Source: FOOTYMAD
Stalemate for Shrimpers in Bore Draw
Southend United 0 Exeter City: Highlights from this relegation battle were few and far between as both sides settled for one point each but remain deep in trouble in the drop zone, four points from safety. I pity the Beeb guy trying to find any significant action to get a couple of minutes out of this game, it was dire stuff, and both teams could be facing each other again next season, but in League Two.In an inspired piece of previewing Tilly agreed with S24, and with the majority of the crowd that went to Hartlepool last week, and dropped M'Voto This will be one of the quicker reports I've written, and in strict chronological order, the chances;Simon Francis, who had one of his better attacking games at right back, found Matt Paterson with a great ball to set up Scott Vernon, who shot right at the Grecian shot stopper Paul Jones.Exeter had a couple of shots themselves, from Ryan Hartley and James Dunne, that didn't seriously test Blues keeper Steve Mildenhall.That was the first half done, and now for the second, where at least we saw the ball in the back of the net, luckily for the home crowd the effort was given offside as it was a Grecian who placed it there.First there was time for three Southend efforts, Francis Laurent had his strike tipped over by Jones, Vernon had another shot, harder this time, but still straight at Jones, who picked up the rebound before the ColU loanee could get their first.Then the moment that could have proved disastrous for any Shrimper hopes to escape relegation, not that it's exactly looking rosy at the moment. Dunne hit a vicious shot from around 20 yards which Mildenhall brilliantly pushed on to the crossbar for Stansfield to place the rebound into the back of the net. Cheers all round from the Roots Hall faithful when they noticed the linesman's flag raised for offside.The Devon based side started to look more likely after this and though Laurent failed with another chance it was Exeter who now had most of the ball. Stansfield having a strike that after a deflection spun wide of the left hand post with Mildenhall going the other way!Fleetwood's control let him down when found in a good position in the Blues penalty area, while it took a terrific defensive header by Pat Baldwin to take the ball away from Fleetwood who again had found himself unmarked in the danger zone.Another good save by Jones, from Damien Scannell this time, brought an end to a game that was not as exciting as it may sound when you list a few chances one by one.At least it stopped the rot of four successive defeats but is it good enough to kick start a great escape by the Shrimpers, we'll no more after the next two games, also at home, against Carlisle and Walsall.And though the lads tried hard enough, the Moose worked his socks off in central midfield, especially when having to cover the tiring Anthony Grant, the loss of Lee Barnard is being felt with each passing match.Southend player markings: Mildenhall - 7, Francis - 7, Baldwin - 6, Barrett - 6, Malone - 5, Laurent - 5, Grant - 6, Moussa - 7, Scannell - 6, Paterson - 6(Spencer 80 - 5), Vernon - 5.
