Bristol Rovers vs. Southend United – Preview

Last updated : 27 August 2004 By Robert Craven

Spencer Prior may replace old team-mate Andy Edwards
That statistic means that the last time the Shrimpers actually defeated a side that are in the current League Two away from home was some three weeks earlier, when Boston United succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at York Street. The 1-1 draw at the Memorial Stadium against tonight’s opponents and the 2-2 draw against another of our early season hosts, Lincoln City, at Sincil Bank may have gone far towards securing United’s safety, and contributed to a four-match undefeated run in the League away from Roots Hall, but it is a more depressing story now.


After that 2-1 win over Carlisle United, when Leon Constantine netted twice, Blues went down by a solitary strike at Huddersfield Town as Carl Pettefer was savagely put out for the remainder of the campaign before an own goal and Constantine forced a 2-2 draw at promotion candidates Northampton Town. When Rochdale gained a point in a 1-1 draw on the last away day of the season, it secured their status in League Two. The now-departed Constantine grabbed the fortunate forty-yard goal that day too.


And so to the Peterborough United-bound striker-less 2004/5. First-up was a scoring draw at Lincoln – Wayne Gray netting from the spot, the only Southend goal of the season. A 2-0 loss at Spotland in a toothless display made it five without a win, and the commendable similar scoreline at the Boleyn Ground rounded up the half-dozen – from open play Constantine and o.g. are the only people to have found the net in that time.


Blues have gone from one defeat in five on their travels (and that the 2-0 Millennium Stadium loss to Blackpool in the LDV Vans Trophy final) to one win (at Carlisle) in ten. And to add to that it’s double figures since the Shrimpers actually won anywhere – and 523 minutes since the last goal from open play. And another stat – the last Seasiders’ talent to score away from home other than Leon Constantine in open play was Mark Gower. Where was it? Where we’re going tonight!


It is important at this stage in the season to stay positive, however, and Tuesday night’s display against West Ham United certainly gave reason for Southend supporters to be just that. If the tenth of the fans that go west for a Friday night at Bristol make a tenth of the noise and atmosphere generated at Upton Park by the 3,500+, then Blues will be buoyed on by a cacophony of emotion.


Two Marlon Harewood strikes were enough to sent Southend spiralling out of the League Cup to their east London neighbours from the other side of the A13, but the Shrimpers had their chances. Drewe Broughton nodded wide unmarked 14 minutes in, Kevin Maher saw a swirling shot spin inches wide, Mark Bentley rippled the side-netting and two, if not three, penalty claims were all turned down by the man responsible for the most ridiculous spot-kick awarded in living memory, when Gower was adjudged to have handled in the area at Yeovil Town last November, Paul Armstrong.


Broughton himself was distressed at missing a somewhat simple header during that first half. He told the Southend Evening Echo, “I should have scored and I’m very disappointed. The cross dropped over a couple of defenders so I didn’t see it until quite late and it just ended up hitting me rather than me actually attacking the ball”. He summed up the thoughts of many of the clubs’ fans when he stated, “We just need to be more clinical at the moment because we’re not taking our opportunities”.


Club captain Maher is also looking forward to a chance to put League Two matters right. Also speaking to local newspaper, the Echo, he declared, “I thought we played well at West Ham on Tuesday, especially in the second half, and if we can keep on playing like that we’re going to be fine against sides in our own division”. Continuing the common theme, the Ilford-born Irishman added, “We haven’t really been outplayed by anyone so far – we just can’t seem to score goals at the moment”.


Steve Tilson’s biggest problem may be finding a spot back in the side for his defensive lynchpin Spencer Prior. The commanding centre-half, who helped propel United into the old Division One, or even older Division Two at the time, missed the defeat to the Hammers with a slight knee problem, but physiotherapist John Stannard has handed him a clean bill of health to make the 180-mile trip with the rest of the squad.


Stannard, speaking to the club’s official website, www.southendunited.co.uk, said of Prior’s injury, “Following Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Cambridge United, Spencer had some severe inflammation of the knee. We didn’t want to risk things and it meant we had to rest him”. The ex-Dagenham & Redbridge physio continued, “Spinner was desperate to play in the match. He will be available for selection for Friday night’s match against Bristol Rovers”.


The man Prior has been playing in place of, Adam Barrett, has special memories of the Memorial Stadium, having performed admirably there for over two seasons before joining Blues. Barrett has missed more games (three) at his new club, than he did in his time at the Memorial Ground (two), the last twelve months as captain. In addition to that, he was arguably the visitors’ most impressive player on show three days ago.


All of which puts Andy Edwards position in threat. A team-mate of Prior’s as Blues were heading up the table in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Edwards has made a shaky return to his hometown club, most notably with his lack of pace contributing to a number of goals for the opposition, whilst a costly slip put Kayode Odejayi on his way to putting Cheltenham Town ahead on the first day of the season.


Another option open to Tilson and his assistant Paul Brush is to revert to a 3-5-2 formation with wingbacks. Even then, Edwards, Prior and Barrett would not be assured of their position in a back three, since Lewis Hunt has shown impressive form in the fixtures that he has been allowed to compete in. A change of tactics at this stage of the year is unlikely, though, with both bosses favouring 4-4-2.


