Carling Cup - First Round Draw

Graeme Jones scored the only goal last year against Town

The match, which will take place on either Tuesday 12th August or Wednesday 13th at Roots Hall, sees Southend take on Second Division Swindon Town, a team that they know well having been comprehensively defeated by the Robins by six goals to one in the LDV Vans Trophy last season. United have had a tough time in the competition in recent years, so let's hope that Blues can progress and take on some big-name opposition in Round Two, with all but those involved in European competition joining at that stage.

Without any Premiership teams in the hat at the first round stage, there are no real glamour ties, although Rushden & Diamonds supporters will be pleased that they have been handed a trip to relegated West Ham United's Upton Park ground. The other big match at this early stage is at Hillsborough, where former Hartlepool United boss Chris Turner takes on his old charges. The full draw is as follows:

Doncaster Rovers v Grimsby Town
Chesterfield v Burnley
Sheffield Wednesday v Hartlepool United
Macclesfield Town v Sheffield United
Stoke City v Rochdale
Tranmere Rovers v Bury
Scunthorpe United v Oldham Athletic
Walsall v Carlisle United
Bradford City v Darlington
Port Vale v Nottingham Forest
Barnsley v Blackpool
Preston North End v Notts County
Wigan Athletic v Hull City
Lincoln City v Stockport County
Mansfield Town v Sunderland
Coventry City v Peterborough United
Wycombe Wanderers v Wimbledon
Colchester United v Plymouth Argyle
Ipswich Town v Kidderminster Harriers
Millwall v Oxford United
Cambridge United v Gillingham
Bristol City v Swansea City
Watford v AFC Bournemouth
Southend United v Swindon Town
Boston United v Reading
Luton Town v Yeovil Town
Bristol Rovers v Brighton & Hove Albion
West Bromwich Albion v Brentford
Cheltenham Town v Queens Park Rangers
Cardiff City v Leyton Orient
West Ham United v Rushden & Diamonds
Northampton Town v Norwich City
Torquay United v Crystal Palace

Southend's recent history in the competition:

2002-2003

1st Round – Wimbledon (H) Lost 1-4 (Rawle)

2001-2002
1st Round - Birmingham City (A) Lost 0-3

2000-2001
1st Round, 1st Leg - BIRMINGHAM CITY (H) Lost 0-5
1st Round, 2nd Leg - Birmingham City (A) Drew 0-0 (aggregate 0-5)

1999-2000
1st Round, 1st Leg - OXFORD UNITED (H) Lost 0-2
1st Round, 2nd Leg - Oxford United (A) Lost 0-1 (agg 0-3)

1998-1999
1st Round, 1st Leg - GILLINGHAM (H) Won 1-0 (Carr o.g.)
1st Round, 2nd Leg - Gillingham (A) Won 1-0 (Clarke), (agg 2-0)
2nd Round, 1st Leg - Coventry City (A) Lost 0-1
2nd Round, 2nd Leg - COVENTRY CITY (H) Lost 0-4 (agg 0-5)

1997-1998
1st Round, 1st Leg - Cardiff City (A) Drew 1-1 (Byrne)
1st Round, 2nd Leg - CARDIFF CITY (H) Won 3-1 (Williams 2, Marsh) (agg 4-2)
2nd Round, 1st Leg - DERBY COUNTY (H) Lost 0-1
2nd Round, 2nd Leg - Derby County (A) Lost 0-5 (agg 0-6)

1996-1997
1st Round, 1st Leg - FULHAM (H) Lost 0-2
1st Round, 2nd Leg - Fulham (A) Won 2-1 (Nielson, Rammell) (agg 2-3)

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com