Southend United (A) 18th Mar, 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

(2nd attempt, after the original refused to be posted and thereafter vanished :evil: ) It's turning into a "Bird's Eye" week this week - having waved goodbye to The Cod Army - and given them 3 points - we travel to Roots Hall to face The Shrimpers in what may be a last attempt to keep any lingering play-off hopes alive. Phil Brown's Southend United are having a reasonably successful season, currently sitting in 7th place with 57 points, 4 more than ourselves, and promotion via the play-offs is certainly possible as they are only 6 points behind Bradford City with a game in hand. Interestingly though, Southend's home form (which is what we are up against) isn't always what you might expect from a promotion candidate, and they've only managed draws at home to the likes of Peterborough United, Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Swindon Town, Port Vale, Charlton Athletic and Northampton Town - so perhaps we can at least aim for a point, which would mirror the point we got back in November in the reverse fixture, after a 0-0 draw in which we rattled their woodwork twice. Southend's recent League One form:

18 Feb Northampton Town (H) Drew 2-2
21 Feb Peterborough United (A) Won 1-4
25 Feb Gillingham (A) Lost 2-1
4 Mar Port Vale (H) Drew 1-1
11 Mar Bristol Rovers (A) Lost 2-0
14 Mar Coventry City (A) Won 0-2

One familiar face we may or may not see tomorrow will be that of Jason Demetriou - he didn't figure at all in their most recent game, but had been booked in the previous one so possibly attracted some kind of suspension. His marauding wing-back play must be guarded against, as must the scoring ability of Nile Ranger, who was on target earlier this week at The Ricoh. Speaking of The Ricoh, we have yet to visit that mausoleum, and if the fat lady at the Banks's is probably clearing her throat prior to singing about our mid-table finish, at The Ricoh she is already half-way through her first aria in recognising the downfall of their ex-Premiership tenants.........

Prediction time - and, as always, very tricky ... bearing in mind Southend's present position and nearness to those coveted play-off places, I would be more than happy to come away from Roots Hall with a point. Interestingly enough, analysis of the most recent 10 games for both clubs reveals identical results with 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats. As usual, it will depend on who turn up on the day!! And who turns up on the day will be in Jon Whitney's mind when it comes to team selection - if he has reached the conclusion that the play-offs are realistically beyond us in his first full season then he may well consider "blooding" some of the fringe members of the squad as part of his preparations for next season. Whatever his choices are, he will probably have to shuffle his defence if O'Connell's injury prevents his taking any part in this game. I will go for an optimistic 1-1 scoreline, with our Turkish Messi back on song.

UTS :D

[BathSaddler]

A 2-0 defeat.

[Walsallone]

Demetriou was left out of the last game with some others because of tiredness! not surprised if he is playing in the same role as he did for us. I seem to recall he finished last season in poorest form.
Although we won there last season Southend is a place where we rarely win so I think a defeat is likely. 1-0 probably.

[Mazza01]

Player will start wind down now, 2-0 loss.

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

1-0 victory and play off talk saturday tea time.

[aaaae]

I'm gooin. First visit to Roots Hall. Will be my 72nd ground of the current 92. Living the dream.. :mrgreen:

[scott_powell]

With Eoghan O’Connell out I can't see past a loss.

2-0 Southend

[leics_saddler]

Another outing for the solid 8 with a predictable result.
It's anyone guess who'll score for them.
Ricky Otto and Andy Sussex?
JW to say he'll 'keep fighting' and 'believing' for a play off place afterwards.

I've got to hand it to anyone who is going down there tomorrow.

[JonnyOwen]

Going to be my third visit to Saaarfend tomorrow, looking forward to it. Always found it a weird place, don't they have a shed with pitchforks in it right in front of the away end?

As for the game, I think we'll nick it 2-1. Scott Laird and Oztumer with ours, Ranger with theirs. I would have liked to see Laird move into LWB with Edwards dropped to the bench but with Eoghan injury Edwards will stay wing back. I'd love for Makris to start too ahead of Jackson and Bakayoko, not only because I like him but also to give them a kick up the arse as both have really under performed in recent weeks.

[coop63]

I'm going for a bonkers 1-3 win for the Saddlers by the seaside...

Jackson, Bako and Makris :shock:

[SoccerHQ]

Another outing for the solid 8 with a predictable result.
It's anyone guess who'll score for them.
Ricky Otto and Andy Sussex?
JW to say he'll 'keep fighting' and 'believing' for a play off place afterwards.

