Last Minute Marv

The switch allowed Marvin Morgan to start up front alongside Reuben Reid, and he proved to be all too much for Southend defender Cian Bolger, who was sent off for two bookable offenses against the 31-year old after just 15 minutes.

“Marvin has been brilliant in training, and I think he has looked sharp when he has come on in games as well,” said manager John Sheridan.

“I went 4-4-2 today - I changed my mind at the last minute. I told Tyler (Harvey) he was playing, but I just made a decision during training yesterday.

“Whatever system you want to call it, it’s still 11 players on the pitch. We passed the ball well today, even if it was against ten men, and I thought we were really dominant in the second half.”

Lewis Alessandra played on the right-hand side of midfield and forged a terrific partnership with Kelvin Mellor behind him. The two linked up to create the opening goal for the Greens, and both caught the eye of the gaffer.

Said John: “Lewi always gives you 120% - he puts a right shift in for the team.

“Kelvin likes to get forward; I said to him at half time: ‘you need to up your game’, and he was excellent in the second half. I thought he really got involved in the game, and he was a big plus for us going forward.

“He showed his awareness and quick feet in the box, and his little layoff to Lewi was a great bit of football from him.”