Boston United v Southend United: We should be going there to win

Plenty to like. Still too much to fix.

Daley-Campbell was a huge part of the 3–1. His delivery gave Colclough the chance to put us back in front, then brought Goodliffe’s goal after the break. When he gets into those positions, the ball coming into the box is worth attacking.

But watching us play out from the back remains a test of the nerves. Goodliffe’s own goal was the obvious mistake; Cox’s earlier back-pass had already left Olley with an empty net to aim at. Fylde wasted that chance and others. A win doesn’t make them disappear.

The Football Hub puts a number on the frustration: one clean sheet in 12 league games. With 29 goals at the other end, we shouldn’t need to be quite this anxious about keeping a lead.

Boston won’t need reminding about Yeovil

Paul Hurst’s side lost 6–0 at Huish Park last Saturday. Four goals arrived from the 34th minute to half-time, which tells you how quickly their afternoon unravelled. They now sit 20th, with 12 points.

I’d be wary of judging them entirely on that. In September they won 3–1 at Forest Green, with Tom Cursons scoring twice and Lennon Wheeldon getting the other. Wheeldon then scored from distance at Halifax, where Louis Chadwick’s saves helped them hold on for a draw.

There’s enough there to hurt us. Cursons can get away into the channels, and Wheeldon has already shown that backing off him outside the box is a bad idea.

Still, Boston’s home record gives us a proper opportunity. One win, one draw and four defeats; just one point from their four home games since beating Altrincham. We should be making them work to stay in this game.

Boston player to watch: Tom Cursons

Cursons is the one I want our centre-halves alert to from the first whistle. Two goals at Forest Green showed what he can do when Boston get him into space, and those runs into the channels can make a back line turn towards its own goal. We saw against Fylde how uncomfortable that can become when our passing out from the back is not right.

I do not think we should spend the afternoon worrying about Boston, but we should know what they are capable of. Stop the early ball into Cursons, keep Wheeldon from picking up the scraps around the area and make their defenders deal with Cardwell and our runners. We are third for a reason. Go there and play like it.

Coker gets my nod

Colclough is ruled out through injury, which is a blow after his goal against Fylde. Oli Coker replaced him before half-time that day and would be my choice to start here. He can help us keep the ball moving around the box, with Popoola offering the pace on the other side.

Massiah-Edwards is a tempting alternative. He started at Gateshead and against Barrow, so this would hardly be throwing him in cold. I’d keep that option available from the bench, alongside Omochere, and stick with Cardwell up front.

Duncan is expected back in goal after returning from Wales Under-21 duty. Sims has started the last three league games. I’m also keeping Goodliffe alongside Cox: his substitution against Fylde alone isn’t a reason to assume he misses this one.

Go there and make them deal with us

We’ve taken three wins and three draws from six away games. That’s a good return, and it should give this side the confidence to take the initiative at Boston.

For me, the useful lesson from Fylde is what happened before Oldaker scored. Chambers-Parillon cut out their attempt to build from the back, Cardwell helped the move along and we were ahead. That’s the sort of pressure Boston ought to face: make their defenders deal with us before they’ve settled.

Both meetings last season ended level, including the 3–3 at Boston. I’d be disappointed with another draw here. We have enough attacking options to ask much more of them, even without Colclough.

Boston United 1–2 Southend United

I can’t quite bring myself to predict a clean sheet. But I fancy us to create enough to win, and three points would send us into the FA Cup break in a very decent position.

Come on, you Shrimpers.