Planet Swans ArchivesIt was billed as the game that could push the Swans back into the league but it turned out to be an anti-climax at the Vetch tonight as two sides chasing promotion pretty much cancelled themselves out in an interesting, if uninspiring at times, affair.
As expected, Kenny Jackett restored Brad Maylett to the starting line up in place of the injured Adrian Forbes but that was the only change from the side that started last weekend against Chester. Club captain Roberto Martinez had to make do with a place on the bench as expected although he was to feature before the evening was out.
Gueret
Ricketts Iriekpen Monk Austin
Maylett Britton Gurney Robinson
Connor Trundle
Subs: Murphy, Pritchard, Tate, Martinez, Anderson
Although the talk had been that a win was what was needed – avoiding defeat was never going to be a bad result although it was surprising to see Southend boss Steve Tilson saying before the game that a point would do him – surely they needed the win far more than we did?
It was a five figure crowd that crammed into the Vetch for this game – including a decent number having made the trip on subsidised coaches from Essex. But these people were treated to a pretty dire first half – the first part of which belonged to Southend, the second part to Swansea but with no real impact from either side.
Swansea mysteriously were choosing to ignore the largely unmarked Brad Maylett on the right wing whilst there was little doubt that Leon Britton was the shining light of the Swansea performance, constantly looking threatening whilst running at the Southend defence without ever looking likely to break down something so well marshalled and led by former Cardiff man Spencer Prior.
Paul Connor was working tirelessly to win the long balls that both sides were so often resorting to but there was little service for Lee Trundle who was being closely marshalled. Swansea’s best chance was probably a looping Andy Robinson shot that took a deflection which also took the sting off it whilst Southend were restricted to a couple of long range efforts but always looked more dangerous than us from corners (unsurprisingly!)
They must put something in the tea at half time in the home dressing room though as Swansea came out with more purpose in the second half and were soon rewarded with the opening goal of the night from leading scorer Lee Trundle.
A sharp turn in the box left him to hammer home a left footed drive that gave Flahavan no chance and the Vetch was alive with premature sounds of ‘We are top of the league’ All too often of late we have seen a poor first 45 minutes and a decent second 45 minutes and this was possibly what we were expecting in the second half.
It didn’t work that way though as Southend were level within five minutes thanks to a mistake from Izzy Iriekpen. His slip allowed Wayne Gray to run at goal and his well placed shot from the edge of the area eluded the dive of Willy and it was back to 1-1. It was the start of a dreadful half hour for Izzy who looked as if his mind was elsewhere as he made a catalogue or errors – none of them punished by a pretty weak looking Southend attack.
For their own purpose, Swansea huffed and puffed but never really got going in the game although Trundle could have put the Swans ahead almost immediately after the goalkeeper spilled the ball but his shot from a narrow angle sailed wide. Ricketts wasted the best chance of the second half when he shot wide when well placed and Trundle rattled the outside of the post in stoppage time but that was as far as it got.
Roberto Martinez returned to action with just under 20 minutes to go – enforced change due to an injury to Andy Gurney but it had little impact on the pattern of the game which had been set at Swansea possession and Southend keeping us out – mainly with some ease on the night.
It is disappointing to drop points at home but we haven’t lost any ground on the nearest side to the promotion places and thanks to Northampton dropping points at home as well – our position is unchanged from where it was 24 hours ago except two of our rivals now have one game less in which to catch us.
Tonight we witnessed two sides that have little to choose between them other than the six points in the league table and if that remains come the end of the season then that is what we want.
It’s the game in hand on Tuesday night against Mansfield and potentially another chance for the Swans to return to the top outright instead of the join ownership that they currently have.
