Tottenham loanee Shaquile Coulthirst scored the only goal of the game for Southend in the second minute to secure another three points for Blues, and condemned Shrewsbury to another winless away trip. Blues pressurised their visitors straight from the off, not giving them any time on the ball, as Shrewsbury didn’t get the warmest of welcomes to Roots Hall.

Just two minutes had been played before John White put in a brilliant right-wing cross for Coulthirst to adjust himself, before looping his header over stranded ‘keeper Jayson Leutwiler and into the bottom corner of the net. This was Coulthirst’s second goal of the season, his first coming in Southend’s last home game against Portsmouth.

The goal seemed to spark Shrewsbury into life, as much loved (by Shrewsbury fans!) striker James Collins’ dipping half volley brushed Daniel Bentley’s right hand post. Southend were on the attack again soon after, and could have been two up if it hadn’t been for Leutwiler, who saved well from another Coulthirst header at the back post, after Kevan Hurst supplied the cross.

Shrewsbury came close once again, when Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro’s long range shot hit the base of the post before hitting Dan Bentley and going out of play for a corner, which the Blues defence dealt with easily. The first half was full of end-to-end play, with both goalkeepers being called into action a few times each, although Shrews’ ‘keeper Leutwiler was the busiest of the two, saving shots from Conor Clifford and Jack Payne.

The second half was less entertaining than the first, although Shrewsbury could have found a way back into the game, if Akpa-Akpro’s header was on target. Blues made a few changes, with Barry Corr coming on for Jack Payne, and Will Atkinson coming on for Kevan Hurst.

Corr could have put Blues 2-0 up, if his header from a Myles Weston cross wasn’t directed straight at Leutwiler. Atkinson looked lively too, linking up well with Weston and Jerome Binnom-Williams. Shrewsbury made a few substitutions too, but were soon reduced to ten men, when one of the subs, Andy Mangan, who had replaced experienced captain Liam Lawrence, who got given his marching orders after a late challenge, using his elbow, on Blues ‘keeper Dan Bentley. Mangan clearly had no intention of playing the ball and had his eyes on Bentley in the few seconds leading up to the challenge. He quite rightly picked up his second yellow card, (after being booked three minutes after coming on for an earlier challenge on Blues midfielder Gary Deegan) and was sent off.

Southend managed to hold out, and soak up the Shrewsbury pressure in the last few minutes, during which the visitors had three corners. That’s four wins in a row now for Blues, who sit in 4th place in League Two, only behind 3rd place Bury on goal difference.

Match Stats
Shots Southend: 13 / Shrewsbury: 15

Shots on Target
Southend: 6 / Shrewsbury: 4

Shots off Target
Southend: 7 / Shrewsbury: 11

Corners
Southend: 5 / Shrewsbury: 6

Yellow Cards
Southend: 0 / Shrewsbury: 4

Red Cards
Southend: 0 / Shrewsbury: 1

Possession
Southend: 45% / Shrewsbury: 55%

Man Of The Match:
Shaquile Coulthirst – Worked harder than ever for the team and scored his second goal for Blues

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