Bury vs. Southend United – Preview

Jamie Stuart returns to Gigg Lane for the first time since his departure

Conditions tomorrow are likely to be somewhat different to the fourth of May 1991 - that day in Greater Manchester now approaching thirteen years ago, when Ian Benjamin famously ‘put the ball in the Bury net’ as the fabled song goes. There are not likely to be as many Shrimpers supporters in attendance either, but nevertheless it is always a trip that even those, like myself, that were not at Bury then, enjoy retracing.

However, 2003/4 is fast becoming, in League terms anyway, a season to forget rather than remember with great fondness. Come May, there will be no great promotion clincher, not even a last gasp attempt at clawing into the play-offs. Without being overly negative, mid-table obscurity will be a great relief to Southend United Football Club if that is what is achieved in just over three month’s time.

For Blues find themselves firmly encorporated in a relegation battle; a battle which they can emerge victorious from, but alas a conflict that many around the club would rather was not occuring. The Seasiders find themselves just four points clear of Darlington, in 23^rd place, having now used up their games in hand with a 1-0 reverse at Mansfield Town a week ago and a dour 0-0 draw at Roots Hall on a bitterly cold Tuesday evening.

With Carlisle United mounting their usual charge from the back of the field, this race has the looks of an epic about it, with security the main aim, preferably before the final game of the season at home to Torquay United. To do that, Steve Tilson and Paul Brush, who seemingly have been handed the reigns indefinitely, must galvanise their troops for the vital clashes that are approaching in the next month.

That collection of games starts tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at three o’clock, as United tackle 14^th placed Bury. After that they face Cambridge United (13^th) at home, Kidderminster Harriers (19^th), also at the Hall, Leyton Orient (11^th) at Brisbane Road and round out the month with a home fixture against Macclesfield Town (20^th). If the Shrimpers can glean ten points from these matches, against clubs around them in the table, then they should be able to relax a little more. Any less and the spectre of the drop will loom ever larger.

The Shakers’ encounter appears likely now to be given the go-ahead, with the Football League’s decision to force Bury into allowing the pitch every chance to thaw working to the extent that the surface is reportedly clearing up, and the likelihood of any postponement very small. This will come as a relief to the management duo and the squad, who are travelling to Lancashire a day in advance, and who can ill-afford a wasted journey.

The squad that does manage to make the trip will be even further depleated than it was on Tuesday night, with Mark Warren unlikely to travel on account of his injury, picked up 26 minutes into the midweek game with York. His spot in the starting line-up will be contested by Che Wilson, Dave McSweeney and Jamie Stuart, with the former Shakers left-back a possible candidate to move into the centre after perfoming there against the Minstermen.

Leon Cort will certainly start in the centre, with Duncan Jupp immediately to his right. Once again the Wilson/Jenkins/Stuart combination are all candidates for the left full-back role. Darryl Flahavan, who kept his 37^th clean sheet for Southend United in goalless clash with York, will carry on ahead of Carl Emberson in goal.

Jay Smith, Jamie Fullarton and Leke Odunsi are all still to recover from their injuries, so the same midfield four that performed again City are likely to be retained. Mark Bentley partnered Kevin Maher on that occasion, and he looks set for his first away start for the Shrimpers. Steven Clark and Mark Gower will once again be tasked with providing the crosses from wide positions, whilst Michael Kightly will deputise from the bench.

Up front, James Corbett and Tesfaye Bramble are both back in training, but neither are set to be risked for this clash. In Corbett’s case especially, he will be targetting the Essex Senior Cup match against Wivenhoe Town as his comeback ahead of the Cambridge game four days later. In their absence Leon Constantine and Drewe Broughton will continue, with Michael Husbands a possibility to return to the bench.

Bury will be without Steve Gunby, who has left the club during the past seven days. Defender Matty Barrass is also missing with a long-term injury, whilst Glenn Whelan will play his last match for the Shakers before returning to Manchester City. Terry Dunfield comes back after a suspension, while Harpal Singh will have to watch from the stands before making his comeback in training next week.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Assistant Referees: Tony McGhee (Merseyside) and Bob Pollock (Merseyside)

Mr. Friend certainly did not live up to his name on thr last occasion that Blues encountered the Leicestershire-based official, at the Kingston Communications Stadium in September. United crashed to a 3-2 defeat, with Tesfaye Bramble missing an injury time penalty, and TLG reporter Mark Wallis produced this assesment: “4 out of 10 - seemed to lose total control of the match and fell for many of the home side’s antics, particularly those from Price. Strangely did occassionaly ignore a few dives but they went unpunished. Amazingly booked three Southend players, all very harshly, and even sent-off David McSweeney for a nothing incident five minutes from time. Did however make a very brave decision in awarding the Shrimpers an injury time penalty.” He has shown 68 yellows and three reds in 17 games this season.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Tuesday 27^th January 2004 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall

Southend United 0 York City 0 [attendance: 2,943]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Duncan Jupp, Leon Cort, Mark Warren (Che Wilson 28), Jamie Stuart; Mark Gower, Kevin Maher, Mark Bentley, Steven Clark (Michael Kightly 69); Drewe Broughton, Leon Constantine. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Dave McSweeney, Neil Jenkins.

