Southport V Chester FC:- MATCH THREAD

See their manager Watson is expecting a physical game...yes it most probably will be and lets hope none of our players are sent off....

Commentary on mixr

Dudley goes close, still 0-0

Dawson now booked!

Spectacularly dull

Referee? No comment!

Ok but nothing special. Fairly drab game so far tbh.

Sounded a terrible game and a replay is not really what we need. Given that they’ve found a bit of form lately while we’ve been a bit iffy, it’s not a bad result though.

Think Thompson got our man of the match.

Better result for us than them right now. They won't fancy a replay away from home.

All in all I thought that it wasn’t an inspiring spectacle today as a draw is a fair enough result. A replay is not what we need with our fixture schedule already heaving, but I suppose it’s better than nothing as we have a decent chance to put the tie to bed. The only real entertainment of today’s clash was that lunatic of a Southport fan in the second half who was well and truly off his head: running up and down the sideline, kicking the fence and even shouting at the portacabin which sums up today’s game really. Saying that though, it did provide us with a good laugh on the away terrace during the freezing cold. I actually though our performance was an improvement to previous weeks, but we were very light up top as we have now only scored once in the last 360 minutes.

We were the better side in the first half as we pressed up quite high and were decent in spells. Defensively we dealt with any problems we had to face with rather well and deserved our clean sheet. I was particularly impressed with Matty Thomson who had a good game on the right hand side, already proving to be a solid replacement for Smalley. In midfield we did make some good balls but also wasted a few too as Southport were a tough nut to crack in the centre of the park. This contributed towards a tight, scrappy encounter because both sides didn’t have that end product up top. Our only real chance of that half was when Anthony Dudley poked wide from a cross, but other than that it was a flat first 45 minutes.

To be fair Southport were probably the better team in the second half as they were dominant going forward. We were lucky on a few occasions but our defence was decent again, and Grant Shenton was also solid in goal as he made an impressive save when the ball was bound to go in at one stage. There right winger, Dion Charles I think, was a big threat for Southport as he was very skilful going forward and looks a decent player. I also noticed that Ryan Astles has lost a lot of weight, and with that incentive he could go on to have a good career if he stays slim. For some periods we had chances to put the game to bed too, as Gary Roberts and Anthony Dudley both missed good opportunities whilst Dan Mooney curled one wide. Both sides tried to go for it, but I’d say a draw is a fair reflection of the game with the end outcome not what we both wanted. It’s clear that we need to bring in one or two new strikers to shore things up as the goals have dried up for us, whilst that was our 5th goalless draw of the season already.

We need to go again on Tuesday now in the replay to really put this tie to bed. A draw isn’t what we wanted, but I suppose it’s better than nothing as we will have home advantage and will have a better idea of our opposition on the back of today’s game. Southport might have one eye on their cup game against Tranmere Rovers next weekend as well, so we have to take advantage of this to progress to the 1st Round. Overall it was not a bad display from us, but we need to shore things up at the top to be in amongst the goals again.

Feel like Mooney has been told he’s too selfish and now he’s passing from 12 yards!

Thompson?

One for the future Rio ~ Southport is in the county of Merseyside not Lancashire.

Dreadful game that. Draw probably a far result but put them under more pressure near the end. Definately needs freshening up a bit. Thompson did quiet well. Stopford MOM Not sure I can stand another 90mins on Tuesday of Southports hoofball abd our moves breaking down, in the final third. Not sure Dawson is what we need? We need a targetman to hold the ball up and bring people, in to play.

Agreed. There seems to be an agenda against him. Maybe because a few didn’t like his brother but he’s being used as a plan b as there isn’t anything else.

The nutter was a complete nutter and the stewards told the lads by him who were innocent to stop egging him on