Solihull Moors 1–3 Southend United: Duncan keeps us in it, Kendall makes sure

Three minutes in, and already holding our breath

The early kick-off had barely settled when Joe Sbarra went down in the area under Rayan Oyebade’s challenge. Penalty to Solihull. Jacob Wakeling stepped up, struck it hard and low, and Duncan produced a fine save to his left. Wakeling’s effort from the rebound went over.

We could so easily have been behind almost before we started. It wasn’t even the only warning. Wakeling made Duncan work again at his near post and Solihull looked sharper, quicker to the loose balls and more comfortable pushing us back.

Leon Chambers-Parillon had curled an early effort just wide, but the hosts were creating the better openings. I had hoped our win over Scunthorpe would allow us to settle into this season. Instead, it was another afternoon when Duncan had to make sure the score stayed manageable while the outfield players found their feet.

The reprieve lasted until the 14th minute. A pass from Matty Carson took a deflection off Darren Oldaker into Wakeling’s path, and this time the striker made no mistake. He met the chance cleanly and found the corner beyond Duncan. Solihull led 1–0, and nobody could really argue they hadn’t earned it.

There was a nervousness about us at times. Solihull pressed well, Joe Sbarra was busy and Junior Tiensia caused problems down their right before having to go off. Scott High also had an effort deflected onto the post in that lively first half. We needed somebody to take the game away from the hosts. Thankfully, Coker had other plans.

Coker starts the comeback

Harry Cardwell has worked for an awful lot of what we’ve scored so far. At Altrincham his persistence forced the opening for Coker, and at Roots Hall it was his shot that led to Popoola’s winner. Here he was again, getting into the area and making the goalkeeper do something.

Cardwell’s effort in the 28th minute was saved by Max Metcalfe, but the ball ran loose. Coker reacted first and smashed the rebound in from close range. Nothing complicated about the finish; plenty to admire about the anticipation. We were level when, ten minutes earlier, a comeback had felt anything but certain.

What I like about Coker is that he gets involved where the match is decided. He isn’t content merely to move the ball around midfield and admire the pass. He gets into the box, follows attacks and looks for the second ball. That’s two goals already this season, and this one came at a moment when we badly needed a lift.

Eleven minutes later, Coker helped make the second. Chambers-Parillon swung a deep delivery towards the far post. Coker kept it alive and sent the ball back into the danger area. Josh Popoola was waiting to steer it high into the net.

Two strikers’ goals in successive league games for Popoola; two examples of being in exactly the place a defender doesn’t want you to be. After his winner against Scunthorpe, I was interested to see whether he could turn that into a run. He had given us a very encouraging answer before half-time.

Southend went into the break 2–1 ahead. Somehow. That isn’t meant to diminish the quality of the goals. It’s simply an honest reflection of the chances Solihull had created. If their early penalty goes in, or if the rebound falls differently, we’re talking about a very different half.

The second half was not for the faint-hearted

We started the second period with a little more attacking purpose. Coker shot wide and Chambers-Parillon also had an opportunity, but Solihull didn’t go away. Callum McFarlane found room around our box, their deliveries kept asking questions and a one-goal lead felt painfully fragile.

The closest call arrived when Duncan punched an Andrews long throw away and Scott High lifted the loose ball towards goal. It came back off the crossbar. That’s not the sort of incident you forget simply because your team eventually wins by two goals.

Then came a moment I suspect Duncan would rather forget. His pass out went astray, allowing McFarlane to try his luck from distance. Duncan recovered to produce an excellent save, which deserves genuine credit, although we’d all have preferred him not to need to make it. We can praise the goalkeeper and still point out that playing out from the back has to be done with greater care.

For me, that is where the first three games offer Dyer his biggest problem to solve. We have goals in the side, attacking players who will chase everything and a goalkeeper capable of big moments. But we’ve also given opponents encouragement through sloppy spells and the odd poor decision. A team with promotion ambitions cannot rely on being rescued every Saturday.

Solihull came again. Scott High, Sbarra and McFarlane all contributed to the pressure, and Duncan had to turn another Wakeling effort behind with only five minutes remaining. The match still felt like it could swing on the next ball into our area.

At the other end Ryan Colclough, on as a substitute, sent a fierce left-footed effort narrowly wide. We had opportunities to finish it, but no second-half goal. And when there’s only one in it, you’re never entirely comfortable.

Kendall runs all the way to the relief

With Solihull throwing everything forward, goalkeeper Metcalfe joined his teammates for a late corner. Southend cleared, and suddenly Charley Kendall had half a football pitch, an empty net and defenders trying to catch him.

I know the goal was unguarded, but I wouldn’t underestimate the nerve required to do that properly. Kendall had to gather the ball, sprint a long way, keep his composure and make sure. He did every part of it. In the second minute of stoppage time, he rolled home our third goal.

Only then did the scoreline start to feel secure. It was an excellent moment for a forward looking to make his mark under a new manager, and it gave the travelling Southend supporters the finish they’d waited all afternoon to enjoy.