Colchester United vs. Southend United – Preview

Not since a 2-0 Easter Monday Shrimpers victory at Layer Road in the old Division Four effectively sent their north Essex rivals to the Conference in 1989/90 have the two premier sides in the county met in a non-friendly fixture. Of course, earlier this season Steve Wignall’s ties helped him to set up a Roots Hall showdown in pre-season, which ended in a 1-1 draw, but that means nothing compared to tonight’s encounter. That match was marred by a number of arrests, and it has to be hoped that football is the true winner tonight, and not the hooligans that will be policed by record numbers of cops in the oldest recorded town in England.

This clash is what everyone in both towns has been waiting patiently to occur, having had to endure nearly all of the 1990s without a game at all. Since then, a lot has occurred. Blues have been to the pinnacle of the second tier of English football (albeit for a matter of minutes) and held their own in the First Division for five years. They plummeted though whilst former manager Wignall guided the U’s out of Division Three once they had been promoted out of the Conference, and into Division Two, were they now reside in mid-table.

At this stage in time, it would appear that the match is bigger for Shrimpers supporters than their Colchester counterparts. Lying low just three places from the bottom of the entire Football League, survival may be the main objective for caretaker managers Steve Tilson and Paul Brush, but this LDV run has galvanised the side to new heights, and the team seem to have saved their best for recent ties in the competition, probably against their managers’ wishes. The U’s, on the other hand, will have one eye on Sunday’s F.A. Cup fifth round match against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Southend, though, have been at their most dangerous when playing Second Division opposition. Swindon Town were run ragged for forty-five minutes as the Seasiders led 2-1 in the Carling Cup before losing out by a single goal, but in the LDV the games have not even been tight. Luton Town were dispatched 3-0, although that is mitigated by the fact that they sent a largely youth team side to southeast Essex. Last month’s 4-0 demolition of Queens Park Rangers had no such circumstances – the side lying second in Division Two were played off of the park by Tilson’s team, who produced one of the most complete performances of the campaign.

Their rivals have had a tough task getting to this stage – having to play away in all four ties. Back in October Cheltenham Town were brushed aside 3-1 at Whaddon Road, before extra time and penalties were required at fellow Third Division side Yeovil Town. After a 2-2 draw, the U’s won through 4-2 on spot kicks. Jermaine Brown slotted home a silver goal after another 2-2 draw, this time at strugglers Wycombe Wanderers, and a remarkable Scott McGleish hat-trick made sure the north Essex side came through another fight at Sixfields after being 2-0 down.

McGleish looks set to return to side side tonight after the two-match suspension of Craig Fagan. He could take his place alongside Rowan Vine, who was the man with the three goals in ther F.A. Cup fourth round replay at Layer Road against Coventry City. Colchester have outydone their southeast Essex counterparts in that respect; the Seasiders falling to Scarborough in a third round replay with Premiership Chelsea beckoning in round four.

Vine, on loan from Portsmouth, could be joined by two more loanees in the side, with Liam Chilvers, from Arsenal, and Paul Tierney, of Manchester United, available after injury. Another stop-gap talent, Jamie Cade, is cup-tied, so he misses out.

The same fate befalls two of Blues’ main protaganists, and both of them have netted already in this season’s competition. Mark Bentley would have been the logical replacement for midfielder Jay Smith, who sits out the rest of the season with his dislocated ankle, but the former Enfield Town man is not permitted to play having starred in Dagenham & Redbridge’s 4-1 victory over Leyton Orient in round one. Lawrie Dudfield scored later on in the competition, the area quarter-finals in fact, against Peterborough United for Northampton Town. The loanee will have to wait until Saturday to make his second Shrimpers start.

Smith’s injury, and those to fellow central midfielders Jamie Fullarton and Leke Odunsi, mean that Tilson and Brush have a selection dilemna on their hands. Club captain Kevin Maher will undountedly take his place, but with no Bentley available, it would appear that fellow former Nationwide Conference playmaker Mark Gower, ex-Barnet, will support the Ilford-born Maher in his favoured middle. That would allow Steven Clark or Neil Jenkins, or even 18-year-old Michael Kightly, to come into the team on the flanks.

Up front, the duo are fairly spoilt for choice. Drewe Broughton seems to be an automatic starter – he scored a brace against QPR and was in good form at the weekend alongside Dudfield. Leon Constantine was sent out to the right flank to accommodate the former Hull City forward, and he could move into his favoured striking role. By the same token seven days have passed since Tesfaye Bramble and James Corbett came through the Essex Senior Cup win over Wivenhoe Town, and they are both fit and raring to go. Michael Husbands offers the prospect of pace.

In defence, Mark Warren will make his first competitive start against the side who made him makeshoft captain for part of 2002/3. He will play alongside Leon Cort, although Lewis Hunt, on loan from Derby County, could return to the fray after sitting out the last three weeks. Duncan Jupp and Jamie Stuart hold pole position for the full back places, with Jenkins, Dave McSweeeney and Che Wilson all covering.

