Southend v Gillingham - Player Ratings - Written by Lewis Browning


Starting XI:


Jack Bonham: 7 - It was another quiet game for our number one, but in a good way. Didn’t have a meaningful save to make; picked up a few pea rollers and kind of had to stop one effort from Kelman, but the Irishman picked up his 12^th clean sheet of the league season. In short, he stopped a few, caught a couple, and that’s about it.


Barry Fuller: 7 - Solid as ever. Took a couple of whacks, and he may hurt in the morning after receiving a knee to the spine, but it’s all for the cause. Is never beaten defensively and was happy to get forward more than usual due to Southend’s defensive tactics. Sometimes his passing lacks quality, but the bloke is simply a hero.


Max Ehmer: 7 - Marshalled the defence well but wasn’t given an easy night. Had to deal with the pace of Kelman and lost a battle on one occasion in particular, but it’s another clean sheet for the team and a job well done by Max.


Jack Tucker: 7 - Perhaps one of his quieter games, but that’s probably because of who the opponents were and what they tried to do. Had to face the pace of Kelman a couple of times too, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t deal with. A successful evening.


Connor Ogilvie: 6 - Bagged the goal with a brilliant run and header but didn’t have the best night overall. Got spun early on by Kelman early and bought him down, which the home fans wanted red for, and played a couple of terrible long balls. The match winner, however.


Brandon Hanlan: 7 - Admittedly looked much more comfortable up top in the second than out wide in the first. Put a good chance over when he missed a free header from a corner, but took players on and got round his marker a couple of times. Lacked a bit of end product, but he can work on it.


Matty Willock: 6 - His play is just aesthetically pleasing; when what he tries comes off, it’s beautiful. Like others, perhaps not playing in his preferred system, but got on the ball and wanted to be positive all the time. Perhaps unfortunate to be subbed.


Tom O’Connor: 6 - The glue in this team at the moment with Jones missing and is certainly doing a job. Was involved in plenty of physical battles in the middle against some of United’s more experienced players, but certainly didn’t shy away.


Jordan Roberts: 6 - Nowhere near as affective out wide as he is through the middle, but he worked hard to do what was asked of him. Bringing width into the game and putting crosses in probably aren’t his specialities, and he sometimes found himself drifting central rather than getting to the by-line.


John Akinde: 5 - Another frustrating game for Akinde. It’s clear he’s still getting up to speed, but let’s hope he gets there sooner rather than later. Had little service, but didn’t make much for himself either. Will hopefully be fired up for his return to Lincoln at the weekend.


Mikael Mandron: 6 - A shock starter, but no one was surprised when he was taken off at half time. The game plan involving his inclusion didn’t work and it’s hard to think of a time he actually touched the ball. That could be down to the service he received, because it wasn’t a pretty first 45 in particular, but it was a night to forget for the big Frenchman.


Subs:


Jordan Graham: 7 - Thrives off taking defenders on and that’s so exciting to watch. Probably should’ve started given our formation and tactics, and he proved that when he put in a peach of a cross for the goal. We’ve got a handy player on our hands.


Oliver Lee: 6 - Good to see him back, but he didn’t do much. Didn’t have too long to, to be honest. Not the best system for him and he had to play deeper than he is used to.


Regan Charles-Cook: 6 - Ran around for a few seconds.