The Grecians have been struggling all season, and as they go into the final match of the campaign they know that even a victory may not be enough to overhaul Swansea City’s points tally. The Swans are also at home, facing up to Hull City at the Vetch Field, themselves requiring a win to be absolutely safe. Should Swansea draw, Exeter would need to win, but failure for the Welshman to get a point would mean a draw would be enough for Gary Peter’s team.
The south-westerners are the team on top in terms of form having defeated both Swansea and York City away from home without conceding a goal to keep their hopes of Division Three football alive to the last day. And that is in stark contrast to Blues, who enter the game on the back of eight straight travelling defeats and just three goals in that time, the last loss being at York Street, where Boston United ensured their own survival with a 1-0 win.
At home, the Shrimpers also succumbed to a record tenth defeat of the campaign a week ago in losing to play-off contenders Bury 2-1, and boss Steve Wignall is expected to name a similar starting line-up. That means that Darryl Flahavan will make another appearances in goal for Southend, denying Danny Gay another chance at impressing the former Doncaster Rovers, Aldershot and Colchester United manager.
In front of Flahavan, central defender Stephen Broad suffered some rotten luck when he collapsed with an injured shoulder just a minute away from the end of Blues Two’s 4-2 defeat at Norwich City on Wednesday. The former Chelsea reserve captain was expected to play a part in the match at St. James’ Park having recovered well from a hamstring strain, but he now faces an eight-week stay on the sidelines. In his absence, Leon Cort and Dave McSweeney are the only two fit specialist centre-halves with the departure of Tom Jordan prior to Wednesday’s reserve match.
The full-back positions are slightly less clear-cut. Damon Searle is almost certain to end the season in his usual left-back role, but the usual competition for places is evident on the other side. Mark Beard has been prevalent over Ronnie Henry in recent weeks, and his absence from reserve team action suggests that will continue to be the case. Henry would almost certainly be making his final appearance in a Shrimpers shirt if he makes an appearance after failing to perform as well as fellow Tottenham Hotspur loanee Stephen Kelly in his stay by the seaside.
Daryl Sutch scored a splendid goal in extraordinary circumstances at Carrow Road, and is more likely to take his place in centre midfield should Wignall want to take a look at him. Late signing Gavin Strachan has seen his form dip after an initial burst alongside captain Kevin Maher, but while United’s longest-serving player will be at Roots Hall into next year, the ex-Coventry City man’s position is less secure. Stuart Thurgood may also be handed a chance to shine with Jay Smith expected to return in pre-season.
On the flanks, former Wimbledon man Neil Jenkins has been consistent on the left hand side of midfield, scoring twice since his reintroduction to the team following the departure of Rob Newman and should complete the campaign there. On the right, former Leicester City youngster Brett Darby could be handed another opportunity to supply the forwards with the ammunition that they require. Darby has been the side’s only crosser in the past fortnight, but still appears lightweight – he must convince Wignall and Stewart Robson that he is worth a place in the squad for 2003/4. Steven Clark missed the Canaries match with a groin strain as a precaution, he will be hoping that it clears up in time for one last shot at Roots Hall football.
Up front, top-scorers Mark Rawle (12 goals) and Tesfaye Bramble (11) look set to battle it for the accolade over the course of the season in the final ninety minutes of the year. Bramble was surprisingly passed fit for last week’s game against Bury, and having had seven days away from the game save for training, he should entertain the away fans again. Mark Salter’s ankle has been injured in the reserve double-header during the week, but he should fill a substitute spot alongside young Michael Kightly, who scored twice in two games, and now has three in four starts for Blues Twos. Barrington Belgrave definitely misses out, casting doubt over his Seasiders career.
TEAM DETAILS
The Little Gazette predicted Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard, Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle; Brett Darby, Daryl Sutch, Kevin Maher, Neil Jenkins; Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Rawle.
Southend United matchday squad: Darryl Flahavan, Danny Gay, Mark Beard, Ronnie Henry, Daryl Sutch, Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle, Brett Darby, Steven Clark, Gavin Strachan, Stuart Thurgood, Kevin Maher, Neil Jenkins, Michael Kightly, Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Rawle, Mark Salter.