In goal, Carl Emberson is unlikely to get the chance to play against a few of his former teammates. ‘Embo’ spent a chunk of his career at Layer Road, but despite a string of fine displays in the second-string, he will continue to understudy Darryl Flahavan, who kept his 38^th Southend United clean sheet at the weekend. As if to emphasise United’s strength everywhere but centre-midfield, Ryan Robinson is also available.

Southend sold out their 1,200 allocation within just two-and-a-half days of tickets going on sale, and tales are abounding about people with tickets in the home end, so south Essex is bound to be well represented tonight. Let’s make the first leg a night to remember, make some noise and support the mighty Shrimpers!

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Gary Laws (Whitley Bay)

Laws, one of a pair of brothers who have officiated in the Football League, is an established referee, with many of his 21 matches this season having been in Divisions One and Two. He has booked 62 and sent off five, three of which occurred in West Bromwich Albion’s 1-0 win over Stoke City. Andy Johnson and John Eustace went after a fifth minute scuffle, and the Potters Marcus Hall followed sixteen minutes from time. Being a northern official he rarely takes charge of the Shrimpers, or for that matter the U’s, but the last occasion he refereed the Blues was in August 2001 at Field Mill: Leon Johnson, Daniel Webb and Phil Whelan joined Mansfield Town’s Bobby Hassell in the book. That was a 0-0 draw and he also officiated a 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe United (Whelan in the book again), the second time in three season he had done that, with Alex Burns the only man yellow carded in the previous clash. Simon Coleman and Phil Gridlet were cautioned in a 1-1 draw at York back in 1998, and another away score draw would be appreciated tonight.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Saturday 7^th February 2004 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall

Southend United 1 (Lawrie Dudfield 43) Colchester United 0 [attendance: 4,289]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Duncan Jupp, Leon Cort, Mark Warren, Jamie Stuart; Leon Constantine (Steven Clark 76), Kevin Maher, Jay Smith (Mark Bentley 36), Mark Gower; Drewe Broughton (Tesfaye Bramble 89), Lawrie Dudfield. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Che Wilson.

Saturday 7^th February 2004 – Nationwide League Division Two @ Kenilworth Road

Luton Town 1 (Enoch Showunmi 52) Colchester United 0 [attendance: 5,662]. Colchester United line-up (5-3-2): Simon Brown; Sam Stockley (Scott McGleish 65), Liam Chilvers, Alan White, Paul Tierney, Joe Keith; Thomas Pinault (Wayne Andrews 65), Karl Duguid, Kem Izzet (Jamie Cade 83); Craig Fagan, Rowan Vine. Subs not used: Richard McKinney, Greg Halford.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

W1-0 (home; Cambridge United; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

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)

Colchester United

L0-1 (away; Luton Town; League Division Two)

W3-1 (home; Coventry City; F.A. Cup; Rowan Vine 3)

D1-1 (home; Tranmere Rovers; League Division Two; Kem Izzet)

L0-1 (away; Bristol City; League Division Two)

D1-1 (away; Coventry City; F.A. Cup; Dele Adebola [o.g.])

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)

Colchester United home form

W3-1 (F.A. Cup; Coventry City; Rowan Vine 3)

D1-1 (League Division Two; Tranmere Rovers; Kem Izzet)

W2-1 (F.A. Cup; Accrington Stanley; Joe Keith 2)

D1-1 (League Division Two; Barnsley; Wayne Andrews)

D1-1 (League Division Two; Scott McGleish)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [away])

Played: 29 [14]

Won: 8 [4]

Drawn: 5 [3]

Lost: 16 [7]

Scored: 24 [12]

Conceded: 41 [23]

Goal Difference: -17 [-11]

Points: 29 [15]

Position: 22^nd [15^th]

F.A. Cup

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

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

Third Round: lost to Scarborough (away) 0-1 in replay after 1-1 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 17^th February 2004

Colchester United

Nationwide League Division Two (overall [home])

Played: 29 [14]

Won: 10 [6]

Drawn: 8 [6]

Lost: 21 [2]

Scored: 29 [17]

Conceded: 37 [13]

Goal Difference: -8 [+4]

Points: 38 [24]

Position: 14^th [14^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Oxford United (home) 1-0

Second Round: beat Aldershot Town (home) 1-0

Third Round: beat Accrington Stanley (home) 2-1 in replay after 0-0 draw away

Fourth Round: beat Coventry City (home) 3-1 in replay after 1-1 draw away

Fifth Round: vs. Sheffield United (away) on Sunday 15^th February 2004

Carling Cup

First Round: beat Plymouth Argyle (home) 2-1

Second Round: lost to Rotherham United (away) 0-1

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: beat Cheltenham Town (away) 3-1

Second Round: beat Yeovil Town (away) 4-2 on penalties after 2-2 draw after silver goal extra time

Southern Section Quarter-Final: beat Wycombe Wanderers (away) 3-2 after silver goal extra time

Southern Section Semi-Final: beat Northampton Town (away) 3-2 in silver goal extra time

THE HISTORY

Can be found in Mark Wallis’ complete history of meetings between the two sides

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com