Southend United
Saturday 21st August 1999
Southend 1 - 0 Mansfield
Mansfield
line-up: B Richardson, Hassell, Roscoe, N Richardson, Linighan, Williams,
Thomas, Lormor, Peacock, Tallon, Blake.
Subs: Allardyce, Tye, Boulding, Sisson, Asher.
Mansfield Town once again failed to find the net after dominating a game against a poor Southend side that leaves them staring a crisis full in the face. It seems that the defensive nightmare of the Brighton game is behind them, but losing the last two games by the odd goal indicates a serious shortfall in firepower and, with a squad best described as 'average' the likelihood of keeping clean sheets looks a bit remote.
However, apart from Tolsons goal in the 17th minute Stags seemed quite lively and were unlucky not to at least claim a point. Boulding again started the game on the bench but must at least be worth a start, as Lormor is showing arguably the slowest turn of pace in any of the league divisions and Peacocks disinterest is starting to become a little too apparent.
Non-contract midfielder Mark Blake started the game and put in a solid performance and is surely staking a claim for a full contract. Also of note was a ferocious volley from Roscoe which forced a full-stretch save from the home 'keeper. The first half in general was dominated by Stags and they began the second period in a similarly lively fashion. It became a catalogue of missed opportunities as efforts by Thomas, Lormor and Thomas failed to find the target.
Bottom of the table, then, and on a par with Chester with no points, no goals scored and 8 conceded. A two-way relegation fight, anyone ?