Southend United V Bolton Wanderers match thread.......

Wednesday’s match should have given great confidence to the team so, hopefully, we’ll go into this game with high hopes.

I have only had 2 trips to Roots Hall and 2 defeats. A 2-1 defeat when Richard Sneekes rifled in a rocket shot to put us ahead and then we conceded 2 and then the amazing 5-2 defeat in our promotion year in the Championship. We won the league with 98 points and Southend finished bottom but it all went wrong that day.

Other than those 2 games, we have a decent record against Southend so let’s continue that today.


The defence will presumably pick itself although I would like to see Jensen involved if only on the bench. We got away with one on Wednesday when Gilks went down injured – we must have a sub keeper on the bench.


I think he will keep Lee and Williams together but I expect to see Sarcevic start the match. I would leave Isgrove out and put Afolayan onto the wing.

There are calls for Gnahoua to start but I think his role as an impact sub is the best position.


I mentioned in the Mansfield thread the amazing run we had in our promotion season in 1992/93 under Bruce Rioch. After 28 games, as now, we were in 8th position – 4 games without a win. The final 18 games were 15 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat which took us up to 2nd. We need to move from 11th to 7th now so a run like that, which shouldn’t be out of the question, would get us into the playoffs.

So we need a positive approach today, no silly mistakes and a bit more ruthless upfront.


I go for a 2-0 win.

Yeah hesistant to use the term "winnable games" as its L2. They're all winnable and all banana skins. But from the 3 coming up 7points has to be the target.

We're now at a place that if we all turn up and play we win. Simple as. In my view we have the best LB, CB, DM in John, Santos and Lee and the most dangerous attack in Afaloyan, Doyle and Maddison.

We fall short on keeper and RB but yeah those 6 players along with professionals like Baptiste, Williams, Delfouneso and Gilks should be favourites home and away every game


Getting the mindset right. Getting the consistency is what evatt needs to work on.

I'll take a draw today. Keep the unbeaten streak going and get us ready for back to back home games against more bottom 5 clubs albeit they may jump up the table by the time we play them.

P.s i didnt think Sarce would be in the frame yet. Thought he was a few weeks off still from even training?

That bench is scary for Southend and Bolton. Imagine after defending and getting the run around against Afo, Maddison and Delfouenso you see King Arthur, Miller, Thomason and Sarcevic coming on.


And of the flip side theres no GK, CB out of 7. Were told Williams can play at the back. We were told that Marc Wilson could go across the line and in midfield too.

Lets hope Williams has some spare goalie gloves too.

Pleased with that starting eleven, Fonz a question mark but still more productive than Isgrove, who I expect to see little of now. Great strength off the bench but still amazed Evatt believes the risk is worthy of not including a keeper. I hope it doesn’t but one day, you just have to think it will come back to bite him. Can’t see any reason we can’t get a comfortable 3 points today and though some are considering a draw acceptable, I definitely don’t and would consider anything less than a win points dropped unnecessarily. A straightforward 2-0 victory to the Whites today for me.

On top . They have a suggestion of a threat on set pieces. Doyle missed a good follow up chance and his effort cleared off the line was good. Maddison is finding his range.

But we are too ponderous and are not good at final balls. Dapo is doing too much, Delfouneso too little. Both had moments.

Lee and Williams good.

We should be ahead really and need to convert soon. Subs may well be crucial. Game needs something to spark it into life