Kirkmans Southend Review.

On the pitch you could not fault the players for effort; they certainly do not seem to have given upon the club. They were pumping each other up before kick off and set about Southend like there was no difference in their league positions. We played fast skilful football and in the first 15 minutes we had most of the possession and territorial advantage without really threatening to score. This was to be our failing all night and from the matches I have seen over the last 3 years it is a regular problem.

Inevitably when you are near the top of the league you score with your only chance. After 15 minutes Murdoch let a ball slip under is boot and it was picked up by Southend switched to the left, back inside and a shot it Montgomery’s left hand post only to rebound to an unmarked Sean Goater 6 yards out.

Despite this set back the Millers continued to press with the midfield of Mullin, Williamson, Quinn and Keane being prominent. It was my first sight of Quinn and I was impressed. To hear ‘You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn’ took me back 40 years. Forte was running everywhere up front like a streak of lightning. With the possession we had and the chances we created you felt that a goal must come but in truth we never really troubled Flahaven in the home goal.

Then just before half time we were hit by a quick breakaway goal. One second the Millers were pressing the next after a long accurate ball lout of defence, a long accurate ball right to left and a pass inside Eastwood was through to shoot under Montgomery’s body. The pace of it was almost too quick to take in. Somehow we had devised a way to go in 2-0 down after 45 minutes where we had perhaps slightly more of the game although Southend showed enough to see why they are at the top and were a constant threat. The whole half had been flowing, end to end stuff and a great credit to the Division. It was full blooded but not dirty.

The Millers came out in the second half and there was no let up, indeed for the first 20 minutes they had there most dominant spell and Southend could not get out of their half. The Millers continued to create chance after chance and although the goalie was called upon now we still could not score. Shaw had two bites at a chance from 2 yards out but could not get it in the net. At this stage Southend had to resort to dubious tactics to quell us and it was here that I thought the referee, Mark Crossley, was too lenient, a course which lead to the game degenerating in the final quarter. A number of Southend players were committing ‘professional’ fouls to keep us out (particularly Sodje) but the only booking at this stage was Prior for dissent!

Lest I be accused of bias we were not wholly blameless. Lee Williamson has many virtues but timing a tackle is not one of them I am fairly certain one of his efforts was a jump tackle. Had the referee been firmer at this point the plethora of yellow cards towards the end could have been avoided.

The Goat

As the game progressed Keane went off to be replaced by Hoskins and Sean Goater was substituted. He left the field to a chorus of ‘There’s only one Sean Goater’ and a round of applause from Millers fans which was nice to see. The Millers fought to the end but you felt in the end that a goal would not come. It didn’t.

In summary then a 2-0 defeat from a match where we had more than half of it and created far more chances than the opposition. Why do we consistently fail to find the net when on top? Undoubtedly we are playing without any confidence in front of goal instead of having a pop; players will cut back or find an extra pass, complicating things. Just run through and shoot. In addition the rule that says that if you are at the bottom every ricochet or close decision will go against you is alive and well and residing at Millmoor.

We may not avoid relegation but the Millers will continue to be worth watching if they play like this for the rest of the season. Like everyone else though I will accept relegation as long as I can be guaranteed a club to support. Save our Millers. I must go and buy a lottery ticket this morning!