Saturday 24^th January 2004 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Gigg Lane

Bury 0 Kidderminster Harriers 0 [attendance: 2,526]. Bury line-up (5-3-2): Glyn Garner; Matty Barrass (Joe O’Neill 63), Danny Swailes, Dave Challinor, Colin Woodthorpe, Lee Connell; Lee Duxbury, Glenn Whelan, Thomas Kennedy; Chris Porter (Gareth Seddon 74), Jon Daly. Subs not used: Lewis Solly, George Clegg, Paul O’Shaughnessy.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

D0-0 (home; York City; League Division Three)

L0-1 (away; Mansfield Town; League Division Three)

W4-0 (home; Queens Park Rangers; LDV Vans Trophy; Leon Constantine, Steven Clark, Drewe Broughton 2)

L0-2 (home; Doncaster Rovers; League Division Three)

L0-1 (away; Scarborough; F.A. Cup)

Bury

D0-0 (home; Kidderminster Harriers; League Division Three)

D0-0 (away; Scunthorpe United; League Division Three)

W2-0 (home; Swansea City; League Division Three; Danny Swailes, Jon Daly)

L1-2 (away; Lincoln City; League Division Three; Chris Porter)

L0-1 (away; Huddersfield Town; League Division Three)

Southend United away form

L0-1 (League Division Three; Mansfield Town)

L0-1 (F.A. Cup; Scarborough)

D1-1 (League Division Three; Cheltenham Town; Drewe Broughton)

W1-0 (League Division Three; Cambridge United; Leon Constantine)

W3-2 (League Division Three; Swansea City; Leon Constantine, Mark Gower, Mark Warren)

Bury home form

D0-0 (League Division Three; Kidderminster Harriers)

W2-0 (League Division Three; Danny Swailes, Jon Daly)

L1-3 (League Division Three, Carlisle United; Chris Porter [pen])

L1-2 (League Division Three; Rochdale; Terry Dunfield)

L0-1 (LDV Vans Trophy; Scunthorpe United)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [away])

Played: 28 [14]

Won: 7 [4]

Drawn: 5 [3]

Lost: 16 [7]

Scored: 23 [12]

Conceded: 41 [23]

Goal Difference: -19 [-11]

Points: 26 [15]

Position: 22^nd [15^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Canvey Island (away) 3-2 in replay after 1-1 draw at home

Second Round: beat Lincoln City (home) 3-0

Third Round: lost to Scarborough (away) 0-1 in replay after 1-1 draw at home

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Swindon Town (home) 2-3

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: beat Bristol Rovers (home) 2-1 after silver goal extra time

Second Round: beat Swansea City (away) 2-1

Southern Section Quarter-Final: beat Luton Town (home) 3-0

Southern Section Semi-Final: beat Queens Park Rangers (home) 4-0

Southern Section Final: vs. Colchester United (away) on Tuesday 10^th February 2004 and vs. Colchester United (home) on Tuesday 24^th February 2004

Bury

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 29 [14]

Won: 10 [6]

Drawn: 4 [3]

Lost: 15 [5]

Scored: 33 [17]

Conceded: 44 [19]

Goal Difference: -11 [-2]

Points: 34 [21]

Position: 14^th [15^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: lost to Rochdale (home) 1-2

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Tranmere Rovers (away) 0-1

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: bye

Second Round: beat Oldham Athletic (home) 2-1

Northern Section Quarter-Final: lost to Scunthorpe United (home) 0-1

THE HISTORY

Last Meeting

Last Five Meetings

30th August 2003 – Southend United 1 (Leon Constantine 89) Bury 0 – League Division Three

26^th April 2003 – Southend United 1 (Leon Cort 13) Bury 2 (Michael Nelson 10, Lee Connell 48) – League Division Three

5^th October 2003 – Bury 1 (Michael Nelson 3) Southend United 3 (Graeme Jones 67, Neil Jenkins 79, Tesfaye Bramble 84) – League Division Three

4^th May 1991 – Bury 0 Southend United 1 (Ian Benjamin) – League Division Three (old)

27^th October 1990 – Southend United 2 (Brett Angell, Steve Tilson) Bury 1 – League Division Three (old)

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

2003/4 – H1-0 (League)

2002/3 – H1-2 A3-1 (League)

1990/1 – H2-1 A1-0 (League)

1988/9 – H1-1 A1-3 (League)

1987/8 – H1-0 A2-2 (League)

1984/5 – H3-3 A0-2 (League)

1980/1 – H1-0 A2-1 (League)

1979/80 – H0-0 A1-1 (League)

1978/9 – H0-0 A3-3 (League)

1975/6 – H2-0 A0-1 (League)

1974/5 – H1-0 A1-0 (League)

1971/2 – H0-0 A0-2 (League)

1960/1 – H0-3 A0-2 (League)

1959/60 – H0-4 A0-3 (League)

1958/9 – H1-0 A3-2 (League)

Summary

Overall (29 meetings)

Southend United 12

Bury 9

Draws 8

In The League (29 meetings)

Southend United 12

Bury 9

Draws 8

At Bury (14 meetings)

Southend United 4

Bury 6

Draws 4

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com