MATCH PREVIEW: SOUTHEND UTD (A)

Southend United vs Boreham Wood
Monday, 1st April 2024, 3:00 pm
Roots Hall, Vanarama National League

PREVIEW

The Wood will make an Easter Monday trip to the Thames Estuary as Luke Garrard’s side aim to bounce back from Friday’s defeat against Southend United in another huge game in the fight to retain our national league status. The honours were even in our previous meeting with the Shrimpers back in October. Jack Bridge converted from the penalty spot midway through the first half to put Southend 1-0 up which was followed by Erico Sousa levelling the score for the Wood just before the 50th minute mark. Kevin Maher’s Shrimpers sit 10th in the table, having acquired 56 points from 18 wins and 12 draws as well as having suffered 12 losses. We need all the backing we can get on our trip to Essex tomorrow, come and support the lads!

FORM GUIDE

Southend Utd – D-W-D-D-W

The Shrimpers currently occupy 9th place in the form guide after picking up 2 wins and playing out 4 draws in their previous 6 in the league, grabbing 10 points from a possible 18. Kevin Maher’s side played host to Dagenham & Redbridge back in March and both sides came away with a point. The Daggers’ Ryan Hill broke the deadlock inside 14 minutes and the visitors took a narrow 1-0 lead into the half-time break but it would’t take long for the home side to level the score as Southend’s Danny Waldron fired in at the back post. On the Tuesday that followed, the Shrimpers were back in action at Roots Hall as they faced Dorking Wanderers and came away with a comfortable 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Gus Scott-Morriss and club top goalscorer this season, Harry Cardwell.

Kevin Maher’s side would, however, fail to replicate the performance against Dorking in their next two games as they played out two 0-0 draws, one coming away at Hartlepool and the other at home to Woking. On Tuesday, the Shrimpers made the journey to the West Midlands as they faced Solihull Moors and would take all 3 points back to Essex with 3 goals sealing the victory. Young midfielder, Oli Coker bagged a brace in the game with Harry Cardwell finishing the job in the 66th minute. Finally, in their most recent fixture, the Shrimpers made the 3 hour round trip to Ebbsfleet in a game which ended in yet another draw for Kevin Maher’s men. Harry Cardwell would get on the scoresheet again in this game, giving the Shrimpers a 1-0 lead 21 minutes in and, as it looked like Southend would come away with the 3 points, Ebbsfleet’s Dominic Poleon levelled the score in the 76th minute, denying the visitors the 3 points.

ONES TO WATCH

Oliver Coker:

20-year-old midfielder, Oliver Coker, has had a breakout season at Southend, playing an important role for Kevin Maher’s side. The Southend academy graduate played only 6 games for the Shrimpers across the 2 seasons prior to this one. However, this season has seen the Coker make 30 appearances for his side and chipping in with 6 goals in the process, making him the 3rd highest scorer for Southend this season. His most impressive performance in a Southend kit arguably came away at Solihull Moors on Tuesday as the young midfielder bagged a brace in the Shrimpers’ 3-0 victory.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW