Southend United vs Doncaster Rovers. Sky Bet League One.
Roots HallAttendance5,066.
Wednesday 23 October 2019 09:15, UK
New Southend manager Sol Campbell watched on from the stands as the nine-man Shrimpers crashed to an eventful 7-1 defeat to Doncaster at Roots Hall.
Southend had Ethan Hamilton sent off after just six minutes for a challenge on Jon Taylor but still took the lead five minutes later with Isaac Hutchinson firing home a fantastic free-kick.
Doncaster levelled with a header from Kwame Thomas in the 23rd minute before Ben Sheaf netted with a deflected volley three minutes later.
Thomas made it 3-1 with another simple finish in the 52nd minute before Southend's Stephen McLaughlin was shown a red card for a foul on Taylor.
Ben Whiteman made it 4-1 with an assured 20 yard shot in the 70th minute before Sadlier netted from six yards after Taylor's effort had bounced back off the post.
Substitute Alfie May lobbed the ball over Nathan Bishop to make it 6-1 in the 89th minute before Nathan Ralph deflected Taylor's right wing cross into his own net.
Campbell, who saved Macclesfield from relegation to non-league football in his first managerial post last season, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Southend underwent an extensive search for a new manager since Kevin Bond resigned after they suffered six consecutive league defeats at the beginning of the season.
Former Arsenal, Tottenham and England international defender Campbell had been out of managerial work since departing League Two club Macclesfield in August, after guiding them to safety in their final game of last season.
Sky Sports News reported earlier in October Campbell had been interviewed for the vacant managerial role at the Essex club.
Former Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Charlton defender Hermann Hreidarsson and ex-Manchester United striker Andy Cole have joined Campbell's backroom team.
Hreidarsson, who was a team-mate of Campbell's at Portsmouth, is Southend's new assistant coach, while Cole links up with Campbell as a specialist striker coach.
Southend sit 22nd in League One, after 10 defeats, one win and two draws in 13 matches.
Former Southend boss Chris Powell, speaking on Sky Sports' EFL coverage:
"He's had a desire to manage. That's the first port of call when you've got someone who wants to manage through a difficult situation like he was in at Macclesfield. I think the job he did there was very underestimated. He's going into a similar one but he'll be thinking, 'I've seen this before, I can do this.' He'll be hoping to change a few things in the January window but they'll need to get results now."