I've got to hand it to anyone who is going down there tomorrow.

Yep, is there a more difficult trip than this for any Midlands based fan during the season? Maybe Scunny on the Tuesday night? Makes going to Charlton seem like a pop up the road.

Massive respect to anyone going.

[saddla]

Well I'm going. Mind you it is only a 2hour drive from where I live.
Got to hope and pray that it's not a sunny day or the whole of East London seems to want to drive down the A127 to sit on the Thames estuary with their jellied eels. :lol:

[Cully]

I'm chickening out of this one in favour of some minor house maintenance and other stuff which means we'll probably win by the seaside, however, I am not courageous enough to bet on winning preferring to lose my entrance money by placing it on a Sowfend certain win. That way I won't feel so bad if you get my drift :D

Miss Moneypenny to score the winner after Blofeld sends over a glorious cross beating Napoleon Solo at full back, a late replacement for Demetrious who was injured slipping on Saddla's pre-match banana skin. :?
Whitney to sign a new 5 year contract in celebration.

[chunkster]

we will get nothing out of this, 2-0 loss i just hope we manage to get a shot on target :|

[Pedagogue]

... I just hope we manage to get a shot on target :|

I love an optimist!

[chunkster]

... I just hope we manage to get a shot on target :|

I love an optimist!

I was optimistic that we would have one on tuesday and look where that got me :lol:

[EvenFlow]

MAKRIS STARTS UP TOP!

Today's the day :twisted:

[Walsallone]

Beat me to it EVENFLOW.....lets hope he can do well and score!!

[hunslet49]

MAKRIS STARTS UP TOP!

Today's the day :twisted:

Probably only playing the first seven minutes though

[chriss5471]

I am so, happy. I don't care if we lose 10-9 as long as Makris scores all 9!

Problem I have though, he is starting in a team with no O'Connell, Flo or Morris which means a majority of his service will be long ball and he will probably look awful due to it!

[Harry]

Makris gets his 11th league start of the season. This is his first start since November.

What did he do in his 10 previous starts, and in the 10 substitute appearances since his last start, to justify another chance?

Bakayoko has scored 4 goals in his 14 league starts (and of course 6 goals in 4 Checkatrade games), which is a reasonable return for a young striker.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Makris gets his 11th league start of the season. This is his first start since November.

What did he do in his 10 previous starts, and in the 10 substitute appearances since his last start, to justify another chance?

Bakayoko has scored 4 goals in his 14 league starts (and of course 6 goals in 4 Checkatrade games), which is a reasonable return for a young striker.

It's possibly related to the realisation that this game at Southend is one of low expectations from our point of view. We are rank outsiders to bring 3 points back, and with the play-offs only a distant possibility to a certain extent the pressure will be off - ideal for Makris to show us what he might be capable of. Let's see ......... :D

[Welsh_Saddler]

Full starting line-up against Southend United:

Etheridge

Preston
O'Connor
Laird
McCarthy

Osbourne
Chambers
Dobson
Edwards

Oztumer

Makris

Substitutes: MacGillivray, Jackson, Bakayoko, Morris, Randall-Hurren, Roberts, Moussa

[kshammer]

Look at the attacking flair in that line up.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Very early goals ... Bristol Rovers 1 Chesterfield 0 (1 min) ... (Edit - it was timed at 36 seconds!!)

Sheffield United 0 Charlton Athletic 1 (2 min)

Rochdale 1 Gillingham 0 (8 min)

Peterborough Utd 0 Oldham Athletic 1

Oxford Utd 0 Scunthorpe Utd 1 (13 min)

[aaaae]

They are a big team, going aerial most of the time. We have a tiny frontline and so far doing the same. Stoopid.

[Welsh_Saddler]

The Blades have woken up - 1-1 at home to Charlton now

Bristol Rovers 2 Chesterfield 0

Rochdale 1 Gillingham 1

The Turkish Messi is off injured, with Fat Franck replacing him - can Moussa last for the rest of the game???? :shock:

And the Super Saddlers take the lead at Roots Hall!!!!!!!!! 0-1 (20 min) :D :D :D :D

[EvenFlow]

Fat Frank scores within minutes of coming on!!

[aaaae]

Fantastic goal. Started with a great bit of skill from Makros, great finish by Mussa.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Play for time lads............... :mrgreen:

EDIT .... less need to play for time now, as we are 0-2 up !!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D A Moussa double ...........