Match ends, Southend United 1, Chesterfield 0.
SouthendSouthend United1ChesterfieldChesterfield0
Adam Thompson scored his first goal of the season as Southend clung on to a narrow League One win over struggling Chesterfield.
Chesterfield striker Ched Evans, who is still recovering from a foot injury, was not in the squad and did not attend the match at Roots Hall after he was found not guilty on Friday of a rape charge.
Thompson's first-half strike meant Southend move up to 19th and have won five of their last six matches at home, while Chesterfield drop to 21st.
The winner came in the 29th minute after Chesterfield failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Thompson, who smashed home from 10 yards.
Chesterfield could have levelled soon after when Kristian Dennis nipped in behind the Shrimpers defence but his lifted finish was saved by Southend goalkeeper Mark Oxley.
The hosts dominated the early part of the second half, but Nile Ranger and Simon Cox both squandered excellent opportunities.
Chesterfield substitute Ricky German almost made them pay, but his close-range effort was scrambled off the line and Southend held on for a much-needed victory.
Reports supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Southend
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Oxley
- 24Demetriou
- 5Thompson
- 35Ferdinand
- 3CokerBooked at 14mins
- 11McLaughlinSubstituted forMcGlashanat 69'minutes
- 18LeonardBooked at 90mins
- 4Wordsworth
- 12Atkinson
- 10Cox
- 50RangerSubstituted forFortunéat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 2White
- 9Mooney
- 14Fortuné
- 16King
- 17McGlashan
- 22Smith
- 33Inniss
Chesterfield
Formation 4-4-2
- 12Fulton
- 15O'Neil
- 4Hird
- 23AndersonBooked at 73mins
- 19Donohue
- 26O'SheaSubstituted forMitchellat 59'minutes
- 18Nolan
- 5Liddle
- 28Ariyibi
- 20DennisSubstituted forGermanat 59'minutes
- 24WilkinsonSubstituted forDimaioat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Evatt
- 7Gardner
- 11Mitchell
- 17Dimaio
- 21Allinson
- 33Graham
- 35German
- Referee:
- Kevin Johnson
- Attendance:
- 6,004
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthendAway TeamChesterfield
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southend United 1, Chesterfield 0.
Post update
Jermaine McGlashan (Southend United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield).
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Attempt missed. Tom Anderson (Chesterfield) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
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Corner, Chesterfield. Conceded by Marc-Antoine Fortuné.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jermaine McGlashan (Southend United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Corner, Chesterfield. Conceded by Ben Coker.
Booking
Ryan Leonard (Southend United) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Ryan Leonard (Southend United).
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Ricky German (Chesterfield) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Anton Ferdinand (Southend United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Reece Mitchell (Chesterfield).
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Corner, Chesterfield. Conceded by Jason Demetriou.
Post update
Foul by Marc-Antoine Fortuné (Southend United).
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Dion Donohue (Chesterfield) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Ben Coker (Southend United).
Post update
Gboly Ariyibi (Chesterfield) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Chesterfield. Connor Dimaio replaces Conor Wilkinson because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Gboly Ariyibi (Chesterfield) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
