Southend 3-1 Tamworth: Dyer's changes turn control into goals

That was much better. Southend had control of this game before they found the attacking threat to make it count, and Kieron Dyer deserves credit for changing how they went about it. Four half-time substitutions transformed a goalless contest into a deserved 3-1 win over Tamworth at Roots Hall.

Promise Omochere made the most obvious difference. He gave the defence a physical problem it had not been handling before the break. But there was more to the improvement than putting a different centre-forward on: Southend gave him players to work with, and Sam Austin’s contribution was far bigger than the strike which settled the result.

Control without enough penetration

Dan Cox, Sahid Kamara and Josh Popoola returned to the starting side. Oli Coker’s place on the bench was a planned rest, Dyer explained afterwards; the midfielder had shown signs of fatigue. He came on later, replacing Leon Chambers-Parillon. New arrival Ryan Battrum was absent from the matchday squad.

The first half was frustrating because Southend looked capable of more. Chambers-Parillon struck the post and Harry Cardwell finished the rebound from an offside position. Kyle McAdam then put Cardwell through, but his attempt with the outside of his right foot lacked a clean contact and went wide.

I thought Cardwell was off his game, and that chance needed a better finish. Southend had openings without turning their control into enough sustained pressure around the goal.

Ben Milnes was missing from Tamworth’s squad and Morgan Roberts stayed on the bench, so the threat I had described beforehand was different in practice. Kieren Donnelly and Dan Creaney started together, while Nathan Tshikuna repeatedly threatened from range. Joe Duncan saved one effort, and another was deflected wide.

Ryan Howley went close before the interval. At 0-0, Southend could be encouraged by how much of the game they were directing without being satisfied with what it had produced.

Four changes with a purpose

The scale of Dyer’s intervention surprised me. Austin, Lewys Twamley, Omochere and Zavier Massiah-Edwards came on together, with Anthony Hartigan, Kamara, Popoola and Cardwell withdrawn. My first thought was that Dyer had lost patience.

Speaking to the Echo, Dyer said Tamworth were doubling up on the wingers, preventing the one-against-one situations Southend wanted. He decided during the half to bring more players inside, looking to put four or five against their two central midfielders while the full-backs supplied the width. Dyer named Austin and Chambers-Parillon among the threats he wanted centrally, alongside Twamley and Massiah-Edwards. Tamworth would have more players to account for near Omochere, with McAdam and Vontae Daley-Campbell still available outside. He stressed that “those who came off at half-time did nothing wrong.”

Omochere had a volley saved by Jas Singh, and Austin sent Massiah-Edwards through for an effort the goalkeeper smothered. Twamley’s deflected shot went straight at Singh. The new arrivals were already making Tamworth defend their own penalty area.

Omochere changes the threat

Omochere’s hold-up play gave Southend something to build around. He occupied defenders and created chances for others.

Darren Oldaker supplied the pass on the hour, and Chambers-Parillon finished low with his right foot. Five league goals in eight games, with a goal in each of his last three appearances, is a substantial return from that position. Omochere then ran down the right and crossed for Massiah-Edwards to head wide. Eight minutes after the opener, the striker headed McAdam’s left-wing delivery in for 2-0, the full-back supplying the width Dyer wanted.

Austin finishes the job

Two minutes after the second goal, Tshikuna turned sharply and struck an excellent shot into the top corner, cutting the lead in half. I still see the goal as a lapse, but an isolated one within a much better performance, rather than evidence that the defensive problems from Carlisle had followed Southend into another match. Southend have conceded in seven of their eight league games; the Scunthorpe win remains their only clean sheet.

Austin restored the two-goal margin with a powerful finish into the roof of the net after Tamworth failed to clear a corner. Dyer credited the counter-press and Southend’s ability to keep that attack alive. Austin had already helped create a chance; now he finished the move which made the closing stages considerably more comfortable. Dyer’s praise afterwards recognised Austin’s patience and training standards. Omochere made Southend harder to contain. Austin made the reshaped side work.

Omochere’s performance makes the question of a first start more pressing. Dyer said the striker had wanted to start, but after missing pre-season he was being eased in on the advice of the staff. Another effective 45 minutes strengthens his case without answering the fitness question for them. Nor did this test the proposed partnership with Cardwell: Omochere had replaced him.

Third place and 17 points from eight games are the reward. Katie and I both called 3-1, so we can enjoy getting that one right.

Southend still needed Dyer to change things at half-time. He gave them a target in Omochere and enough support around him to sustain attacks. When Tamworth scored, Southend could keep playing that way. That was the improvement I had wanted. The control was already there; Dyer’s changes gave it an attacking threat Tamworth could not contain.

Match details

Southend United 3-1 Tamworth, Enterprise National League. Roots Hall, Tuesday 15 September 2026. Half-time: 0-0. Attendance: 7,328, including 27 away supporters.

Goals: Chambers-Parillon 60, Omochere 68, Austin 82; Tshikuna 70. Goal timings follow the Echo and Tamworth reports.