In their third game of the National League Season, Southend United are set to host Boston United at Roots Hall on Tuesday. The home side are 17th with two points after drawing twice, while the visitors are currently last in 24th place after two losses. Both teams will be looking to get their first win of the season.
Southend opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against York City on August 10, which was particularly disappointing considering they held the lead from the 16th to the 85th minute. The hosts' second game against Hartlepool United on August 17th was also frustrating, as despite Hartlepool's Luke Waterfall being sent off in the 49th minute, the game ended without a goal. Manager Kevin Maher chose to focus on the positive aspects of his side's performance, but he will be concerned that his team missed several chances. Maher's side finished ninth in the National League last term and missed out on the promotion playoffs by six points.
Southend have been poor at home in recent matches and have only won two of their last seven league fixtures at Roots Hall. Opponents Boston United have had an awful start to the season, conceding seven goals and scoring none, making them the joint worst defensive and offensive side so far.
The visitors lost 3-0 against Rochdale on August 10 and produced little threat in front of goal. In their second game, Boston lost 4-0 against Forest Green on August 17, and to add insult to injury, forward Jacob Hazel missed a penalty in the 90th minute. Boss Ian Culverhouse said that while he thought his team were good in possession, the goals they conceded were "comical", and that it could be a long season if these defensive errors are not eradicated.
In fairness to Culverhouse, his side were only promoted to the National League last season and are perhaps expectedly struggling to adapt to the fifth tier in the early stages of 2024-25.
Team News and Potential Lineups
It would not be surprising if the hosts started an extra midfielder rather than their usual third centre-back given the calibre of Tuesday's opposition. Considering this, Southend could name Noor Husin in the starting XI instead of defender Joseph Gubbins.
As for the visitors, they could start Tom Leak in defence in order to combat their defensive frailty. Boston could also field Zak Mills, Mitchell Roberts and Cameron Green alongside Leak in the backline.
Southend United possible starting lineup:Andeng-Ndi; Scott-Morriss, Taylor, Kensdale, Ralph; Coker, Miley, Husin; Walker, Cardwell, Bridge
Boston United possible starting lineup:Gregory; Mills, Leak, Roberts, Green; Richards, Woods; Rowe, Mooney, Weston; Aderoju
Key Matchup: Southend's Attack vs Boston's Defense
While Southend have been disappointing in the early stages of the season, they have at least kept two clean sheets, and they could keep their third on Tuesday. Though Boston have done well to reach the National League, they still appear to require some adjustment to their new division and come into the clash as underdogs.
Manager's Quotes
Southend United boss Kevin Maher believes Boston United will have learnt lessons from their tough start to the season. "Promoted teams come up and there is a level of difference of course," said Maher. "Ian is extremely experienced and will be working it out. A couple of results haven’t gone the way they would’ve wanted but I’m sure they will learn from that. They will want to improve and I’m sure they will cause us a problem. We’ve watched their games and they’ve played some good stuff in them. They’ve had chances themselves and I’m sure they’ll be working hard to come and get a result."
Prediction
While Boston have struggled, Southend have looked far from convincing in their opening two games. With both sides needing a win, this game has the potential to be an entertaining affair. However, Southend's slight advantage in the attacking department, coupled with Boston's defensive vulnerabilities, makes it likely that the hosts will secure a narrow victory.
A Look Back: Historical Encounter Between Southend and Boston
The last time these two sides met was in 2005, with Boston winning 2-0. This match will be a rematch of that encounter. However, the current iteration of Boston United is a newly-promoted side, and they are likely to be looking to get their first win of the season.
Final Thoughts
The game is set to be a tight one, with both teams needing a win to boost their morale and position in the table. With both sides struggling for form, this match has all the makings of a classic encounter in the National League. This will be a great opportunity for both teams to make a statement and show their potential for the rest of the season.
