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Southend United 1 Ipswich Town 3
JOHN CHUBB at Roots Hall
@JohnCphoenixfm
Sol Campbell’s first match in charge of Southend United after accepting the manager’s job on Tuesday ended in another defeat.
But in truth it was no great surprise, as they had faced an Ipswich Town side eager to make a quick return to the Championship and who were keen to bounce back, after suffering their first league defeats of the season at the hands of Accrington Stanley and Rotherham United in their last two matches.
It was however Southend who thought they had taken the lead after only four minutes played.
An Isaac Hutchinson free-kick found Rob Kiernan at the far post, and he headed past Ipswich goalkeeper Will Norris – making his first EFL appearance for the Tractor Boys since signing on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers – into the net, but referee Andy Davies disallowed the goal for an offside.
Instead it was Paul Lambert’s side who went in front four minutes later when Kayden Jackson set up fellow striker James Norwood, who fired the ball past home keeper Mark Oxley to put his side 1-0 ahead.
Undeterred, the Shrimpers went forward again on the quarter of an hour mark and Elvis Bwomono put a useful ball across the face of the goal from his berth on the right side of the midfield, but nobody managed to connect with it.
Then on the half-hour Oxley, who had looked hesitant to come out for Norwood’s opener made a fine double save first from substitute Jon Nolan, then at close range from Jackson who had attempted to score from the rebound.
Shortly before half-time Ipswich’s Luke Chambers had a free header from close range via a Luke Garbutt corner, and he wasn’t far away from making it 2-0.
Southend made a very lively start to the second half and Simon Cox – playing in an unfamiliar supporting role behind a front pairing of Stephen Humphrys and Tom Hopper – had a shot blocked on 53 minutes.
But although the home team had looked like coming back into the game for a time, it was the Suffolk side who doubled their lead on 70 minutes when Norwood fired home to the left of Oxley for his and Ipswich’s second goal.
And Jackson made it 3-0 on 76 minutes to put the game beyond the Shrimpers’ reach entirely, much to the delight of a North Stand packed with nearly two and a half thousand Town fans.
But Southend kept going, Stephen Humphrys having a shot stopped by Norris with 10 minutes left and in the 83rd minute they finally scored.
Substitute Emile Acquah bundled the ball home from close range via a Nathan Ralph cross, to score his first senior goal for the club.
Jason Demetriou then went close for the Shrimpers in time added on, but in truth they were well beaten by then.
Ipswich certainly didn’t dominate this match in terms of possession and chances, but they proved why they have made such a good start with a well-organised defensive display and a front duo who frequently caused difficulty for the home defence.
Southend continue to be in trouble in 22nd place and are still without a win at home this season.
They put together some decent moves at times, but struggled for an end product and often seemed hesitant in front of goal.
The general consensus among the home supporters seemed to be that it was that it was an improvement on their last two performances at Roots Hall, and that new boss Campbell has positives he can build on.
But the former England defender must be under no illusions about the size of the task ahead of him.
Southend United (Manager: Sol Campbell): Mark Oxley, Rob Kiernan, Joe Shaughnessy, Timothee Dieng, Elvis Bwomono, Mark Milligan (Jason Demetriou 84), Isaac Hutchinson, Nathan Ralph, Simon Cox, Stephen Humphrys, Tom Hopper (Emile Acquah 71).
Ipswich Town (Manager: Paul Lambert): Will Norris, Kane Vincent-Young (James Wilson 59), Luke Woolfenden, Luke Chambers, Luke Garbutt, Danny Rowe (Alan Judge 68), Flynn Downes, Cole Skuse (Jon Nolan 28), Gwion Edwards, James Norwood, Kayden Jackson.
Attendance: 8632 (including 2450 from Ipswich)
