MATCH PREVIEW | SOUTHEND UNITED V BARNET FC

This year’s Boxing Day fixture sees Dean Brennan’s side travel away to Roots Hall as they face Southend in the 25th National League fixture of the season.

So, what’s the Buzz?
Barnet come into this Boxing Day special after the domination of Boreham Wood in the Christmas Eve derby at The Hive. The 6-0 scoreline saw a hat-trick from Nicke Kabamba, who sits on 17 league goals so far this season. Harry Pritchard, Reece-Hall Johnson, and new signing Jordan Maguire-Drew also put one past the keeper, leaving Bees fans on a Christmas high going into the next week.

Club Profile
Club Name: Southend United F.C.
Nickname: The Shrimpers
Founded: 1906
Ground: Roots Hall
Manager: Kevin Maher
League Position: 14th
Form: WDLLW

Opposition Report
Playing primarily in a 5-3-2 formation, Kevin Maher’s side have been tough to beat at home this season, dropping points only three times at Roots Hall. Keeping a lot of pressure on the ball, Southend play a very intense style, which has seen them perform well against the better National League sides, including a win against league leaders Chesterfield and a 5-0 victory against Solihull Moors.

Amidst off-the-pitch events, The Shrimpers haven’t been able to field a full-strength team. It will be similar on Boxing Day, with striker Harry Cardwell and midfielder Cav Miley both unavailable.

One to Watch: Oliver Coker
A set-piece specialist, Southend fans will look to Oli Coker for a good performance. Scoring in his side’s last game against Kidderminster Harriers after a top performance, the 20-year-old midfielder has the ability to strike from long-range, and with other players like Jack Bridge and Noor Husin, Barnet will have to stay switched on to limit Coker’s abilities too.

In the Dugout: Kevin Maher
A club legend, Maher made 383 league appearances for The Shrimpers between 1998 and 2008. During this time, he captained the side to two back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship.

After retiring in 2015, Maher rejoined Southend in a coaching capacity as U21 manager before joining Bristol Rovers as a first-team coach. In 2021, Maher was appointed to his first permanent head coach role back at Southend, and has been there since, overseeing 112 league games since then.