Getting to know the opposition: Southend United

Full of confidence after picking up a vital three points against Notts County, Chesterfield return to the pitch this weekend when they host Southend United.

During the week, the Spireites overturned an initial deficit to guarantee a second straight win over a key promotion rival. The win was the second of its kind in the last five meetings against the Magpies, with the result proving to be crucial for the club’s hopes of challenging Stockport County for the top spot. 

After Elisha Sam gave County the lead five minutes before half time, the Blues hit back in the second half as Laurence Maguire brought the side back on level terms before grabbing the all-important second goal with four minutes left on the clock. As County pushed for a point, Chesterfield managed to confirm the monumental win as Akwasi Asante netted from the penalty spot in stoppage time. 

Building on the 1-0 win over Yeovil Town, the Spireites have won their last two games and now sit only three points adrift of Stockport as they look to build on the positive last seven days with a win against mid-table Southend. 

League Table Comparisons 

Upon their fall out of the Football League, the Shrimpers have had a turbulent time in their inaugural campaign in the Vanarama National League. The club spent much of the early months in the relegation zone and have needed a mid-season resurgence to climb away from the drop zone. 

After a 1-0 win against King’s Lynn Town on the opening day of the season, the club went the next seven games without a win, recording only two draws during that time. 

Confirming only their second win of the season in October, against Eastleigh, the Shrimpers only collected two more wins before the turn of the year. 

An abysmal 2021 was soon behind them as the club managed to turn a corner in the New Year. 

Starting with a 1-0 win against Weymouth, Southend continue to offer an unbeaten record in the league since the turn of the year. The only defeat for the Shrimpers was a 2-0 loss at the hands of Dagenham & Redbridge, which was in the Buildbase FA Trophy. 

As a result of their poor start to the season, the Shrimpers sit 21 points behind Chesterfield in the National League standings, having scored 24 goals fewer. 

However, despite their rollercoaster of a campaign, the club have conceded less goals than Chesterfield with their defensive record playing a key role for their recent change in fortunes. 

Head-to-Head Record

Meeting for a third time this season, the Spireites have come out on top in both of the previous two clashes. Strolling to a 4-0 victory in the first meeting this season, Danny Rowe bagged a hat-trick whilst Saidou Khan also managed to add his name to the scoresheet. 

The most recent match between Southend and Chesterfield took place a month after the statement-of-intent win for the Spireites, but this time in the Emirates FA Cup. 

The Spireites came out on top once more. In a 3-1 win in front of the Technique Stadium supporters.

Southend managed to take the lead after four minutes, but Khan scored once again to make it all-square. Chesterfield grabbed the game by its horns as goals from Luke Croll and Kabongo Tshimanga sealed the win. 

Both teams were reduced to ten men as Zak Brunt and Calvin Miller both received red cards in stoppage time.

The October meeting was the first of its kind in three years, with the Spireites eventually getting their revenge after the Shrimpers previously put four past them in April 2017. 

That game was in Sky Bet League One, showing the sudden demise of both clubs now that they are competing against each other two divisions below their previous clashes. 

By Sam Plummer