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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…

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Southend Utd are on the road again for the second time in 96 hours, as they make the short trip of 67 miles to Broadfield Stadium capacity 4,996.


Despite reports in the media of unrest in the squad, with Bilel's reaction to the defeat by Orient in the league cup, N'Diaye fracas with Johnson on the training ground, and finally Grant's after match antics against Accrington Stanley, Paul Sturrock will be in good heart with the clubs 100 % start to the season.


Bookies favourites for  division two Crawley Town have adapted well to life in the league and have taken four points from six and progressed into the league cup with victory over fellow division two team AFC Wimbledon.


Paul Sturrock has to travel again without his two strikers in Corr and Sturrock junior, whilst Mark Phillips faces a late fitness test on his groin, which throws an interesting poser for the management does crowd favourite Bilel Mohsni return to the team after the well documented bust up with players in the dressing room.


Steve Evans will have a full squad to select from as John Dempster returns to the squad, after serving a one match ban


Both managers are being respectful to each other and Steve Evans tipping Shrimpers for play off,whilst Paul Sturrock believes Crawley will be Southends bench mark for the coming season.


Shame Rohan Ricketts could not decide which was his favourite manager and team as he tweeted some much about both and ended up with neither.

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Well, the pitch was fine - the grass a little long (bringing those painful Cambridge memories back again) and a cloudy and sunny afternoon.

Fine start - simple penalty decision after a foul on Leonard and after a "discussion" between Hall and Dickenson, it was the latter that put the ball in the net via the post. Closer than it needed to be and that was a omen for the rest of the afternoon.

Was it a 4-5-1 formation or a 4-4-1-1?  I don't know but on the attack is was more of a 4-2-4    .......... everyone working hard and Stanley's attempts to play the ball out of defence ended up going no where. And for Southend chances came and went begging - we do lack the killer touch.

A free kick at the other end of the pitch was given and the resulting shot saved and spilled by Morris and all of a sudden all that hard work was wasted. Their first meaningful attack of the game?

Second half was like the Hereford game - Stanley got better, tighter and more direct but the game was going no where. A long ball forward was headed to the side by Dickenson where it sat up nicely for Hall (in line with the right hand post, edge of area) who swung a leg at the ball. The goalie never moved and I was waiting for the ironic cheers from the Stanley fans only to realise the ball had flown into the net! I will have to see it again to decide if it was genius rather than a fluke!!

The last 10 minutes were painful as all 11 players came back to defend. Morris tipped a low shot around the post and then finger tipped a lovely shot onto the bar. After one of the Stanley attacks Grant moved out of the penalty box with the ball. As he slotted it forward to Sawyer (the only Southend player ahead of him) he was taken down. The referee (rightly) waved on play and Sawyer then pushed the ball past their last defender and started to round the keeper ...... who brilliantly took the ball from his feet.

The next couple of minutes were interesting as the referee sent off a Stanley player (who did not want to leave the pitch!) and then a melee of players with Grant in the middle seemed to indicate that there might be more cards to come.

With order restored, the referee seemed to add on minutes and minutes of extra time ........... but finally the final whistle blew. Phew!   

Tempers seemed to flare again at the end as the players congregated outside the portakabins that are the changing rooms. The referee's whistle blowing almost continually - unfortunately I couldn't see what was happening.

All in all, tighter result than it should have been - Stanley were a tougher opponent than Hereford. Certainly room for improvement in the last third of the pitch - but a step on from the last game and a good team performance.

Man of the match: Tricky as no stand out player for me - Kalala for holding the ball in midfield and not being pushed off the ball.   

Donkey of the match: No-one - all played professionally and I don't remember seeing any yellow cards for any Southend player.


Match reporter Fishing on the Pier

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As you all probably know my disenchantment with the owners of Southend United has led to my self imposed exile from Roots Hall.
But is the want of all estranged footie supporters ‘curiosity does kill the cat’.
From the outside looking in I can only admire Paul Sturrock for sticking with, what must be a thankless task in building a team that can compete at this level.
In the last year I have now attended three matches, but have listened regularly to matches covered by BBC Essex.
New crowd favourites in my absence have emerged Mohsni, Ferdinand are the new kids on the block.  Fitting faces to names takes time so forgive me if my assessment of your favourite player is seen as harsh, as I am only reflecting on this game alone.  Come on Wildheart get on with the match report!

