BROWN’S BATTLERS UP FOR THE FIGHT
PHIL Brown feels his Southend United side are getting closer to where he wants them to be after holding Exeter to a point.
The draw did little to help the Shrimpers in their battle to avoid the drop, or benefit Exeter in their quest for a playoff place, but Brown felt his side should have come away from St James Park with all three points.
“My assessment is that we could have won the game comfortably,” he said. “If truth be known, we should have won the game comfortably. But when it came to the closing stages, we were backs to the wall. They were making subs and putting fresh legs on.
“I am delighted with our application, delighted with the way our young players seemed to be taking everything I am saying on board. More so, the senior players as well.”
After a turgid opening 25 minutes, Southend created the first chance when Reeco Hackett-Fairchild’s effort deflected off Jake Caprice and on to the crossbar before being cleared to safety.
Exeter’s first chance arrived two minutes before half-time when Jake Taylor sent a looping header goalwards, which was cleared off the line by Elvis Bwomono, and Alex Hartridge headed the resulting corner wide.
Southend started the second half well and should have gone in front, but Nathan Ferguson headed wide when unmarked from a free-kick.
Simeon Akinola then forced Exeter goalkeeper Jokull Andresson into a smart stop, while Exeter striker Ryan Bowman headed a good chance over from Matt Jay’s cross.
Exeter substitute Nigel Atangana was denied by a brilliant stop from Mark Oxley in stoppage time as the game opened up in the last ten minutes, while Rory McArdle headed wide as the home side ended the game strongly.
The final chance fell to Exeter’s Josh Key, but he blazed high over the bar.
Exeter manager Matt Taylor admits his players are “out on their feet” having played two games a week pretty much since Christmas.
“I am pleased with the effort and endeavour, but the game lacked quality and I can’t describe it in any other way,” he said. “We just didn’t have it in us to really use the ball, or get the ball or tidy the ball, but that’s not for the want of trying.
“The energy levels are so low, but towards the end we created some great chances.
“Their goalkeeper made a great save and Jokull (Andresson) made saves, so credit to both goalkeepers. We have a certain system and structure to go to and we created chances. It was a very even encounter and could have gone either way, but you just want to hit the target with those chances.”