Braintree Town (home)
- The gap in form between these two National League sides is clear with 7th placed Southend United taking 35 points from 21 league games while 19th-placed Braintree Town have just 21 from 23.
- Braintree Town have also had a mixed run of form recently, with just one win, two draws and two losses across all competitions in their last five.
- Braintree have a balanced home record in the National League of four wins, four draws and four defeats but they have averaged less than a goal per game at home this season, netting 0.92 goals on average.
- Braintree Town can be flexible in their back four, favouring a 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 depending on the match and opposition.
- Steve Pitt’s pragmatic system favours direct play and set piece aggression.
- Unbeaten in their last two home matches.
Southend United (away)
- Southend United have failed to win any of their last three away games (D1, L2) and their form has been patchy of late with two wins, one draw and two defeats in their last five, including a convincing 4-0 FA Trophy win.
- Southend have won five of their 11 National League away games, scoring 1.55 goals per game and conceding 1.09 goals.
- Southend are a more structured team with Kevin Maher favouring a structure-first approach, getting the team organised at the back and then trying to play through the thirds with their wing-backs in wide positions.
- Southend have been the better side this season and their depth and quality should see them edge this one.
Head-to-Head
- Southend United have won one of the last two meetings between these two sides, with the other ending in a draw.
- The last match between these sides in the National League was a close 0-0 draw in a tense game where the physicality of the game was notable and so a close and cagey match is expected once again on Friday.
Key Players
- Andrew Dallas is Southend’s targetman and top scorer with seven goals in 20 National League games, while Terrell Works has been in fine form for Braintree Town with four goals in 15 National League matches, often being the targetman from set pieces.
- Oliver Coker has been in particularly good form for Southend of late, scoring three in his last five, and his pace adds another dimension to the side’s attack.
Betting Insights
- Southend are the heavy favorites for this matchup, coming in at 1.67, compared to Braintree Town who are 4.68.
- The draw is coming in at 3.5.
- The odds of both teams scoring in this game are 1.79.
Prediction
Southend United’s form is much better overall and they have a bit more quality, so we’re supporting the favorites, although Braintree’s physicality and Southend’s poor away record means it will be a tight game.
