City 0 Southend Utd 0
Feb 17, 2024 21:35:26 GMT
Post by Rijs on Feb 17, 2024 21:35:26 GMT
Expecting a full report from Clive soon, I'll confine myself to a few reflections on today's game and our situation.
First, a word of credit to the fantastic fans of Southend who came in such numbers and good voice. Thank you for creating the atmosphere, even if it did mean we were ejected from our own Shed! Good luck for the rest of the season - your team doesn't deserve to go down.
Second, credit too to the beleaguered, injury-hit City squad which battled hard for their point today. It was great to keep a clean sheet after last week's catastrophe. The defence played very well under considerable pressure in the second half, and new loan keeper Tom Watson had a fine game despite making us nervous at times with the ball at his feet and visitors coming up for a high press. Andre Burley had a super game and would have been my MoM normally, but even he was outshone by debutant Brooklyn Kabongolo who gave a very assured and impressive performance at the heart of the defence. Good of Southend to release him! He barely put a foot wrong and he had a lot to do. I hope we see plenty more of him.
But the whole team put in a shift and placed bodies on the line. Although our opponents dominated possession for long periods, we did have a few chances of our own, with Aaron Williams-Bushell testing their keeper with two strong shots on target, and Josh Ashby hitting the bar from distance, matching the Shrimpers' who also hit our bar. For a goalless draw, it was entertaining stuff with plenty of goalmouth action, but you could see why United have not let many goals in this season.
Once again, City lacked that extra spark up front which might have opened them up more often. Josh Parker battled gamely against two big stoppers but we needed Zac running at them. Seeing him on the terrace with his ankle well strapped up, it did not look promising.
Both sets of supporters were unhappy with some refereeing decisions. Both the Roddy booking for us, and the sending off for them, looked like harsh bookings of players whose fouls were not malicious and were at least partly accidental. We thought the ref missed or let go of a lot, including Scott-Morriss repeatedly stealing yards down the touchline to get further forward for his long throws, and the big stopper holding Kabongolo with both hands every time he came up for a set piece. Josh Parker came in for some rough treatment at times but was not intimidated.
All that said, we desperately needed three points today and getting one while several rivals were winning has meant we end the day further behind than we began it. Ebbsfleet have begun to find some form, Dorking have had a pretty good week and Kidderminster are much improved of late. A win on Tuesday is imperative if we are to begin a Houdini escape act.
First, a word of credit to the fantastic fans of Southend who came in such numbers and good voice. Thank you for creating the atmosphere, even if it did mean we were ejected from our own Shed! Good luck for the rest of the season - your team doesn't deserve to go down.
Second, credit too to the beleaguered, injury-hit City squad which battled hard for their point today. It was great to keep a clean sheet after last week's catastrophe. The defence played very well under considerable pressure in the second half, and new loan keeper Tom Watson had a fine game despite making us nervous at times with the ball at his feet and visitors coming up for a high press. Andre Burley had a super game and would have been my MoM normally, but even he was outshone by debutant Brooklyn Kabongolo who gave a very assured and impressive performance at the heart of the defence. Good of Southend to release him! He barely put a foot wrong and he had a lot to do. I hope we see plenty more of him.
But the whole team put in a shift and placed bodies on the line. Although our opponents dominated possession for long periods, we did have a few chances of our own, with Aaron Williams-Bushell testing their keeper with two strong shots on target, and Josh Ashby hitting the bar from distance, matching the Shrimpers' who also hit our bar. For a goalless draw, it was entertaining stuff with plenty of goalmouth action, but you could see why United have not let many goals in this season.
Once again, City lacked that extra spark up front which might have opened them up more often. Josh Parker battled gamely against two big stoppers but we needed Zac running at them. Seeing him on the terrace with his ankle well strapped up, it did not look promising.
Both sets of supporters were unhappy with some refereeing decisions. Both the Roddy booking for us, and the sending off for them, looked like harsh bookings of players whose fouls were not malicious and were at least partly accidental. We thought the ref missed or let go of a lot, including Scott-Morriss repeatedly stealing yards down the touchline to get further forward for his long throws, and the big stopper holding Kabongolo with both hands every time he came up for a set piece. Josh Parker came in for some rough treatment at times but was not intimidated.
All that said, we desperately needed three points today and getting one while several rivals were winning has meant we end the day further behind than we began it. Ebbsfleet have begun to find some form, Dorking have had a pretty good week and Kidderminster are much improved of late. A win on Tuesday is imperative if we are to begin a Houdini escape act.