Match Preview | Southend United (A)

Match Preview | Southend United (A)
The lowdown on Saturday's opponents

November 21st 2024

FGR Media

Forest Green take a trip to the Roots Hall Stadium as we face Southend United looking to extend our impressive league run to eight games unbeaten on Saturday.

The last trip to Roots Hall back in 2020 was the first ever meeting between the two sides in which Rovers edged out the Shrimpers 1-0 thanks to a Jake Young strike.

Ahead of our trip to the East-coast and Rovers’ own Harry Cardwell’s return to Roots Hall, here is everything Rovers’ fans need to know about Saturday’s opponents.

THE OPPONENTS

The Shrimpers, founded in 1906, spent a century in the Football League before their relegation to the National League in 2021.

Since then they’ve battled hard trying to get back into the Football League and came close last season finishing ninth, just six points off the play-off places.

However, this season form has been hard to come by for the Shrimpers who have only managed one win in their last five games which sees them currently occupy 16th position in the league.

Home form also hasn’t been on our hosts side who have won just one of their last six at Roots Hall in all competitions whilst conceding 11 goals in that time.

AT THE HELM - KEVIN MAHER

Former promotion winning captain, Kevin Maher, returned to the club in 2021 as Head Coach to take his first managerial role since retiring.

The 48-year-old made over 450 appearances for the Shrimpers and has since manged over 150 games for the club mustering 64 wins in that period.

Maher has enjoyed some personal success whilst at the helm of the Shrimpers being awarded the National League’s Manager of the Month award in October 2023 but continues to hunt some club success and battle for promotion.

PLAYER TO WATCH - GUS SCOTT-MORRISS

This isn’t your usual top scorer to look out for but one of the Shrimpers top threats come in the form of right-back, Gus Scott-Morriss.

The 27-year-old has found the net nine times this season, six more then his nearest competitors striker, Aribim Pepple and attacking midfielder, Oliver Coker.