Source: FOOTYMAD
Half-Time: Bury 1 Southend United 0
Blues keeper Glen Morris saved an early penalty but Bury still go into the break with a lead thanks to a Joe Skarz header from close range in the 41st minute. v Blues boss Paul Sturrock decided to make five changes after the poor performance last weekend against Crewe.The more usual 4-4-2 formation saw Peter Gilbert come back at left-back for Johnny Herd, Josh Simpson return at right midfield having recovered from his man-flu, Ryan Hall swapped places with Louie Soares wide left. It was in attack though that would have brought a smile to the travelling Blues faithful as Barry Corr and Blair Sturrock both returned from injuries with Waide Fairhurst dropping to the bench. However, Johnny Herd, Luke Prosser and MattPaterson were all dropped from of the squad as predicted by S24 but young midfielder Alex Woodyard was promoted after impressing for Blues Two's. As this would have been the eleven we would have selected given the injuries, suspensions and Luggy's known dislike of Matty, we can have no excuses if it goes pear shaped and as early as the fourth minute it nearly did!The rookie ref Mark Brown decided that Chris Parker had fouled Bury's ManU loanee Nicholas Ajose in the box, we warned he was a handful, so up stepped Ryan Lowe, and his poor effort was kept out by the much-criticised Glen Morris. Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Coughlan, Barker, Gilbert, Simpson, Grant, Timlin, Hall, Sturrock, Corr. Subs: Evans, Phillips, Woodyard, Soares, Crawford, Fairhurst, Jarvis.
