With new owners and the results achieved amid extreme off-field issues last season, the Shrimpers have kicked off the new campaign with increased expectations of a promotion push. But it was never going to be straight forward and Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Barnet was another reminder as to why. Sides with far bigger budgets who have the continuity and consistency of being well run for a considerable amount of time are still ahead of Blues at this stage.
And it will take time for that gap to narrow. The Shrimpers papered over the cracks in many ways last season but success can only be secured against the odds for so long without the long-standings problems being addressed. Blues have certainly made real progress in the short time since the consortium took charge and even have water running at their Boots & Laces training base now! But the harsh reality is that a club so neglected and virtually left to die cannot suddenly spring back into life and become immediate pace-setters at the top of the table.
The Shrimpers have faced some strong opposition in their fixtures so far, with Barnet arguably the best so far. The Bees have made 15 signings since the end of last season and seem destined to be right in the race for promotion again this time around. Right now, they boast an incredible strength in depth that Southend are sadly lacking at this stage.
Barnet’s options off the bench added an extra dimension late on whereas Blues do not really have that level of luxury right now, aside from George Moncur who is still working his way back to full fitness after signing on a season long loan from Leyton Orient. Further attacking reinforcements are most definitely required, especially with Josh Walker already sidelined with a hamstring issue he will have scanned in the next few days. Without him, the Shrimpers are short of options to partner Harry Cardwell and that is a situation which must be addressed if Kevin Maher’s side are to achieve anything this year.
Don’t get me wrong I fully expect Blues to be pushing for the play-offs this season and the need for building blocks should not act as an excuse for a talented group of players who showed in stages of Saturday’s game that they were more than a match for the promotion favourites. Barnet slightly shaded a first half which was short of much goalscoring action and took the lead via a long range shot from Harry Chapman that goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi will have been frustrated to concede. The talented shot-stopper has performed admirably between the sticks for the Shrimpers in recent times.
But he looked uncharacteristically shaky on Saturday, particularly with the ball at his feet. Andeng Ndi was not helped at times by defenders and deep lying midfielders trying to be too intricate in possession when in potentially dangerous situations. However, the Shrimpers rallied in the second half and, with Moncur on in the midfield, the visitors began to enjoy their best spell of the game in front of their outstanding travelling supporters who amazingly outnumbered those from Barnet.
That pressure soon resulted in the in-form Gus Scott-Morriss blasting home a deflected equaliser for his third goal in four games and, at that stage, Blues appeared the more likely winners. But the Shrimpers were unable to make the most of that momentum and were quickly undone on the counter-attack which led to Mark Shelton winning and converting a penalty which ultimately condemned the visitors to their first defeat of the campaign. Lessons will certainly have been learnt against strong opposition, including the need to be a bit more streetwise at times and quicker in possession when looking to go forward.
Blues will be aiming to quickly put that right when they return to action against Dagenham & Redbridge at Roots Hall this afternoon. And an immediate return to winning ways would certainly ease the pain experienced in the aftermath of Saturday’s setback – which was the Shrimpers’ fourth in succession against the Bees..
