Match preview: Roots Hall offers a chance for Southend to press on
Roots Hall Stadium will host an intriguing mismatch on 13/01/2026 as Southend United, sitting comfortably in 7th, welcome rock-bottom Gateshead. The context could not be clearer: Southend arrive with momentum regained after a festive period that included wins over Sutton United and Braintree Town and an emphatic 4-0 victory over Truro City earlier in December. Those results have underpinned a side that has collected 41 points from 23 matches, boasting a tidy defensive record at home with only six goals conceded there all season and 12 clean sheets overall. The home form and the solidity reflected in Southend’s shots and chance creation — 361 total shots, 124 on target and an average of almost 16 attempts per game — suggest a team comfortable on the front foot at Roots Hall.
Gateshead, by contrast, are in freefall. Twenty-fourth in the table with just 19 points from 25 games, they have lost each of their last 10 outings and shipped 61 goals across the campaign. Recent results underline the malaise: a 3-1 reverse at Tamworth and a string of heavy defeats at home and away. Gateshead’s troubles are not just in the scoreline; their attacking output has dwindled against stronger opposition, with only 85 shots on target across the season and an average of just over ten shots per game. That gulf in form sets the stage for a very one-sided contest on paper.
Tactical angles and key match moments to watch
Southend’s defensive stability and superior attacking volume should be the decisive factors. With a solid home goals-against record and a knack for keeping clean sheets, they can afford to control the game and exploit Gateshead’s porous backline. The psychological edge of a ten-game losing streak will weigh heavily on Gateshead and could open the door to an early Southend breakthrough that the visitors will struggle to recover from. The head-to-head earlier in the season saw Southend run out comfortable winners in the reverse fixture, and the data suggests a repeat is far from unlikely.
Prediction and betting tip
All signals point to a Southend victory. This is a clash between a team defending well at home and one that cannot stop conceding on the road or at home. For bettors focused on market selection, read up on how best to approach your choices with practical guidance in Soccer betting tips and the choice of markets. And if you’re experimenting with alternative staking, consider the overview in How the betting method involving cryptocurrencies works to understand different approaches to bankroll management.
Betting suggestion: 1X2 — Southend United to win.
