Leon Constantine may plough a lone furrow up front

In many ways, this match is more important than next Wednesday’s F.A. Cup third round replay against Scarborough at the McCain Stadium. The financial and prize incentive in the short-term may not be as large, but there is little doubt that three points against the Robins will assist Blues greatly in their bid to avoid relegation, which would be truly disastrous for the club.

United currently have a three point cushion over 23^rd-placed Darlington, with two games in hand, and Carlisle sit a further six points adrift despite a recent surge. A win at Whaddon Road, which has not been a particularly happy stomping ground for Southend since Town were promoted to the Football League in 1999 with two defeats and a draw – admittedly in the Seasiders last visit in 2001/2 – in that time, would go along way to distancing them from the drop zone and putting the pressure further on the Quakers, who have recently gone into administration.

Three points would also lift Blues above their opposition tonight and level on points with Macclesfield Town, with games in hand on many of the sides directly above them. It is not beyond possibility that by the time that lucrative tie against Chelsea would take place, United could be just a single point below the top half position that they so crave. It will not be easy with Cheltenham having picked up four wins and a draw from their last six home games, but what will buoy Steve Tilson and Paul Brush is that they themselves have gathered six wins in the last eight away games.

Last time the Shrimpers went on their travels, picking up a 1-0 win at the Abbey Stadium over Cambridge United, they featured David McSweeney for the last time before he started a four-match suspension, and although the Basildon-born utility man has sat out the last two games, he is only halfway through his ban and stays in southeast Essex. Drewe Broughton plays his last match before the dismissal against Oxford United for two yellow cards kicks in.

However, despite that and the fact that Tesfaye Bramble is unable to overcome what Steve Tilson described as a slight “hamstring tweak” in time to face Cheltenham, Broughton is not assured of his spot in the starting line-up alongside Leon Constantine. Tilson may decide to try a 4-4-1-1 formation with Michael Kightly in the hole just behind the former Brentford front man, or he may hand the ex-Tottenham Hotspur youngster a chance to impress up front himself after what was effectively a showdown between the pair at Sixfields in the 2-1 reserve defeat on Tuesday afternoon. Michael Husbands is back in contention after overcoming a bladder infection.

Mark Gower and Jay Smith are both ready to return to League action having sat out the 1-0 home defeat to title-chasing Oxford United twelve days ago, whilst Kevin Maher will partner Jay Smith for the last time in the centre of a Third Division midfield for the last time in as much as two-and-a-half weeks as he serves a one-match ban next Saturday at home to Doncaster Rovers. Che Wilson has returned to training, and he may fill a spot on the bench after a slight viral infection. Neil Jenkins is set to continue on the left-hand side despite recent poor performances on that flank, although he will be pressurised by the return to action of Steven Clark against Northampton.

Mark Warren is another player to come back into the first team reckoning having overcome the deep-seated muscle strain in his buttock. However, despite his show of faith in Tilson and Brush in his interview for last week’s official matchday programme, the ex-Colchester United and Notts County defender is unlikely to be able to overcome loanee Lewis Hunt and Leon Cort in the centre of the back four. Duncan Jupp and Jamie Stuart are expected to continue at full-back after returning ahead of schedule from injury against Oxford. Darryl Flahavan and Carl Emberson will contest the goalkeeping positions.

20-year-old right-sided defender/midfielder Brian Wilson continues his loan spell at Whaddon Road from Stoke City after agreeing a two-month extension to his deal with John Ward’s club, who have no new injury worries. Shotstopper Shane Higgs is ready to take his place having suffered no reaction a foot injury sustained in the Gloucestershire side’s narrow F.A. Cup defeat at Loftus Road to Fulham. Ben Cleverly and Lee Howells are set to be added to the squad that came back with a 2-1 defeat.

The last fixture between the two sides was on the first day of the season, when Mark Gower created an illusion for what was to follow in the rest of the opening segment of 2003/4 with a brace – including one from the spot – against the Robins to seal what was a comfortable 2-0 victory. The last visit to Whaddon Road ended 1-1, with a spectacular Rob Newman volley claiming a point for Blues with just minutes remaining.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Frazer Stretton (Nottinghamshire)

Assistant Referees: Richard Smith (West Midlands), Keith Townsend (West Midlands)

Nottingham-based Stretton is an experienced Football League official who has handed out 46 yellow cards and seven reds so far this year in 19 games, with AFC Bournemouth’s Warren Cummings one of those dismissed in a 1-0 defeat to Colchester United at Layer Road. His last Shrimpers outing was the 1-1 draw at the Shay between Halifax and Blues in January 2002. Paul Stoneman was sent off for the home side whilst Barrington Belgrave was the only man booked for the visitors. Leon Johnson and Danny Webb were the victims of his cautioning in a 2-0 defeat to Oxford earlier in that season. The last Blues player to be sent off by Stretton was Nathan Jones in April 2000 as United crashed to a 2-0 Roots Hall defeat to Torquay United.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Saturday 3^rd January 2004 – F.A. Cup third round @ Roots Hall

Southend United 1 (Jay Smith 10) Scarborough 1 (Scott Kerr 74) [attendance: 6,902]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Duncan Jupp, Lewis Hunt, Leon Cort, Jamie Stuart; Mark Gower, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Neil Jenkins (Michael Kightly 80); Tesfaye Bramble (Drewe Broughton 44), Leon Constantine. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Steven Clark, Jamie Fullarton.

