Sol Campbell finally records first league win as Southend boss at Accrington

Posted Sunday, January 19, 2020 by PA

Sol Campbell celebrated his first league win as Southend boss after Jason Demetriou’s second-half penalty secured a 2-1 win over Accrington.

It was Campbell’s 11th league game as Shrimpers manager and it was only struggling Southend’s second league victory of the season – their last was in September.

The visitors opened the scoring after 11 minutes when striker Tom Hopper squared the ball to Charlie Kelman on the edge of the area and he rifled home.

Stanley equalised in the 17th minute when Sam Finley’s ball into the far post was met with a thumping header from Mark Hughes, which Dion Charles helped into the back of the net.

Stanley were wasteful with Mark Oxley denying Joe Pritchard and Finley. Pritchard also had a strike cleared off the line, while top scorer Colby Bishop headed over when in good positions.

Southend won a penalty in the 51st minute when Pritchard clipped substitute Brandon Goodship and Demetriou fired the spot-kick beyond Joe Bursik.

Stanley pushed for a leveller with Finley firing over and Pritchard again kept out by Oxley, but Bursik also did well to deny Sam Barratt a third goal for Southend.