Southend Players Talk About The Defeat

Last updated : 29 October 2007 By Thetashkentterror

Adam Barrett
Southend skipper and centre-half Adam Barrett spoke to BBC Radio Essex about his side's 1-0 defeat at home to Carlisle on Saturday, Barrett suggesting that the Shrimpers hadn't made the most of their first-half possession :


" We didn't have any really clear-cut chances but I thought that the pressure that we had, we had balls going in the box, in behind their defence and we weren't getting on the end of them. A couple of half-chances but really, especially in the first-half, I thought that we had enough pressure.

" We're disappointed today because I don't think they had too many, they had a couple of shots which the keeper saved but they haven't really caused us any problems. So we're disappointed obviously to come away with a defeat.

" Obviously the longer people play together and get partnerships the better it is for everyone of course. It's not necessarily a problem though, we had enough crosses coming in, we had balls going in the box. To be fair to them they got blocks in and the keeper got good hands to things and came to collect crosses.

" So it's not too much of a problem but obviously the longer you play with someone and get a partnership and the understanding the better you are going to become and the better understanding you are going to get with one and other.

" They (goalkeepers Steve Collis and Darryl Flahavan) have both got their different styles. I've had three very good years with Flavs in goal behind us and he is a fantastic shot-stopper and a very good talker. Stevie has come in now and done very well, he has used his presence well and we're blessed at the club that we have got two goalkeepers.

" They both bring their different styles to it but, like I said, Stevie has come in really well and taken his chance. He didn't have a chance with the goal today and he's come in and taken the shirt but we know that both of them are fantastic keepers and we're very lucky at the club to have that.

" No substitute keeper on the bench today, thankfully we didn't have to use him (striker Matt Harrold). I've seen him in goal in training and he's not the best so thank God we didn't have to use him today. I think Flavs is a couple of weeks away from a return so hopefully Stevie can stay injury-free and we won't have to use anyone else. "


Meanwhile Shrimpers frontman Gary Hooper, who was signed by Southend from Grays in July 2006, commented :

" In the first-half I had a couple of chances but they didn't really come out for me. I thought that the team played well in the first-half, we created some chances but not full chances, but I thought that we did well in the first-half.

" The gaffer (Steve Tilson) said to drop off, play with Leon Clarke to feet, and get it out wide and get the cross in early. I prefer playing as a striker, playing up there with my back to goal, maybe in the hole, getting it to feet and running at defenders and playing one-twos. The gaffer told me to push on defenders or just sit in the hole and play off Leon Clarke.

" It's been good here, I need to score and play well to stay in the first-team basically. He (Leon Clarke) is a great player, he knows where the goal is doesn't he. I play off him, he wins his headers and he's nice to play with. We want to get back to winning ways next week and hopefully I'll be on the team-sheet and goal-sheet. "