IT is always eventful when Southend United take on Solihull Moors and Saturday’s showdown was certainly no exception.
After suffering two disappointing defeats in quick succession the Shrimpers showed good character to bounce back to winning ways at Damson Park.
And they triumphed in entertaining fashion too, winning an open and exciting encounter 4-2.
In many ways, Solihull were the perfect opponent for Kevin Maher’s team to take on after an indifferent run of results.
Moors fans spoke pre-match about how Blues are now regarded as their bogey team and that showed no sign of ending on Saturday.
As such, the Shrimpers have now won four games in a row against Solihull during a run of victories which has seen them score 15 times while conceding just twice.
But, despite that record, victory could certainly not be taken granted at the weekend and it was another massive test of character for Blues.
Back to back defeats, a midweek trip to AFC Fylde and the unavailability of key players against a side sitting eighth in the standings made for a testing match.
However, the Shrimpers definitely deserved their victory.
The manner of the result and the pattern of the game could perhaps have been foreseen after the team-sheets were made public.
With Bim Pepple joining Macauley Bonne in attack, Jack Bridge at left-wing back and Keenan Appiah-Forson included in a three man midfield, Blues selected their most attacking line up of the season so far.
And it resulted in the Shrimpers scoring four goals away from home for the first time since winning at Bradford City back in January 2019.
The victory was also Blues’ first away from home this season and, from an attacking point of view, it was extremely impressive.
Pepple brought physicality and incredible work-rate to the forward line up and also did superbly well to score his first two goals since signing on loan from Luton Town.
The youngster had been a nuisance for opposition defenders during his previous three starts for Southend but without having really looked like providing a goalscoring threat.
However, Pepple proved that wrong at the weekend as he showed great strength and finishing skills to score his first goal of the afternoon.
And he then followed that up by being in the right place at the right time for his second.
Adding to that, Pepple also set up Gus Scott-Morriss for his latest goal and it is difficult to describe in words just how well the in-form right wing-back has started the season.
But sometimes the stats just speak for themselves and Scott-Morriss has now scored eight goals in 10 games this season.
The impressive tally makes him the second highest scorer in the division and means he has already equalled his tally from the whole of the previous campaign.
His eye-catching, energetic displays deserve to be regularly praised as too does the impact made by Appiah-Forson.
The midfielder has looked bright during four substitute appearances for the Shrimpers and took things up a notch during his first start on Saturday.
Appiah-Forson broke the deadlock with a brilliantly taken goal but also showed a real willingness and ability to break quickly with the ball, something Blues have not always had in recent seasons.
His performance certainly played a big part in the victory which will provide the Shrimpers with a timely boost.
Yes, there were defensive concerns and the back three were far less protected than normal.
Blues have now conceded seven goals in three games and are still searching for the solidity which had been in place for the past couple of seasons.
But, as has been regularly said in recent weeks, football is a results based business and that is all that mattered on Saturday.
The win would most definitely have lifted the spirits of everyone connected with the club after a testing period.
But now the challenge is to consistently come out on top and not just against Solihull!
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