Southend United 1-1 Exeter City - Review!

October 19, 2014 by Alec Hitchman

Southend United 1-1 Exeter City
Blues Yet To Win This Month.

It really was a game of two halves at Roots Hall on Saturday, as Southend’s winless run continued. In the first half, Blues were much the better side, having a couple of shots on goal within the first 15 minutes.

Blues took the lead after pressurising Exeter for more or less the first half an hour. Will Atkinson got past the Exeter right back, to put in a superb cross for David Worrell, who headed in at the back post, whilst claiming his first Southend goal. Lee Barnard was the first unlucky Blues player, as the ball eventually fell to him after a bit of pinball in the Exeter penalty area, Barnard’s shot from 5 yards out somehow hit the foot of the post instead of going in and Exeter cleared to safety.

Blues continued to push and were unlucky not to get a second goal, as Jack Payne’s shot was cleared off the line by an Exeter defender. In my opinion, Blues were clearly missing the presence of captain John White at right back, who picked up an injury in training on Friday. Ryan Leonard filled in at right back in place of White, and didn’t play too badly, but Exeter started to find their way down the right, past Leonard a few times, as the first half drew to a close.

In the second half, it was a case of defend, defend, defend for Blues, as whatever Exeter boss Paul Tisdale said to his players at half time, seemed to work instantly. They (Exeter) were on the attack almost straight from the off, and could have equalised, had it not been for Daniel Bentley’s quick thinking, coming out to collect the ball from an in-swinging cross from Exeter’s Liam Sercombe.

A few moments later, Exeter were attacking again, but Southend once again, had Bentley to thank, who saved well from Exeter’s top scorer Graham Cummins.

TIt was, however, Cummins who got Exeter back into the game not long after. Grecians right back Danny Butterfield’s through ball evaded the entire Blues midfield and caught the defence out cold, as Cummins raced through, tracked by Blues defender Adam Thompson. Thompson did all he could to stop Cummins, but the striker kept a cool head and brushed off the attentions of the defender and the onrushing Daniel Bentley, to curl a left footed shot into the net. Had Thompson gone to ground, the referee would have awarded Exeter a penalty without doubt. Thompson would probably have been sent off too as he was the last man.

FBlues continued to absorb Exeter pressure and were lucky not to go 2-1 down, as another Exeter counter attack led to Jimmy Keohane hitting the post for the visitors. It then turned into "The Exeter Show" from then on, as Blues didn’t have many, if any shots in the dying embers of the game.

Barry Corr did come on from the subs bench, to replace Lee Barnard. Both players were playing against one of their old clubs (Exeter). Corr could have won it for Blues towards the end, but was beaten to the ball by Exeter ‘keeper Christie Pym.

All in all, I think a draw was a fair result in the end. Up next for Blues is a trip to Wales tomorrow night (21/10/14), as we take on Newport County.