Exeter City squad (probable): Kevin Miller, Stuart Fraser, Scott Hiley, Christopher Todd, Santos Gaia, Philip Baker, Graeme Power, Kwame Ampadu, Justin Walker, Carl Pettefer, James Coppinger, Ciaran Kilheeney, Andy Roscoe, Sean Devine, Glenn Cronin, Steve Flack.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mick Fletcher (Warley)
Assistant Referees: Neil Jones (Plymouth), Lee Probert (Bristol)
The Worcestershire-born official has handed out an incredible 156 yellow cards and six reds in 36 matches this season, including a preposterous seven in the not-especially-special 1-0 defeat for Southend at the Vetch Field in October. Five players on that occasion were Shrimpers (Mark Beard, Neil Jenkins, Ian Selley, Kevin Maher and Phil Whelan) whilst he appeared to bow to the vociferous home crowd. With the support expected to be huge tomorrow, a similar situation could arise. Last year, he also found enough wrong with Blues’ visit to the Memorial Ground to book Barrington Belgrave, Leon Cort, Tony Richards and Whelan again in cautioning a total of five amongst 114 for the season. The year before, three more Shrimpers were carded in losing 3-0 at home to Halifax Town; Maher, Danny Webb and guess who – Phil Whelan! Fletcher is a regular for reaching the century each year, with this current campaign being the worst.
TEAM FORM
Last Matches
Saturday 26th April 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three
York City 0 Exeter City 2 (Flack 5, Coppinger 55) [attendance: 4,840]. Exeter City line-up (4-4-2): Kevin Miller; Scott Hiley, Christopher Todd, Santos Gaia, Philip Baker; Kwame Ampadu, Justin Walker, Carl Pettefer, James Coppinger (Ciaran Kilheeney 86); Sean Devine (Glenn Cronin 61), Steve Flack. Subs not used: Stuart Fraser, Graeme Power, Andy Roscoe.
Saturday 26th April 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three
Southend United (Cort 13) Bury 2 (Nelson 10, Connell 48) [attendance: 4,707]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard (Stuart Thurgood 88), Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle; Brett Darby (Steven Clark 70), Gavin Strachan (Mark Salter 64), Kevin Maher, Neil Jenkins; Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Rawle. Subs not used: Danny Gay, Ronnie Henry.
Last Five Matches
Exeter City
W2-0 (away; York City; Flack, Coppinger)
W1-0 (away; Swansea City; Devine)
D2-2 (home; Oxford United; Devine, Walker)
L1-2 (away; Cambridge United; Iriekpen [o.g.])
L1-2 (home; Bury; Flack)
Southend United
L1-2 (home; Bury; Cort)
L0-1 (away; Boston United)
W3-0 (home; Torquay United; Rawle 2, Jenkins)
L0-1 (away; AFC Bournemouth)
W2-0 (home; Darlington; Maher, Jenkins)
Exeter City home form
D2-2 (Oxford United; Devine, Walker)
L1-2 (Bury; Flack)
D1-1 (Rochdale; Walker [pen])
W2-0 (Lincoln City; Coppinger, Sheldon)
W1-0 (Wrexham; Flack)
Southend United away form
L0-1 (Boston United)
L0-1 (AFC Bournemouth)
L0-2 (York City)
L1-2 (Hartlepool United; Sutch)
L0-1 (Kidderminster Harriers)
2002/3 SEASON
Exeter City (overall [home])
Nationwide League Division Three
Played: 45 [22]
Won: 10 [6]
Drawn: 15 [7]
Lost: 20 [9]
Scored: 49 [23]
Conceded: 64 [31]
Goal Difference: -17 [-8]
Points: 45 [25]
Position: 23rd [22nd]
F.A. Cup
Third Round: L1-3 (away; Charlton Athletic)
Worthington Cup
First Round: L1-2 [after extra time] (away; Brighton & Hove Albion)
LDV Vans Trophy
Second Round: L0-3 (home; Cardiff City)
Southend United (overall [away])
Nationwide League Division Three
Played: 45 [22]
Won: 17 [5]
Drawn: 3 [2]
Lost: 25 [15]
Scored: 47 [18]
Conceded: 58 [35]
Goal Difference: -11 [-17]
Points: 54 [17]
Position: 14th [22nd]
F.A. Cup
Second Round: L2-3 (away; AFC Bournemouth [replay])
Worthington Cup
First Round: L1-4 (home; Wimbledon)
LDV Vans Trophy
First Round: L1-6 (away; Swindon Town)
THE HISTORY
Last Meeting
Saturday 28th September 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three
Southend United 1 (Jones 43) Exeter City 0 [attendance: 3,364].
