We could've scored a couple in the opening 20, then from the opener Southend had a couple of chances in the first half to score a couple more of their own. Second half was pretty end to end and to be honest a draw was probably around about right, although we could easily have nicked it late on when Parker missed a sitter at the back post. Formation didn't work defensively first half, so credit Pennock for changing it (albeit about 10 minutes late) and from that point on it wasn't too bad. 4 at the back is certainly the way to go in my opinion - we saw what happened when crosses get whipped in towards Eaves, he inevitably gets on the end of them. The 5 at the back we were playing just doesn't get enough crosses into the box. Thought Bingham played well, as did Lacey, Eaves (second half) and Mark Byrne. Nash was busy and annoying without ever really being threatening, but there was definitely a glimmer of a partnership between himself and Eaves. After being relatively solid defensively in the early stages of the season, at times in the first half especially there were throwbacks to last years Keystone Cops style defending which was a worry - fortunately Southend didn't make the most of their couple of self-inflicted chances.
Anyway as I said I reckon a draw was probably about right (although listening to Phil Brown you'd think we were a National League side). Southend remind me quite a lot of us last season - put a lot of focus on 'name' players who perhaps aren't as good as they used to be. We know only too well how that can go. Some good players in there for sure, but I wonder if some of them are being picked on reputation rather than ability these days?
There's only one 'name' player yesterday who didn't play for us last season when we finished 1 point off the top 6, and that was Kightly. He certainly gets in the team on ability.
Agreed the turning point was once Gills reverted to 4 at the back. More of an even contest after that.