Southend United 1 (Leonard 84) Oxford United 0 (From Banbury Cake)
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Southend United 1 (Leonard 84) Oxford United 0
4:58pm Saturday 2nd February 2013 in Sport
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
United's Alfie Potter skips through Southend's Michael Timlin (left) and Marc Laird during a first-half run
A late header from substitute Ryan Leonard consigned Oxford United to a second defeat in eight days.
It was a harsh result on the visitors, who were much better than in the 3-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town last weekend and deserved at least a point for their efforts.
But ultimately the U's were left to reflect on two glorious chances which were wasted by Alfie Potter in the first half.
Southend United took a long time to get going, but showed an opportunistic streak to snatch a late goal after an error from Damian Batt.
Luke McCormick came into the side as one of three changes to the XI from Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Burton Albion.
The goalkeeper replaced Max Crocombe, who dropped to the bench, while injuries ruled out Michael Duberry and Tom Craddock, so Michael Raynes and Justin Richards started.
United should have gone in front inside the opening 30 seconds, when James Constable and Sean Rigg combined to lay on a chance for Potter.
He was in acres of space, but after steadying himself his shot was saved by Paul Smith.
The rebound fell back to the winger, but he volleyed wide. It was almost 20 minutes before either side could muster another chance.
Again it was the visitors who threatened, when Adam Chapman's inswinging corner deceived Smith, but Kevan Hurst cleared off the line.
Southend had plenty of the ball, but lacked a cutting edge in the absence of injured top scorer Gavin Tomlin as United's back four did a good job of keeping the Shrimpers at arm's length.
McCormick, who was backed by the majority of the travelling fans, did not have a shot on target to save before the break, but he dealt with a handful of crosses without fuss.
United carried far more threat when they went forward. Constable and Richards worked a chance for Batt, who blazed over on his left foot 11 minutes before the break.
The half ended as it began, with Rigg providing a virtual carbon copy opening for Potter.
This time he opted to shoot earlier, but Smith produced a fine save to turn it round the post.
Within two minutes of the restart Southend came within a whisker of going ahead.
Michael Timlin's cross was met by Batt, who could only head towards his own goal and the full back was relieved to see the ball strike the post and bounce to safety.
United responded with a fluent move which ended with Rigg firing a first-time shot into the side netting from just outside the box.
It took almost an hour for Southend to produce a shot, when Assombalonga's attempted chip lacked height.
McCormick also comfortably gathered a shot from Barry Corr shortly afterwards.
Clear chances were at a premium in the final half hour, as both defences did a good job of containing the opposition.
Chris Wilder and Paul Sturrock looked to their benches for inspiration, but a goalless draw looked on the cards.
It took a mistake to finally break the deadlock, six minutes from time.
A ball over the top appeared to favour a backtracking Batt, but he stopped, apparently thinking McCormick would come out of his area to clear.
Southend pounced on the breakdown in communication and Timlin hung up a cross which Leonard headed into the corner of the net.
United brought on Deane Smalley for the closing stages, but could not force a last-gasp equaliser.
Southend Utd: Smith, Clohessy, Cresswell, Phillips, Barker, Hurst (Leonard 81), Timlin, Spillane, Laird (Reeves 81), Assombalonga (Lavery 67), Corr. Unused subs: Bentley, Straker, Eastwood, Prosser.
Oxford Utd: McCormick, Batt, Raynes, Wright, O'Brien, Potter, Chapman, Leven, Rigg (Davis 67), Richards, Constable. Unused subs: Crocombe, Heslop, Smalley, Capaldi, Worley, Parker.
Referee: Gavin Ward.
Attendance: 5,596 (634 visitors).
Comments(37)
Joe1
says...
5:18pm Sat 2 Feb 13
We battled hard, just do npt have the talent to win..
A nice attempt to get a point though.
northampton yellow
says...
5:23pm Sat 2 Feb 13
...........
botleyboy
says...
5:57pm Sat 2 Feb 13
foxvox
says...
6:29pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Beau champ mummy
says...
8:56pm Sat 2 Feb 13
foxvox wrote:Go and support bracelet then and plz don't come back we don't need pr--kis like u
Oxford "deserved at least a point for their efforts" no they didn't, to get at least a point you have to score as many or more goals than the opposition. Week after week we hear what Oxford deserve, unfortunately they get what they deserve. I love Potter, he's a trier, but he is not a finisher and nor are any of the other woeful lot excluding Constable. We haven't a hope in hell of reaching the play-offs, I am sick of seeing more losses and draws than wins at home, if nothing else happens this season at least get that right or my season ticket will not be renewed, I live within walking distance of a side that has quality at their level and regularly wins at home, at least Brackley Town won't depress me.
Richard Wickson
says...
