Waddock hails Southend side after first win - 7M sport

Waddock hails Southend side after first win



Posted Sunday, September 22, 2019 by PA

Waddock hails Southend side after first win

Gary Waddock hailed his Southend players for putting their bodies on the line as the League One strugglers beat MK Dons 1-0 for their first league win of the season.

Southend had lost seven and drawn one of their opening eight games but Charlie Kelman’s goal in the fourth minute proved enough for all three points on their visit to Stadium MK.

Caretaker boss Waddock did not discuss his own future after former Celtic and Sweden striker Henrik Larsson, widely linked with the vacancy, was pictured watching the game in conversation with chairman Ron Martin.

“I am delighted for the players, the staff, supporters, and obviously the chairman – it has been challenging over the last few weeks,” said Waddock.

“To come here against a very good side and get a clean sheet, to win away from home and pick up the three points is a very good day all round.

“I am pleased for all the players because they have put their bodies on the line to get that clean sheet. We had to defend for our lives in the second half.

“To get the win and clean sheet at a place like this is also very pleasing, because this is a tough place to come and play football.

“We had a game plan and the players have taken what we have worked on in training onto the pitch – we got our rewards for that hard work. I am pleased for Charlie Kelman, he worked very hard.”

Southend also had goalkeeper Mark Oxley to thank after he kept out Jordan Houghton’s first-half free-kick as MK Dons slipped to their second successive league defeat.

The result left Paul Tisdale to lament his side’s wastefulness in front of goal, with David Kasumu and Brennan Dickenson going close late on.

“We should have scored, we had over 90 minutes to score a goal against a team who were intent on defending,” said the MK Dons boss.

“We put in a lot of effort and forward thrust, but we have to be better at putting the ball in the net – it is easier said than done and we have some work to do.

“It is two 1-0 defeats for us in the space of a week at Stadium MK – we are very disappointed but we have to learn from what we have not done, and that is scoring a goal.

“We are not at full strength with our creative players at the moment but we have got to find a way – we should still be putting the ball in the back of the net.

“Each game is different and every challenge is different, and we have not quite done the job. We needed to have more craft and guile about us.”

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