Sam Barratt makes full debut in stoppage time Southend win

It’s been a long road to recovery for Sam Barratt, but the former Bracknell Town and Maidenhead United winger finally made his full Football League debut on Saturday 1st February in a 2-1 win over Lincoln City.

Nearly 18 months after his dream move to League One Southend United in May 2018, Barratt started his first game for the Shrimpers having worked his way back from a cruciate ligament injury.

That injury was sustained in an under 23 match against Stevenage after he’d made his debut for Southend’s first team in the opening day defeat to Doncaster Rovers.

In that time, Southend have had three managers in Chris Powell who initially signed Barratt, Kevin Bond and now former England centre back Sol Campbell.

The Shrimpers are currently deep in a League One relegation battle, but have picked up two wins, two draws and a defeat in their last five games that has coincided with four appearances off the bench since a surprise late inclusion in the matchday squad to face AFC Wimbledon on 1st January.

Barratt’s full debut on Saturday also saw his first full 90 minutes for the club and had several chances to make a goalscoring mark on the Roots Hall faithful.

The win was Southend’s third of the season as Elvis Bwomono scored an injury time winner after Charlie Kelman had opened the scoring.