9:07pm Sat 2 Feb 13
foxvox wrote:Spot on comment. Under Wilder we regularly fail to score enough goals and its a simple fact, indisputable. Yes we (on very rare occasions) get a hatful but thats usually to nil. We always struggle against half decent teams and they are the ones you have to beat to succeed, beating the Barnets of this Division isnt enough, we have to have a team capable of beating the Southends and Fleetwoods if we are to have a hope of the play offs and this season we dont. its a very depressing time to be an OUFC supporter, in 50 plus years i really havent known anything so sad, but neither do i remember OU employing a person convicted of causing the death of children before.
Oxford "deserved at least a point for their efforts" no they didn't, to get at least a point you have to score as many or more goals than the opposition. Week after week we hear what Oxford deserve, unfortunately they get what they deserve. I love Potter, he's a trier, but he is not a finisher and nor are any of the other woeful lot excluding Constable. We haven't a hope in hell of reaching the play-offs, I am sick of seeing more losses and draws than wins at home, if nothing else happens this season at least get that right or my season ticket will not be renewed, I live within walking distance of a side that has quality at their level and regularly wins at home, at least Brackley Town won't depress me.
adlibber
says...
9:22pm Sat 2 Feb 13
BigAlBiker
says...
10:57pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Beau champ mummy wrote:A twerp of the finest degree.
foxvox wrote:Go and support bracelet then and plz don't come back we don't need pr--kis like u
Oxford "deserved at least a point for their efforts" no they didn't, to get at least a point you have to score as many or more goals than the opposition. Week after week we hear what Oxford deserve, unfortunately they get what they deserve. I love Potter, he's a trier, but he is not a finisher and nor are any of the other woeful lot excluding Constable. We haven't a hope in hell of reaching the play-offs, I am sick of seeing more losses and draws than wins at home, if nothing else happens this season at least get that right or my season ticket will not be renewed, I live within walking distance of a side that has quality at their level and regularly wins at home, at least Brackley Town won't depress me.
Take a look at an average fourth division side and say what you see, great support who spend there hard earned cash on there club and get nothing back, even next year it will be five different shirts in five years, were (unfortunately) at best a mid division outfit, no speed, no tactics, no ability to take even 10% of the chances makes us a dull team.
Oxford City are loving it.
BenkiuGuasu
says...
12:04am Sun 3 Feb 13
oldun
says...
7:16am Sun 3 Feb 13
oldun
says...
7:18am Sun 3 Feb 13
oldun wrote:Durrr! one kinder word kinder too like many , like , there, like . Early morning - where are those tablets?
12 points off 3rd place - we can do make 3rd COYY
Magiltonmagic.
says...
10:11am Sun 3 Feb 13
oldun
says...
11:56am Sun 3 Feb 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:Many many many good ex managers are out of work. Anyone could name dozens - so could you.
Can I ask all the anti-Wilder brigade, who would you have as manager?And as for the comment about Brackley, Didnt City take 4 points off them this season?
adlibber
says...
12:36pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:Possibly a better question would be to ask why you support Wilder despite his failings? You seem to offer no alternative to the mediocrity that Wilder has overseen for four years.
Can I ask all the anti-Wilder brigade, who would you have as manager?And as for the comment about Brackley, Didnt City take 4 points off them this season?
oldun
says...
12:43pm Sun 3 Feb 13
adlibber wrote:Hear hear. CW - six out of ten - took us the third in the Conference (not as high as in our first season) . He has had plenty of time - much longer than many with his record
Magiltonmagic. wrote:Possibly a better question would be to ask why you support Wilder despite his failings? You seem to offer no alternative to the mediocrity that Wilder has overseen for four years.
Can I ask all the anti-Wilder brigade, who would you have as manager?And as for the comment about Brackley, Didnt City take 4 points off them this season?
Magiltonmagic.
says...
1:43pm Sun 3 Feb 13
BigAlBiker
says...
2:45pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Either way we don't want them influencing our football team.
oldun
says...
3:04pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:Because there is a limited number of jobs!!
Many good out of work managers about, If they are so good why are they out of work? Again you can't or won't come up with a name, CW is going to go if not at the end of this then early next that's a given, Under CW our league position has improved each season that is fact. ok not as much as we or he would have liked but fact all the same.He has been told time and again to play 442 which by and large he has done for months and it's also been said on here he has no plan B yet when he changes things like last week when he went from 343 to 442 he gets called the tinkerman! Yes he has made mistakes, Have'nt you in your work? IMO he made a big one yesterday taking Rigg off and leaving Potter on who again IMO is just like Yemi, lots of pace but no brain. If you want to blame anyone for the state we are in then lay it at Kassams door not CW or IL.
The Manager
says...
4:20pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Megastar07
says...
4:30pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Come on o brien , he's third rate at best
Capaldi much better
Please your decisions are terrible at mo ie marsh loan etc etc
Just listen to us lot we pay your wages
No us no club
BigAlBiker
says...
