“Oh we do like to be beside the seaside…”

Southend 2 City 2 

Southend, home to the world’s longest pier, is West Ham country and the latest Hammers joke is apt: why does Curbishley tell his players to use their mobile ‘phones in the car?  It’s the only way they’ll get three points!!! 

There was an odd combination of pre and half time entertainment at Roots Hall (in Estate Agent language, ‘a quaint football ground’): a lady live singer, Chesney Hawkes from yesteryear, a man trying to kick four footballs into a box to win a car and the Essex Bluebell girls.  We were also speculating about the identity of the Southend Mascot – was he a secret Ku Klux Klan member, or an upturned cigarette butt?  No, a shrimp! 

The match started in sun, it rained and finished cloudy, this summed up City’s performance on the day.  A rearranged back four with Maybury on the left struggled all match to contain Southend down the flanks; the ball was given away too often in midfield against a very hard working home side – but there were incisive Leicester attacks, particularly in the first half that saw Horsfield twice and Hume, through 1:1 on the keeper, fail to add to Leicester’s early goal. 

The game began with a wonderful triple save from Henderson to keep out Eastwood at point blank range, then a sweeping City move saw Hume, unmarked, head a driven Porter cross from the left across goal and in at the far post (9 minutes).  Horsfield was booked for diving when it looked like he stumbled and Southend, driven on by Mayer and Gower especially, competed well and finished the half strongly….

 

In the 53rd minute Eastwood equalized for Southend, getting behind McAuley down the inside left channel, he cut in and drilled a low shot inside Henderson’s near post. Foran, for the home side, and Stearman were booked separately, then Foran, again, scythed Jason Jarrett down, as he surged through the middle, and was red carded.  Southend continued to work hard and it was against the run of play when Leicester went back in front.  Hume, in the 81st minute, bundling in his second at the near post after Hammond (on for Horsfield) had passed in from the right.

 

Hume celebrates getting on the goal trail again (Picture courtesy of Raymonds/lcfc.com) 

Against 10 men, Leicester manager Rob Kelly, took a positive approach in trying to make the win safe.  He brought on both Yeates (for an ineffective Porter) and Cadamarteri (for a tiring Hume) – this left nobody to replace Maybury at full back as he was stretchered off in the 88th minute with a leg injury.  Almost immediately, Campbell-Ryce, who had been dangerous all afternoon, cut in from the right. A hastily re-arranged City back four were not decisive.  The ball was scrambled to the back post where Southend substitute McCormack walked it into goal. 

After 5 minutes injury time the final whistle and a 2 – 2 draw was about right.  Leicester will be disappointed not to have won though.  The manager got his substitutions wrong, City were not balanced as a team or as secure on the ball as in recent matches, Southend were desperate for points and never stopped working with the result that several away team players struggled to impact on the game.  

All-in-all though, it was enjoyable!

Leicester: Henderson, Stearman, McAuley, Kisnorbo, Maybury, Hughes, Jarrett, Johnson, Porter (Yeates 80), Hume (Cadamarteri 86), Horsfield (Hammond 66). Subs Not Used: Logan, Kenton.

Booked: Horsfield, Stearman.  Goals: Hume 9, 81.

Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Sodje (Harrold 86), Clarke, Hunt, Campbell-Ryce, Gower, Maher, Foran, Bradbury (McCormack 73), Eastwood. Subs Not Used: Collis, Prior, Hooper.

Sent Off: Foran (76).  Booked: Campbell-Ryce, Foran.  Goals: Eastwood 53, McCormack 90.

Att: 10,528.  Ref: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation

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