Sunday 4^th January 2004 – F.A. Cup third round @ Loftus Road

Fulham 2 (Louis Saha 15, 90) Cheltenham Town 1 (Grant McCann 5) [attendance: 10,303]. Cheltenham Town line-up (4-4-2): Shane Higgs; Brian Wilson, Scott Brough, Jamie Victory, Michael Duff; Martin Devaney, John Finnigan, Richard Forsyth, Grant McCann; Damian Spencer (Kayode Odejayi 84), Bob Taylor. Subs not used: Steve Book, Mark Yates, Dave Bird, Shane Duff.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

D1-1 (home; Scarborough; F.A. Cup; Jay Smith)

L0-1 (home; Oxford United; League Division Three)

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

L0-1 (home; Bristol Rovers; League Division Three)

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

Cheltenham Town

L1-2 (away; Fulham; F.A. Cup; Grant McCann)

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

W3-2 (home; Macclesfield Town; League Division Three; Damian Spencer, Bob Taylor, Martin Devaney)

L1-3 (home; Doncaster Rovers; League Division Three; Mark Yates)

W3-1 (home; Leyton Orient; F.A. Cup; Grant McCann 2 [1 pen], Bob Taylor)

Southend United away form

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

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

L0-3 (League Division Three; Torquay United)

W3-2 (F.A. Cup; Canvey Island; Tesfaye Bramble, Jay Smith 2)

L0-4 (League Division Three; Yeovil Town)

Cheltenham Town home form

W3-2 (League Division Three; Macclesfield Town; Damian Spencer, Bob Taylor, Martin Devaney)

L1-3 (League Division Three; Doncaster Rovers; Mark Yates)

W3-1 (F.A. Cup; Leyton Orient; Grant McCann 2 [1 pen], Bob Taylor)

W2-1 (League Division Three; Carlisle United; Bob Taylor 2)

W3-1 (F.A. Cup; Hull City; Damian Spencer, Mark Yates, Paul Brayson)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [away])

Played: 24 [12]

Won: 7 [4]

Drawn: 3 [2]

Lost: 14 [6]

Scored: 22 [11]

Conceded: 37 [21]

Goal Difference: -15 [-10]

Points: 24 [14]

Position: 22^nd [17^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: drew with Scarborough (home) 1-1. Replay on Wednesday 14^th January 2004

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: vs. Queens Park Rangers (home) on Tuesday 20^th January 2004

Cheltenham Town

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 23 [12]

Won: 7 [6]

Drawn: 5 [2]

Lost: 11 [4]

Scored: 33 [21]

Conceded: 47 [22]

Goal Difference: -14 [-1]

Points: 26 [20]

Position: 21^st [13^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Hull City (home) 3-1

Second Round: beat Leyton Orient (home) 3-1

Third Round: lost to Fulham (away) 1-2

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Queens Park Rangers (home) 1-2

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: lost to Colchester United (home) 1-3

THE HISTORY

Last Match

 

 

Last Five Meetings

9^th August 2003 – Southend United 2 (Mark Gower 33 90+5 [pen]) Cheltenham Town 0 – League Division Three

19^th February 2002 – Cheltenham Town 1 (Lee Howells 51) Southend United 1 (Rob Newman 83)  - League Division Three

28^th September 2001 – Southend United 0 Cheltenham Town 1 (Julian Alsop 26) – League Division Three

5^th May 2001 – Cheltenham Town 2 (Neil Grayson 48, Grant McCann 86) Southend United 1 (Mark Rawle 54) – League Division Three

5^th December 2000 – Southend United 2 (Martin Carruthers 8, Ben Abbey 25) Cheltenham Town 0 – LDV Vans Trophy first round

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

2003/4 – H2-0 (League)

2001/2 – H0-1 A1-1 (League)

2000/1 – H0-1 A1-2 (League) H2-0 (LDV Vans Trophy)

1999/2000 – H2-1 A1-2 (League) H0-1 (LDV Vans Trophy)

Summary

Overall (9 matches)

Southend United 3

Cheltenham Town 5

Draws 1

In the League (7 matches)

Southend United 2

Cheltenham Town 4

Draws 1

At Whaddon Road (3 matches)

Southend United 0

Cheltenham Town 2

Draws 1

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com