Southend United captain Oli Coker praised his team's character after they extended their perfect start to the season with a 3-1 away win at Solihull Moors. The victory on Saturday made it three wins from three for Kieron Dyer's side, giving them a maximum nine points.
Coker, who scored one of the goals, admitted the performance was not their best. "We just didn’t get going," the midfielder said. "We didn’t really do that on Saturday but we’ve come out with three points so that shows character and that we’ve got a lot in there to take us through games even if we are struggling at times."
Room for improvement
The 23-year-old captain highlighted specific areas where the team fell short. He pointed to a lack of control in the first half and difficulties winning second balls. Coming from behind to lead 2-1 at the break demonstrated resilience, but Coker believes there is much to improve. "We know what we need to do better," he stated. "That’s good and we’ll take that into the next game where we’ll want to put it right."
Coker's goal was his second in three matches, though he credited striker Harry Cardwell for his role. "I think I’ve been a bit lucky with my goals but Cards has been massive for that," Coker explained. "He’s leading from the front and I can play off him. He sets the tone for us and we all back him up."
The immediate focus shifts to Friday night's home fixture against Kidderminster Harriers at Roots Hall. Coker is relishing the prospect of playing in front of the home supporters. "Every game at Roots Hall is unbelievable and in front of our fans hopefully we can put on a show," he said.
With three wins from three, Southend sit in a strong early position. The squad will aim to maintain their 100% record when they face Kidderminster this Friday.
