Source: FOOTYMAD
Corr and Clohessy do the business: Half-Time - Oxford United 0 Southend United 2
A Barry Corr strike and a cracker from Sean Clohessy has given the weakened Shrimpers a shock two goal lead at the half way stage of the League Two clash with the U's at the Kassam Stadium. Corr Blimey, the lads must think they are still playing at Cheltenham!Anyway, Blues boss Paul Sturrock made five changes to his starting line-up.The big surprise was Anthony Grant out with a knee injury, we're told, hope it's not because someone's come in with a bid, while Bilel Mohnsi's ankle sadly didn't recover in time.Our two best players, this should have been a tough afternoon, and might still be, there's a few youngsters out there!One of them, Kane Ferdinand, makes his senior debut in midfield, and Graham Coughlan has also started, slipping into the back four. Luggy has chosen Rhys Evans over Glenn Morris, who has also been struggling with an ankle injury, while Louie Soares replaces the Crawley-bound Josh Simpson on the right flank. Up front Barry Corr returns to the side in place of Jack Midson who has returned to his parent club but Oxford have not even placed him on the bench as they did in their 2-1 home win over Macclesfield last Tuesday.Now the good bit.With 5 home defeats we felt the U's were fragile at the Kassam, but with the Shrimpers seriously weakened due to the loss of Grant and Mohsni, a two goal lead at the break is bloody Disneyland!Though possession has been roughly equal, at the business ends of the pitch it's been all Blues, with three Oxford players receiving cautions, and two of them have been substituted already!The inconsistant Soares has started well, looking busy, and it was his corner that opened Southend's account on 18 minutes.Coughlan was making himself a nusiance and his flick found Barry Corr inside the area to score with a low drive. That would have good enough to welcome in the New Year for the travelling faithful in the 7,362 crowd as the home side continued to be ineffective against the hard working Essex boys when with a minute to go before the break, that goal scoring sensation at right back, one Sean Clohessy, decided to cheer them up even more.Assisted by the veteran Coughlan again, the former Gillingham defender let fly from 35 yards to send the away section of the crowd absoluetly crazy, with the U's sections stunned into a eirie silence. Two bloody nil; again! Half-Time: Oxford United 0 Southend United 2Southend United: Evans, Clohessy, Coughlan, Barker, Herd, Soares, Easton, Ferdinand, Hall, Corr, Sturrock. Subs: Morris, Prosser, Paterson, Woodyard, Bouzid, James-Lewis, Crawford.
