Chris Powell glad to see Southend get back on track at Roots Hall

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2018 by PA

Southend manager Chris Powell was thrilled to see his side end their patchy home form with a 3-0 win against Walsall.

The Shrimpers had won just two of their previous seven games at Roots Hall meaning Powell was delighted to pick up all three points against the Saddlers.

“We had been letting ourselves down here,” said Powell. “You want to win games and score goals at home and we need to do that more, so I’m really pleased.

“I certainly can’t complain with three goals, three points and a clean sheet and I’m pleased because we know our home form has to improve.

“We also scored at the North Stand end, finally, for the first time this season and that was the strangest fact in a long time.

“But what also pleased me was the reaction we showed to losing two players with injuries in the space of 20 minutes in the first half with Harry Lennon and Tom Hopper both going off.”

Walsall wasted a good early chance to score with Josh Ginnelly heading Connor Ronan’s right-wing cross wide of the left-hand post from close range.

But the Shrimpers broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Taylor Moore headed Sam Mantom’s corner against the crossbar and Harry Bunn was on hand to sweep home the rebound for his first goal since signing on loan from Bury.

At the start of the second half, Ginnelly saw his header tipped over by Southend goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

But the Shrimpers doubled their lead in the 76th minute with Timothee Dieng heading home another corner from Mantom as he also netted his first goal for the club.

Southend remained on top, with Michael Turner having a header well-saved by Walsall goalkeeper Luke Roberts.

But the Shrimpers wrapped things up eight minutes from time with Bunn’s low shot from the left deflecting in off the Saddlers’ Jack Fitzwater.

The victory saw Southend leapfrog the visitors and move up to ninth in League One.

Dean Keates was frustrated to see Walsall suffer a second away defeat in the space of just four days.

“The first goal we conceded was sloppy but then we have let in a routine corner, it was a free header,” said Keates. “But I thought we played really well in the first half.

“We could have, and probably should have, gone 1-0 up in the first couple of minutes.

“But in the second half we came out and were a little bit bitty in possession, but we’re still fairly comfortable.

“As it stands at the moment, what was a good start has turned into an OK start.

“We got a performance in the first half but we need to get back to winning ways at the weekend at home now.”