Southend United boss expects "closely fought but high-quality affair" in play-off eliminator
Southend United play Rochdale in their National League play-off eliminator
Southend United head coach Kevin Maher has said their play-off eliminator against Rochdale will be "two good teams both in good form" spoken ahead of the Vanarama National League away game.
The Blues finished the season with just one defeat in seven matches, a run that saw them secure a play-off place.
The final day of the Campaign against Gateshead saw a 0-0 draw, putting them in seventh place.
Ahead of the play-off eliminator on Thursday 15 May, coach Kevin Maher praised his players for their efforts to buy into the team’s goals and finish with a flourish.
“We took a while to get going with the embargo and then losing a couple of players,” Maher said in his pre-match press conference.
“So it’s taken some time to get the squad to where it is, but we’ve built momentum as the season has gone on.
"If you take our last 25 or 30 games, in terms of the form table we’re really competitive and that’s ultimately why we’ve landed in the play-offs.
Maher has experience of going all the way in the play-offs as a player, having captained the Shrimpers to promotion from League Two in 2005.
After a long trip to Gateshead last week, the Blues head North once more to the Crown Oil Arena.
Just two defeats in 2025, Maher puts the strong away form down to the steady improvements the team has made over the season.
“It's a credit to the players. There’s not been a certain theme in how we play or anything like that. We’ve become a stronger team, whether that’s at home or away.”
The Shrimpers have always been backed in strong numbers away from SS2 this season.
Maher says “The numbers we took to Gateshead were unbelievable and we’ll take big numbers to Rochdale of course. They’ll have a big crowd behind them as well, so the play-offs always make for a great atmosphere.
"The backing we get doesn’t go unnoticed by myself or the players.”
Looking ahead to the challenge Rochdale pose, Maher expects a closely fought but high-quality affair.
“If you look at all the games we’ve played recently, there’s not been much between the two teams. We got a good result up there in the league and it was very close again at our place where we’ve scored late on.
“They’re really well-organised, well-coached, and they’ve done brilliantly this season even with the challenge of playing Saturday-Tuesday for such a long time. For them to come through that and to be in decent form is a credit to them.
"It’ll be two good teams in decent form.”
23-year-old midfielder, Keenan Appiah-Forson, is entering his first ever play-off campaign.
Joining the Blues in August 2024 following his release from West Ham, Appiah-Forson has featured in the starting XI in 11 of the previous 12 matches, during which time the Blues rose from 11th to seventh in the Vanarama National League.
“I give credit to myself for working hard, believing in myself, and knowing that if I show up every day, do well, and take my opportunities that things can change very quickly in football,” Appiah-Forson told the local media in his pre-match press conference. “Being here and in the play-offs against Rochdale, it’s a good start.
“It’s a massive opportunity but we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. With it being my first play-offs, I’m not nervous or anything – I’m still confident.
"It’s just another game, but it’s a must-win game.
“I believe in myself, I believe in my teammates, and I know that we’re more than capable of getting the job done.”