Full-backs Duncan Jupp, on the right, and Nicky Nicolau, may not relish the extra work that they would be given in that formation. The Haslemere-born Jupp has been consistent as ever in the opening gambits of 2004/5, whilst five-foot eight-inch Nicolau has started to come into his own as he becomes more confident based on the success he has had with set-pieces in the last two encounters.


The more radical-thinking amongst the Shrimpers contingent may toy with the idea of pushing Nicolau into the left-hand side of midfield. This would allow the revelation of pre-season, Che Wilson, who has dispelled doubts over his ability following Martin Bullock’s display at Cardiff, to play at left-back and the Camden Town-born former Arsenal man to push forwards more and use his ability to cross.


It would also help Mark Gower to have a more natural position on the right-flank. Far from being a natural winger, Gower at least possesses the quality of a decent ball into the box when he is afforded time on the ball. Tilson may prefer to remember the ex-Barnet man’s strike against Rovers both at home in the LDV and in the League away, on both occasions drifting in from the left to send rasping shots into the back of Kevin Miller’s net.


Carl Pettefer has recently filled the right-midfield role, but the sensibility in using two defensive-minded midfielders in the same side means that this can hamper United’s options pushing forwards. Michael Husbands, Michael Kightly and Jimmy Corbett, somewhat of a forgotten man at Roots Hall, are all awaiting a chance out wide.


In the middle, skipper Kevin Maher is still assured of his spot, and seems to know the fact. He is, though, just one booking away from a suspension, and will have to attempt to reign in his loose mouth and his sliding, reckless tackles. Jay Smith continues to miss out through injury and Lewis Hunt is better suited to the back line, so Mark Bentley, who has come so close to scoring in both of the last two matches, will retain his place.


Drewe Broughton still looks forward to his third League goal for Blues
Up front, there is competition with Tesfaye Bramble the name on everyone’s lips. The former Chelmsford City man made his return from suspension coming off of the substitutes’ bench at the Boleyn Ground, and caused enough problems to push hard for a recall to the starting line-up. Wayne Gray was also brought into the action at a later stage, and will be hungry to regain his position in the side. Lawrie Dudfield and Drewe Broughton are the current incumbents, and aside from not scoring, did nothing wrong.


In goal, Bart Griemink has been in good form, and has caused few headaches with his goalkeeping, so looks set to keep his place ahead of Darryl Flahavan, whose lack of confidence against crosses would theoretically be less tested against a front line of Junior Agogo and midget (and ex-Shrimper) Jamie Forrester, who have been Ian Atkins’ favoured duo at Rovers.


Of course, Atkins was a one-time target of Shrimpers supremo Ron Martin in December, but despite allegedly having talks with the southeast Essex club, he eventually decided to stay with Oxford United. It then emerged that he had once again gone behind chairman Firoz Kassam’s back and signed a pre-2004/5 deal to join the Pirates. He was given ‘gardening leave’ by the U’s, but is well-known in the game for his lack of loyalty.


He does have a knack, though, of signing good players, and yesterday was no exception as former Stockport County midfielder Aaron Lescott joined the ranks at the Memorial Stadium. The 25-year-old has linked up with the Gas for six-months initially, with that being increased if his impresses in that half-year stint. Before plying his trade with the Hatters he also played for Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday.


However, his arrival could signal the end of a Rovers career for another midfielder, Irishman Dave Savage. The centrepiece of many of Atkins’ sides, Savage has asked for a transfer so as to be closer to his family, who are still based in Northampton. He stressed that it was nothing to do with Lescott’s transfer, but the timing remains odd.


Kick-off against the side that will go top of the League Two table if they win courtesy of an unbeaten start to the season and three consecutive victories is at 7:45 p.m., and the Memorial Ground is set to be at its capacity, in the home end at least. Blues’ fans will have a job to make enough noise to drown out one of the most vociferous of supports in this division, but they may well give it a go. With Bank Holiday traffic in evidence on the M25 and M4, it is advisable to leave in plenty of time if you are travelling to the game.


LIKELY SQUADS


Bristol Rovers

Southend United

4-4-2

Kevin Miller

Steven Elliott

Robbie Ryan

Christian Edwards

John Anderson

James Hunt

Stuart Campbell

Paul Trollope

Ali Gibb

Jamie Forrester

Junior Agogo

---

Craig Hinton

Aaron Lescott

David Savage

Lee Thorpe

Richard Walker

---

Craig Disley

Ijah Anderson

Lewis Haldane

Ryan Williams

Starting Line-Ups

GK

DR

DL

DC

DC

MR

MC

MC

ML

FC

FC

Substitutes

1

2

3

4

5

Also Available

*

*

*

*

4-4-2

Bart Griemink

Duncan Jupp

Nicky Nicolau

Spencer Prior

Adam Barrett

Carl Pettefer

Kevin Maher

Mark Bentley

Mark Gower

Drewe Broughton

Lawrie Dudfield

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Darryl Flahavan

Lewis Hunt

Andy Edwards

Wayne Gray

Tesfaye Bramble

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James Corbett

Che Wilson

Tesfaye Bramble

Michael Kightly


REFEREE: Mr. Michael Jones (Cheshire)


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com