Carlise United vs Southend United - Team news

Kevin Maher - has recovered from his toe injury

Southend United will be without the injured Mark Rawle for tonight’s game at Brunton Park. Rawle injured his groin late into the first half of the 2-2 draw with Oxford United at Roots Hall on Saturday. Player/Manager Rob Newman will again stick to his policy of naming the side just before the kick-off, he has taken a nineteen man squad to Cumbria.

Blues squad: Darryl Flahavan, Daniel Gay, Stephen Broad, Dave McSweeney, Mark Beard, Damon Searle, Danny Kerrigan, Leon Cort, Phil Whelan, Rob Newman, Leon Johnson, Marek Szmid, Brian Barry-Murphy, Ian Selley, Stuart Thurgood, Scott Forbes, Barrington Belgrave, Tes Bramble and Tony Richards.

With Blues getting back on the winning trail last Tuesday night with a 2-1 win over struggling Bristol Rovers at Roots Hall and then picking up a point against Oxford United, Rob Newman is expected to stick with the fans favoured 4-4-2 formation.

Irish born left-sided midfielder Brian Barry-Murphy on loan from Preston North End will take Mark Rawle’s place on the left flank with the other loan signing, Ian Selley from Wimbledon, and the fit again Kevin Maher both lining up in the centre of midfield.

Tonight’s game at Carlise United could well be Kevin Maher’s last match for the Blues. Maher has until Thursday to decide whether to sign a new one –year deal with the Blues or switch to Leyton Orient on an eighteen month contract on better terms.

Right winger Steven Clark is again missing, he is still suffering from his knee injury and could still be out of action for another week therefore the right midfield position will again be filled by Stuart Thurgood although Mark Beard is back in the squad after completing his three match suspension after his sending off at Roots Hall against York City for violent conduct.

Up-front Tes Bramble, who has netted three times in the last two games, will partner the improving Barrington Belgrave. Tony Richards who scored for the reserves last Wednesday is also in the squad and could be on the bench.

Ben Smith who looked impressive when scoring twice for the reserves in their

Leon Cort - in impressive form recently

3-0 win over the English Police last week is again omitted but is expected to play for the reserves on Wednesday afternoon in the Avon Insurance Combination league game at Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium, kick-off is at 2.00pm.

The defence will be the usual five of Darryl Flahavan, Stephen Broad, Damon Searle, Leon Cort and Skipper Phil Whelan.

Probable side: Flahavan, Broad, Searle, Whelan, Cort, Thurgood, Selley, Maher, Barry-Murphy, Belgrave and Bramble.

Subs from: Gay, Johnson, Newman, Szmid, Forbes, Kerrigan, McSweeney and Richards

Meanwhile according to Teamtalk.com Carlise United's Stuart Whitehead will return to midfield while Steve Soley will miss out through suspension for the Southend game at Brunton Park. Whitehead returns after serving a one-match suspension and will almost certainly replace Soley, while Tony Hopper, Jonny Allan, Will McDonagh and Michael Jack battle for the remaining place. Brendan McGill and Stuart Green are certain starters.

The Cumbrians will have a different look about them up front, with Richie Foran starting a two-match ban.
Steve Halliday and Ian Stevens will lead the attack, but reserve striker Michael Dickinson will not be on the bench, as he is serving a three-match suspension.

The team has been on a great run of form, and can possibly be excused for the defeat at Lincoln following the turmoil relating to manager Roddy Collins.

Steve Connolly
www.thelittlegazette.com