4:56pm Sun 3 Feb 13
The Manager wrote:Exactly, Tyrone is ready NOW, that Josh Parker has played 28 games in all and never scored, Tyrone has one in one, dumbass Wilder sends him out, now all CW is doing is playing ostrich, sticking his head in the sand.
The only Yellows striker to score yesterday was none other than Tyrone Marsh on his debut for Staines at Bath. Another fantastic decision from Wilder a manager who is clueless. Rather bring in a striker who has played over thirty games without scoring and also does not look like a team player rather than give a lad the chance who when he came on at Burton earlier in the season showed real promise. As long as Wilder is here as manager we are going nowhere. Who should replace him at least a person who does his homework on players and only signs players who are prepared to give their all for Oxford which you are not seeing at the moment.. For me its good luck and goodbye Mr. Wilder you may have done your best but its not good enough for Oxford
Wilder, go now and get employment elsewhere, lets get a younger manager with ambition.
Magiltonmagic.
says...
4:56pm Sun 3 Feb 13
BigAlBiker
says...
5:29pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:Not all managers get the sack because there useless, I can't begin to list the ex Chelsea managers, Paul Dickov today, Owen Coyle, Harry Redknapp, it does not matter in which division a manager does his work the Chairman will always sack him before any player, about time Lenegan did it up the Kassam.
Oldun,Again IF these managers were as good as you say why are they out of work? Could it be it's because they were sacked from their previous jobs for failiure?
Richard Wickson
says...
5:48pm Sun 3 Feb 13
oldun
says...
6:04pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:Again - some really great managers have had the sack - even among ours Jim Smith and Arthur Turner (Birmingham) , Ian Greaves (Bolton) - Bobby Robson experienced the sack - ditto Brian Clough - ditto Howard Kendall - the list is endless. Having been sacked is experienced by the vast majority of successful managers . How silly of you - with respect !
Oldun,Again IF these managers were as good as you say why are they out of work? Could it be it's because they were sacked from their previous jobs for failiure?
RocketMan
says...
8:20pm Sun 3 Feb 13
adlibber
says...
6:27am Mon 4 Feb 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:Answer the question MM why are you so keen on Wilder given he's had over 4 years at the club one promotion and 3 seasons of mid table mediocrity in the lowest league? Wilder has learnt very little since our promotion - he's made so many poor signings and he's never had a plan B despite your argument on this. I don't get how Wilder got away without criticism for last season's dreadful end where we limped out of play offs with a team that couldn't win any of its last 7 games. Yet here you are blindly defending Wilder as he repeats the same mistakes. Your argument about sacked managers is ridiculous - look at Mickey Adams he's been sacked several times yet look what he's done to Port Vale (again)? Same for Martin Allen at Gillingham they know what it takes to get out of this division Wilder clearly doesn't.
Oldun,Again IF these managers were as good as you say why are they out of work? Could it be it's because they were sacked from their previous jobs for failiure?
He's had his day and he needs to go - The only thing that could save him is promotion and I really can't see it happening now we are not good enough. As ever I'm happy to be proved wrong but given how Wilder simply can't adapt I'm not preparing an 'sorry Mr Wilder I got it wrong' message just yet.
oldun
says...
6:35am Mon 4 Feb 13
hawkeye1
says...
7:43am Mon 4 Feb 13
and not given a contract, then some other club will sign him, he will then
improve to a point where a big club comes in for him, and Oxford lose out having let him go...again, at least Oldun and myself can look back at the good old days, when you could go up the Manor with the confidence that we were going to win.
foxvox
says...
8:16am Mon 4 Feb 13
BenkiuGuasu
says...
7:21pm Mon 4 Feb 13
adlibber
says...
6:42am Tue 5 Feb 13
BenkiuGuasu wrote:A Swindon troll with the IQ of a brick is so dumb he thinks pretending to hate his own team will convince oxford fans he's one of them - you are beyond help Binbag. .I'm still laughing at DiCanio's drama queen stint...
If you all hate swindon clap your hands.... *clap clap clap*
oldun
says...
6:57am Tue 5 Feb 13
Doctor69
says...
1:26pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Same old excuses, rehashed, time and time again. Injuries, bad luck, refs, etc. It’s never his fault though is it? Even though, he picks the team, and signed the players in the first place.
It isn’t our position as fans to name the next manager, however, it is our right to voice our displeasure with the current regime.....and it seems more, and more fans are fed up of the dross served up on such a regular basis.
Wilder out.
Mac27
says...
8:43pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Mark the Printer
says...
9:10am Thu 7 Feb 13
BigAlBiker says...
5:18pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Your rubbish selections and tactics are annoying many of us loyal season ticket holders, and for once I am thinking that if you stay then its down the road to the city for me, no more Wilder.