Bury v Southend United - Preview

Tes Bramble should get another chance in attack.

There is no doubt that the Shakers, level on points with United in Division Three, will be going into this encounter brimming with confidence. On Wednesday night Andy Preece's side pulled of the shock of the Worthington Cup second round by winning one-nil away at Premiership side Bolton Wanderers courtesy of Colin Woodthorpe's goal shortly after half time.

Bury however, relegated from Division Two last season, are far from unbeatable and have yet to keep a clean sheet in League competition this season. One of their main threats though, former Liverpool striker Jon Newby should be fit despite picking up a slight knock at the Reebok Stadium.

There will be one obvious absentee from the Southend side with striker Mark Rawle ruled out for a month with the hamstring injury he suffered against Exeter last week. It is expected that Graeme Jones, who scored after coming on for Rawle will partner Tes Bramble upfront whilst Barrington Belgrave should claim a place on the bench. Damon Searle who went off injured in Wednesday's reserve clash with Cardiff should make the squad.

Amazingly Blues haven't played Bury since that memorable match in 1991, and United completed a League double that season, Steve Tilson and Brett Angell grabbing the goals in a 2-1 win at Roots Hall.

Last Matches:-
Southend United 1 (Jones 43) Exeter City 0, Line-up - Flahavan, Beard (Steven Clark 89), Cort, Broad, Whelan, Jenkins, Selley (Thurgood 82), Maher, Smith, Rawle (Jones 35), Bramble. Unused - Gay, Searle.

Bolton Wanderers 0 Bury 1 (Woodthorpe 48), Line-up - Garner. Unsworth, Billy, Woodthorpe, Swailes, Dunfield (Stuart 90), Barrass, Nelson, Abbott (Preece 88), Newby, Clegg (Forrest 73). Unused - O'Shaughnessy, George.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS:-
4th May, 1991 - Bury (0) 0 Southend United (0) 1 (Benjamin) - Division Three
27th October, 1990 - Southend United (1) 2 (Angell, Tilson) Bury (1) 1 - Division Three
28th February, 1989 - Southend United (1) 1 (Crown)Bury (0) 1 - Division Three
25th October, 1988 - Bury (0) 3 Southend United (0) 1 (Crown (pen)) - Division Three
20th February, 1988 - Southend United (1) 1 (Crown) Bury 0 - Division Three

SOUTHEND (from):- Darryl Flahavan, Daniel Gay, Mark Beard, Neil Jenkins, Damon Searle, Leon Cort, Stephen Broad, Tom Jordan, Phil Whelan, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Stuart Thurgood, Ian Selley, Steven Clark, Tesfaye Bramble, Graeme Jones, Barrington Belgrave.

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com

HEAD-TO-HEAD BURY v SOUTHEND UNITED
Stats by www.soccer-stats.co.uk