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Southend will be without two regular faces for the clash at the Memorial Ground, with midfielder Kevin Maher and winget Steven Clark both serving one match suspension; Maher for collecting five bookings and Clark for his dismissal during the LDV Vans thrashing at Swindon Town.
Meanwhile, midfielder Ian Selley could well be playing his last game for the Club, his three-month loan spell from Wimbledon comes to an end this week and unless a deal can be arranged with both United and the London (for how long?!) Club, Selley will be returning to The Dons.
Striker Tes Bramble could return to the side as Southend return to somewhat of a full strength forward line.
A last minute long range free kick by Andy Thomson handed Rovers a rather fortunate last gasp winner at The Memorial Ground last September after Leon Johnson's header had given the Shrimpers the lead, but revenge was gained in late February, a brace from Tes Bramble, including a penalty, earning United victory on a freezing night.
Victory this time around seems crucial!
LAST FIVE MEETINGS:-
Feb 26th, 2002 - Southend United 2 (Bramble 2 [1 pen]) Bristol Rovers 1 - Division Three
Sep 18th, 2001 - Bristol Rovers 2 Southend United 1 (Johnson) - Division Three
Jan 15th, 2001 - Southend United 1 (Carruthers) Bristol Rovers 1 - LDV Vans Trophy Area Quater-Final
Mar, 26th, 1998 - Bristol Rovers 2 Southend United 0 - Division Two
Nov 22nd, 1997 - Southend United 1 (N'Diaye) Bristol Rovers 1 - Division Two
SOUTHEND (from):- Darryl Flahavan, Daniel Gay, Mark Beard, Damon Searle, Leon Cort, Stephen Broad, Tom Jordan, Jay Smith, Stuart Thurgood, Neil Jenkins, Tony Scully, Graeme Jones, Mark Salter, Barrington Belgrave, Tesfaye Bramble.
Referee: Ray Olivier (Sutton Coldfield)
Assistants: Steve Dorr (Worcestershire), Simon Hillock (Devon)
Olivier this season: 11 matches, 39 yellows, 1 red
His last Southend game was the 0-0 draw against Plymouth at Home Park, where he contrived to make a fiasco out of Argyle's penalty claims, eventually deferring the decision to a linesman 50 yards away. Previous to that he awarded Blues a penalty in the 2-0 victory over Hull at Roots Hall in January after Tes Bramble had tumbled to the floor.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com