OK I’ve set out my position here we go….
Roots Hall is bathed in glorious August sunshine as I walk down Victoria Avenue.  My ears ring with news of riots across our pleasant land, it seems ghastly to think of my fellow country men not being able to enjoy this sun set worrying about their property and lively hoods.  I need a distraction; nothing could do better than a local derby against the O’s.  Over the years and I’m talking the best part of 50! (Yes I am that old). Orient derby’s have been shall I say competitive.  On many occasions the O’s have stolen games from us by doggy refereeing decisions or just being dammed lucky.  I hope tonight history does not repeat it’s self. Every team has a bogey team, I know we cannot beat MK Dons but historically the O’s probably are our nemeses.

So clutching a Pukka Pie and a tea I settle down in N 147 East Black the seat I have warmed since 2003.  I shake hands with old familiar faces, reminisce what has been and what could of, would of, and should of.
I look down at the over priced programme £2.50 to analysis the teams.  30 names are offered as Southend United maybe 10 of them are familiar to me.
My colleagues quickly point out who is who.  As the players warm up I do recognise two players wearing red.  Alex Revell (who was so shoddily treated by Geoffrey King) and Jamie Cureton a real thorn in our side over the years.  Cureton is a player that we could well of done with back in the day, and even now in his twilight years he exhumes an arrogance that only seasoned been there done that, goal scorer can.  Luckily for us he’s on the bench I sigh a breath of relief.

Were off at a canter in the first ten minutes I am nicely surprised at the level of fitness the Blues boast.  The flat back four of Clohessy, Coughlan, Phillips and, Prosser look at having Ravell and Tehoe where they want them.  Phillips looks outstanding, Coughlan a bit leggy.
Then a Morris clearance goes for a throw on the west side, the defence goes to sleep a short throw a nothing cross and Ritchardson buries a header into the roof of the net.  I have to say a taller keeper would probably have saved this, not Robert Green you understand though. 0 -1.
The game had been very even up to this point, going behind seems to spur the Shrimpers into action.  Harris and Hall both go close with shots.  The Blues then win a free kick on the East side attacking the south bank.  Hall floats in a delightful cross.  Mark Phillips unmarked as Richardson had been 9 minutes earlier nods past the O’s custodian.  1-1
The rest of the first half is played out with no real clear cut chances with perhaps the Blues shading it.

Half time is spent catching up on the gossip and me wondering why shocking pink had been chosen as an away kit.  Are the U’s faithful laughing at us because they rigged the poll I wonder?

The second half starts with the introduction of the new Roots Hall favourite Bilel Mohsni, Phillips, Southends man of the match so far with drawn I suppose injured? 
Southend start to press the O’s and seemed to be the better team.  A skirmish between Tehoue and Prosser leds to a head butt.  The O’s man is shown a straight red.  Now Southend must push on a finish Orient off.
But what happens so often when a team is reduced to ten men starts to happen here.  The O’s leave one man up front Ravell and put nine behind the ball.
Southend fall into the trap of firing long balls into the box, which Harris and Dickenson just can’t not take advantage of.  The O’s custodian Lee Butcher also decided to play a blinder.
The 25 minutes left fly by with Southend huffing and puffing.  The O’s do not attempt to attack just content with frustrating the Shrimpers and knicking the odd set play.
Full time 1-1
Extra time starts off where normal time finished, with the Blues not being able to open up the O’s.  Lee Sawyer had been introduced after 70 minutes replacing the workman like Johnson.  Ferdinand is replaced by Grant.
Lee Sawyer is a conundrum? Obviously blessed with wonderful skill or why would he have been in Chelsea’s first team?  He lacks confidence and other than one storming run and a volley that we all thought was the winner did very little.
A superb cross from Clohessy leds to a looping header from Dickenson, Butcher for once hapless the ball loops under the bar only to be clear off the line I now know this will not be Southends night.
After 120 minutes the referee Fred Graham (who had a fair game I think) blows for penalties.
You just knew with the way the Orient keeper had been playing that we stood no chance.  To prove me right he saved Liam Dickensons first and then one from Jean Paul Kalala and then who stepped up to inflict to cu de grace our old friend Jamie Cureton bless him.

So in summery what did I think.  The game was not the greatest O’s derby I have witnessed but certainly not the worse.  Sturrock will not be too disappointed.  Promotion for the Blues who knows, I think they are short up front.  Harris looks his age I’m afraid a bit past his best.  But with Mohsni in the side who knows he certainly has something about him.
I will be back perhaps for our encounter with the Gills in September.

