Source: FOOTYMAD
Shrimpers & Stanley settle for stalemate
Southend United 1 Accrington Stanley 1: Bilel Mohsni's second half header was enough to secure a point for the Blues and continue ten man Accys eight-month wait for an away win. Blues boss Paul Sturrock made four changes from the side that played Charlton last Tuesday.As expected Glenn Morris returned in goal for Rhys Evans, while Sofiene Zaaboub replaced the injured Ryan Hall on the left. Both loanee strikers, Antonio German and Jack Midson started, leaving Barry Corr and Blair Sturrock warming the subs bench.It's taken a half century to meet up again, and some will wonder they shou;d have waited another 50 years, so poor was the quality delivered by both teams.It was worse for the Blues faithful as; a) they were at home and, b) they played the last 12 minutes against ten men, yet another awful challange on Anthony Grant, but at least this got a red card this time, one of the few things referee Suttton got right on the day, he also didn't have a good game! Not much to write about the first 45 really, the second wasn't much better, one fears for the rest of the season as the afternoon's get colder, Grant had a hopeful strike from way out that flew into the south bank, oh and Stanley scored!26 minutes; Luke Prosser, I hope Graham Coughlan was carryinhg an injury though he was on the bench, arguably fouls Ray Putterill, up Steps Accys midfielder Jimmy Ryan, who curls a beauty into the top right hand corner from 25 yards to give Morris no chance. A special moment to be savoured in this game.After the break Stanley looked the most likely for a while but a couple of decent chances were wasted before Grant had a go at his own long range set piece, and fired it wide. The two loanee strikers had not done much, a won header here, a decent pass there, when German jumped highest to head a Josh Simpson cross just past the post. Andrew Proctor reminded us Stanley were still out there with a shot from distance well saved by Morris, and then an excellent sliding tackle from Peter Gilbert stopped Terry Gornell from pulling the trigger. Then five minutes after the hour a defender finally scored this season for the Shrimpers and the home side were level.Sofiene Zaaboub, not my favourite but I thought his best game for the club, sent over an excellent teasing cross to the back post finding Bilel Mohsni who headed home in fine style off the underside of the bar. Luggy sensed victory and sent top scorer Corr on for Midson, but it was the QPR teenager German who unleashed a fine strike, well pushed up and over by Accys shot stopper Ian Dunbavin. On 76 minutes Accrington right-back Peter Murphy took it upon himself to commit a horrendous lunge on poor old Snoop Dog and took no further part in proceedings, the fourth Stanley player to see red this season.Blimey they picked up five yellows in this game alone, and it should have been more, some of the timewasting that went upunished was incredible! The Shrimpers did see second substitute Harry Crawford, on for German, place the ball in the net after a free-kick from Zaaboub in stoppage time, but sadly a linesman was raising his flag for offside.So more points lost at Roots Hall and no push up the table; a chance to escape the pressures of the league then on Tuesday with the cup replay against Macclesfield, before a trip to Shrewsbury next weekend, a daunting prospect at the moment.Southend player markings: Morris - 6, Clohessy - 6, Mohsni - 7, Prosser - 5, Gilbert - 6, Simpson - 6, Easton - 6, Grant - 6, Zaaboub - 6, German - 6 (Crawford 91), Midson - 5 (Corr 68 - 5). Referee - Mr. G. Sutton - 5. Npower League Two, Saturday, 13th November 2010 @ 15:00Bilel 65Ryan 26Starting Line-ups 1Morris 2Clohessy 3Gilbert 16Prosser 6Bilel 11Zaaboub 4Simpson 8Easton 7Grant 22German (Crawford 90+1)25Midson (Corr 68)Substitutes 9Paterson 17Soares 20Crawford (German 90+1)5Coughlan 21Sturrock 10Corr (Midson 68)24Evans 49%Possession51%1Goal Attempts11On Target10Off Target00Hit Woodwork06Corners4Starting Line-ups 25Dunbavin 5Long 4Hessey 17Murphy 3Winnard 6Proctor 10Putterill 14Joyce (Bennet 63)11McConville (Owens 80)7Ryan 24Gornell Substitutes 1Cisak 22Owens (McConville 80)19Boulding 2Bateson 13Richardson 15Parkinson 8Bennet (Joyce 63)RefereeGarry SuttonAttendance4,748Southend Utd. CardsCorr90+4 TimewastingAccrington S. CardsBennet64 Unsporting behaviourProctor66 Unsporting behaviourHessey71 Unsporting behaviourMurphy78 Violent conductDunbavin90 TimewastingGornell90+1 Unsporting behaviour
