunity, saved well and not for the last time.


Gillingham continued to maintain pressure, subsequently Blues were forced to shoot from distance. First Anthony Grant with a low shot past Ross Flitney’s goal and minutes later from Blair Sturrock with an almost identical drive.


This was Southend’s first spell of pressure in the game, and was marked by the closes chance yet. A lovely floated ball into the Gillingham penalty area meat Blair Sturrock, and for once showed real composed with a delicate side footed effort, which unfortunately for him hit the bar and to safety.


At this point the game is almost ready to open up, but credit to Gillingham for seeming a very organised unit and saw their way to half time in this fashion, and the more liking to get a goal scoring opportunity.


HALF TIME


The crowd was as quite in the beginning for the second half as it finished the first. Then the game opened up. One needless foul from Bilel Mohsni, followed by a somewhat harsh offence to give a second yellow card for saw him walking down the tunnel.


This opened up the game. At the end of the first half, he was the best performing person on that pitch in front of a crowd which can very easily turn against officials. However in the second, meltdown. Following from the sending off, it seemed he had begun losing control…


Down to 10-Men, but it could have been worse as a rare defensive error from Chris Barker let in Danny Kedwell to but in a decent ball. With Glenn Morris not coming to collect what could have been a routine claim for the ball, Mark Phillips was forced to clear in from danger at the expect of a corner.


The subsequent corner was then cleared by Chris Barker, but with little distance Danny Spiller was at hand on the edge of the area to striker at goal. Initially palmed away by Glenn Morris, he was then judged to have been fouled in the follow up. At the time the referee blew his whistle Anthony Grant already had the ball in two hands, stopping the ball from ever crossing the line.


This is something Glenn Morris never seemed to manage, to have the ball in two hands. Numerous shots at him were saved, decent saves to add, but all blocked and on another day, could be punished.


Many fans in the West Stand at this point were saying Southend were now playing better this half but really Gillingham’s game fell, marking it seem that way.


The 87th minutes, is the only moment in the game which matters to Southend United fans. Mark Phillips’ header from a Ryan Hall corner. A well taken reward for the supporters after a disappointing performance at Swindon, no?


FULL TIME


Man of The Match, despite my criticism of his saves, Glenn Morris. Closely rivalled by Mark Phillips. Not only for his goal, but at times being the strong half of that defensive partnership.


And a quick mention for Bilel Mohsni, as it’s clearly going to be a talking point. When Barry Corr, Liam Dickinson and Neil Harris are all fit he isn’t going to be first choice, obviously. Turning to the defensive partnership mentioned above, he isn’t first choice there either…