This has been Wildheart for West Stand Views at Roots Hall


Southend
01 Morris   7 Nothing to do until the penalty prize
02 Clohessy  6 Disappointed me I heard he was better than he showed
05 Coughlan  5 Looks past it to me
15 Phillips (Bilel 46 yellow card) 8 best player in a blue shirt
16 Prosser 5 not good seem scared to over lap
04 Hall 7 shot when ever he got a chance, great left foot
12 Ferdinand (Grant 106) 6 showed touches a bit quiet
14 Johnson (Sawyer 70) 6 Workman like
19 Kalala 6 much of a muchness as Johnson
09 Harris  6 Looked like a player on the way down
22 Dickinson 6 bit of a journey man there
Substitutes
17 Bentley,
03 Gilbert,
06 Bilel,
07 Grant, 5 could not influence change
08 N'Diaye,
11 Sawyer, 5 so much promise, no commitment
20 Crawford ( Not given a chance out of favour?)

Ref: Graham 8  was  very consistent booked 5 of the O’s & gave 1 red   

Att: 4,847   Match reporter WildHeart

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Welcome to the first match report of the new season from Weststandviews and I do not think Southend will get an easier game all season against Hereford who were lucklustre in all departments on the field and were lucky to have all eleven men on the pitch as their frustration threatened them to all most self destruction.
How Neil Harris did not score a hat trick along with Mohsni in a make shift forward role is hard to convey and even Liam Dickinson who came on for the final three minutes could have scored two goals,such was the dominance by Southend Utd throughout the whole 90 minutes


I can only say last season I wrote that Lincoln were one of the worse teams I have ever seen at Roots Hall, well I think Hereford took the title to day, and if one game is anything to go by Hereford fans will have a long hard season a head,  honestly Southend should/could have won by five goals and I remember only one tame shot that Morris saved during the whole 90 minutes.


The first ten minutes of the game was like a chess match with neither side showing any movement and the silence by the 5100 supporters was deafening, however on the 13th minute a pin point cross by Hall was met by Mohsni who headed in across the goal given the keeper no chance to make it one nil, two minutes later it could have been two as the ball was scrambled away by a nervy Bull defence, ten minutes later Mohsni through on goal ballooned the ball over the cross bar,when a simple pass to Harris was all that was needed to go two goals up, five minutes after a thundering free kick by Kalala was saved by the keeper, and despite huff and puff by Mohsni two more chances were wasted.
As the half time whistle went my thoughts went to three players Jemal Johnson reminded me so much of Louis Soares, jinxy run and close control but no end product, Anthony Grant seemed very subdued throughout the game and in my eyes seemed a player who's thoughts were else where in the future, and young Luke Prosser who had an earlier chance off the line playing with discipline and confidence and fitted in the left back slot well


Second half started and within a minute a cross by Hall was met by Harris in front of goal and headed over, some how it seemed easier to score than miss and Harris's face agreed, Mohsni then scored only to be ruled correctly off side, but minutes later the linesman was directly in front of Herefords number three who kicked out at Mohsni whilst on the ground, no doubt straight red card, but both referee and linesman continued with play much to crowds displeasure in the Weststand North bank end


Southend dominance throughout the game continued as lack of communication by Hereford players, meant little effort by the Southend defence was needed as any Hereford attack was quickly stopped especially by the impressive Barker and Phillips in the middle.
At the other end it was a different story a goal clearance came back to Harris who hit the post from five yards, Mohsni had two one on one's which was saved by the keeper, a cameo three minutes by Dickinson resulted in one shot hitting the crossbar and another saved by the Hereford keeper in the dying minute


How Southends goal difference is not plus five is a mystery, and though it is hard to decide if Southend Utd were simply too good for a very poor Hereford side is open for debate, I'm sure stronger teams will be the mark in coming weeks for us, and similar to Hereford, can they play that bad again and expect to come away with just a one nil defeat


Ryan Hall had a mixed bag day,when he found his distance he looked Championship class, but other times he wasted the ball and when a simple pass was needed he tried to be Beckham in his play and failed miserably
A good start and three points on the board for Southend and though I expect Sturrock is pleased,he will be honest enough to know that a great chance to increase the goal difference was wasted, I wouldnot blame Mohsni as he had a very good game, but I do wonder if only a known striker was on the field in young Crawford or not wanted Patterson was playing, would we be shouting from the roof tops after one game that we are top of the league?


Weststandviews man of the match  Bilel Mohsni, closely followed by Mark Phillips and Luke Prosser