Back to Roots Hall on a chilly December evening to concentrate on the
league. Despite Saturday's FA Cup reverse (I wasn't there), Tilly kept
faith with an unchanged side:

Flahavan
Hunt Prior Barrett Wilson
Campbell-Ryce Maher Smith Gower
Goater Eastwood

Subs: Edwards, Bentley, Cole, Lawson, Gray

Gower and Prior could probably consider themselves luckiest to have
retained their starting berths after costly individual errors against
the MK Dons.

The first half had more in common with a chess match than a game of
football, with neither side being able to fashion a gilt edged chance or
build up sustained pressure. The Blues played some good possession
football, but lacked penetration.

In a bizarre passage of play a powerful Chesterfield shot was blocked by
Wayne Allison, sparking a Blues attack which ended with Freddy shooting
and hitting the Goat.

Southend's best shot, from Kevin Maher, was also blocked. The Spireites
best opportunity fell to an unmarked Wayne Allison but before he was
able to get a shot away, he was clearly bundled over by Spinner, just
outside the box. The resulting free kick was struck straight at the
wall.

Mark Gower worked exceptionally hard in the first period, a real team
performance - he was most effective going forward after switching with
JCR to move to the right flank. Shaun Goater, by contrast, was marked
out of the game and was virtually anonymous. In a move more reminiscent
of a reserve game or pre-season friendly, Tilly withdrew both at the
break, bringing on James Lawson and Wayne Gray respectively.

Once again the changes had a positive impact and the Blues looked more
lively and inventive going forward but too often found it difficult to
find a killer ball against a well organised Chesterfield defence. Clear
chances remained at a premium, the best probably falling to JCR who
failed to hit the target and to Wayne Gray who had his shot blocked as
the keeper narrowed the angle. However, the best build up play came in
the interchanges between Freddy and James down the left flank. Benno
replaced Jay Smith with a quarter of an hour left to freshen up the
midfield.

As the game progressed the visitors looked increasingly happy with a
point, but that didn't stop them finding time to burst through from
another Prior error, only to miss a simple looking tap-in, although the
flag had gone up, and for Lewis Hunt to be called into action in making
a goalline clearance late on.

A point both sides will probably settle for in the final analysis. From
a Shrimper's perspective, a clean sheet and the losing sequence halted
with an improved performance. Something to build upon when Bradford
visit on Saturday.

Player by player:

Flahavan - not overly tested during this midfield stalemate.
Hunt - much improved on recent showings. Excellent last line of defence
and saw plenty of the ball in advanced areas.
Prior - rolled back the years, but only in his mind. The body couldn't
keep up and he nearly cost us dearly.
Barrett - a few sloppy moments but generally solid.
Wilson - another virtually error free showing.
Campbell-Ryce - fully committed but without a quality end product.
Disappointing.
Maher - better distribution and control from our holding midfielder but
still lacking decent delivery in open play.
Smith - got stuck in and played a more advanced Maher type role. Jay's
performances are still improving after the injuries.
Gower - worked very hard for perhaps his best 45 minutes of the season.
Would never have lasted beyond the break though.
Goater - anonymous during the first half and rightly substituted.
Eastwood - at the heart of all the Blues best inventive attacking play.
Gray - his pace and understanding with Freddy made a difference
immediately.
Lawson - yet again showed willing to try things and a never say die
attitude, typified by a backheel to force a ricochet for a corner.
Bentley - unable to transform the final 15 minutes.

My man of the match - Lewis Hunt for an assured performance in defence
and a willingness to get forward.

Whilst we put the breaks on our slide Swansea pressed on but
Huddersfield threw away a two goal lead and ended up with nine men in
collecting just a point at the MK Dons. Brentford also blew a two goal
advantage before nicking a late victory over ten man Yeovil to nip past
us into third. Chesterfield remain a point behind us but Col U and
Barnsley both won to join them.

If today was a chance for the starting eleven to repay the faith shown
in them after our cup exit, eight of the players deserve to start again
on Saturday. Prior will return to the bench and Andy Edwards will come
back in - likewise Gray for Goater. I would also rest Jamal, preferring
Lawson on the left with Gower on the right with Coley as first change.

An unexpected victory at Valley Parade kick started our season back in
August and a home victory could restart things in time for the Christmas
period. But Darryl should watch out for Dean Windass - he'll be hungry
for revenge...

John