Southend United line-up (3-5-2): Darryl Flahavan; Leon Cort, Stephen Broad, Phil Whelan; Mark Beard (Steven Clark 89), Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Ian Selley (Stuart Thurgood 82), Neil Jenkins; Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Rawle (Graeme Jones 35). Subs not used: Danny Gay, Damon Searle.
Exeter City line-up (4-4-2): Kevin Miller; Scott Hiley, Michael Simpkins, Neil Whitworth, Graeme Power; James Coppinger, Andy Roscoe (Glenn Cronin 66), Kwame Ampadu, Justin Walker (Geoff Breslan 86); Don Goodman, Steve Flack (Renier Moor 61). Subs not used: Stuart Fraser, Barry McConnell.
Last Five Meetings
28th September 2002 – Southend United 1 (Jones 43) Exeter City 0 – Division Three
1st April 2002 – Southend United 3 (Maher 39, Whelan 41, Broad 75) Exeter City 1 (Tomlinson 21) – Division Three
3rd November 2001 – Exeter City 2 (Cort 37 [o.g.], Roberts 45) Southend United 1 (Bramble 3) – Division Three
14th April 2001 – Exeter City 2 (Flack 26, Jamie Campbell 82) Southend United 2 (Bramble 5, 20) – Division Three
24th October 2000 – Southend United (Lee 64) Exeter City 1 (Flack 83) – Division Three
The Complete Head-to-Head Record
2002/3 – H1-0 (League)
2001/2 – H3-1 A1-2 (League)
2000/1 – H1-1 A2-2 (League)
1999/2000 – H1-2 A1-0 (League)
1998/9 – H0-0 A1-2 (League) A1-3 (LDV Vans Trophy)
1990/1 – H2-1 A2-1 (League)
1989/90 – H1-2 A1-2 (League)
1986/7 – H2-1 A0-0 (League)
1985/6 – H2-0 A2-0 (League)
1984/5 – H1-0 A1-2 (League)
1983/4 – H0-3 A3-3 (League)
1982/3 – H1-1 A3-4 (League)
1981/2 – H2-1 A1-1 (League)
1979/80 – H2-0 A2-4 (League)
1978/9 – H0-1 A0-0 (League)
1976/7 – H2-0 A1-3 (League) H2-1 A1-1 (F.A. Cup)
1971/2 – H3-0 A0-0 (League)
1970/1 – H0-0 A0-2 (League)
1969/70 – H1-1 A0-3 (League)
1968/9 – H6-1 A2-1 (League)
1967/8 – H1-0 A2-0 (League)
1966/7 – H0-0 A1-0 (League)
1965/6 – H4-2 A1-1 (League)
1964/5 – H0-0 A1-1 (League)
1957/8 – H2-0 A5-0 (League)
1956/7 – H2-0 A1-6 (League)
1955/6 – H6-0 A1-0 (League)
1954/5 – H0-0 A1-2 (League)
1953/4 – H0-1 A1-1 (League)
1952/3 – H1-1 A2-0 (League)
1951/2 – H0-0 A2-2 (League)
1950/1 – H5-1 A0-1 (League)
1949/50 – H1-0 A1-1 (League)
1948/9 – H0-1 A0-0 (League)
1947/8 – H2-0 A0-0 (League)
1946/7 – H2-2 A5-1 (League)
1938/9 – H0-1 A3-3 (League)
1937/8 – H1-1 A1-1 (League)
1936/7 – H4-4 A2-2 (League)
1935/6 – H4-0 A0-1 (League)
1934/5 – H1-2 A3-4 (League)
1933/4 – H3-1 A0-2 (League)
1932/3 – H0-2 A1-3 (League) H1-1 A1-0 (F.A. Cup)
1931/2 – H0-1 A0-3 (League)
1930/1 – H5-1 A1-1 (League)
1929/30 – H1-0 A1-3 (League)
1928/9 – H1-0 A1-2 (League)
1927/8 – H1-2 A2-3 (League)
1926/7 – H1-2 A0-2 (League)
1925/6 – H3-1 A1-0 (League)
1924/5 – H3-0 A1-0 (League)
1923/4 – H0-0 A0-2 (League)
1922/3 – H5-0 A1-2 (League)
1921/2 – H0-1 A1-4 (League)
1920/1 – H0-0 A0-0 (League)
Summary
Overall
Southend United 42
Exeter City 37
Draws 35
In the League
Southend United 40
Exeter City 36
Draws 33
At St. James’ Park
Southend United 13
Exeter City 25
Draws 19
Robert Craven