The trio have all been in fine form in the recent weeks for both the youth team and in the Avon Insurance Combination victory over Leyton Orient in midweek, but their inclusion will still have come as a surprise to all three, for whom it is an opening call-up to the first-team squad. Basildon-born Kightly, a first-year scholar who was on the books of Tottenham Hotspur and Daryl Plummer, another midfielder, have been involved around the first team players in the Essex Senior Cup, but will still be nervous as they anticipate a match against table-topping Hartlepool United. Darby, a February signing from Leicester City until the end of the season, scored the equaliser against Orient, and has been mightily impressive in all three of his Combination displays.
However, it is not simply a case of Newman offering the teenagers an opportunity. His hand has been forced by a series of injuries to players who would normally take the field. Midfield is perhaps the most potent problem; hence the call-ups for right midfielder Kightly and left-winger Plummer. Kevin Maher and Steven Clark both face late fitness tests, the latter going some way to explaining the former West Ham United flank man’s substitution against Lincoln City last Saturday. Maher’s usual central midfield partner Jay Smith definitely misses out as he struggles with a recurring groin niggle, which will require surgery at the end of the season. Daniel Marney, himself coming close to the end of his third month on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, may yet be the only first-choice midfielder available, with Stuart Thurgood also in contention.
Speedy striker Darby could be handed a slot alongside Tesfaye Bramble. Mark Rawle will certainly miss the trip with a hamstring injury obtained at Kidderminster Harriers ten days ago, and out-of-favour forwards Graeme Jones and Barrington Belgrave have both been omitted. Indeed, with their exclusion in on Wednesday, it would appear that their departure from Roots Hall might be rather earlier than the May date mentioned by Newman. Mark Salter struggled through an hour of the reserve clash before making way for Kightly, so his possible first start appears in jeopardy.
Defensively too there are a number of decisions yet to be made. Phil Whelan will not be in the northeast despite making a return to action three days ago, and Stephen Broad has not recovered in time from a new hamstring twinge gained in the first half of his comeback against the O’s. However, Dave McSweeney came through ninety minutes (the first half spent in the centre of midfield and the second period at right-back) and is available once again, as is 1998/9 Player of the Year Mark Beard. Stephen Kelly has received international clearance from the Republic of Ireland to line up alongside Leon Cort, with Daryl Sutch and Damon Searle still expected to take their regular full-back positions. Neil Jenkins could play at left-back or on the left hand side of midfield depending on Clark’s injury situation. Darryl Flahavan will be the custodian, with Danny Gay on the bench.
Long-suffering Blues fans will be hoping for a repeat of their last visit to Hartlepool, when late goals from Bramble and Cort gave them a 2-1 F.A. Cup First Round Replay win against the Monkeyhangers. Some 150 fans made their way to Victoria Park for that Tuesday night game, but a similar number would come as a surprise to the club after a horrific run of form away from the Hall. A single win against Shrewsbury Town is all travelling supporters have to show since that Cup victory, a run stretching back nearly four months and totally ten games.
Meanwhile, Hartlepool have continued their surge towards the Third Division title. Undefeated at Victoria Park since the Shrimpers last visited, their last League loss there was against second-placed Rushden & Diamonds in late September. Mike Newell, who was the third ‘Pool boss that the Seasiders faced, has a full squad to choose from, including Gordon Watson, who made his long-awaited return from injury from the bench last Friday night in a 0-0 draw with promotion-chasing Bury.
TEAM DETAILS
The Little Gazette Predicted Southend United Team (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Daryl Sutch, Leon Cort, Stephen Kelly, Damon Searle; Daniel Marney, Kevin Maher, Stuart Thurgood, Neil Jenkins; Tesfaye Bramble, Brett Darby.
Southend United Full Matchday Squad: Darryl Flahavan, Danny Gay, Daryl Sutch, Mark Beard, Dave McSweeney, Stephen Kelly, Leon Cort, Tom Jordan, Damon Searle, Neil Jenkins, Daniel Marney, Michael Kightly, Kevin Maher, Stuart Thurgood, Steven Clark, Daryl Plummer, Brett Darby, Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Salter.
Hartlepool United (from): Anthony Williams, Jim Provett, Paul Arnison, Mark Robinson, Graeme Lee, Chris Westwood, Tommy Widdrington, Michael Barron, Mark Tinkler, Ritchie Humphreys, Darrell Clarke, Paul Smith, Jermaine Easter, Steven Istead, Eifion Williams, Gordon Watson, Marcus Richardson, Kevin Henderson, Adam Boyd.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mark Cowburn (Lancashire)
Assistant Referees: Dave McCallum (Tyne & Wear), Colin Meads
Cowburn last refereed a Southend match the last time we were in the northeast – just four days after the Cup win for a 2-1 defeat to Darlington. In that game he gave two dubious penalties, one for either side, and was aided by McCallum, who was an assistant that day as well. Before that game he had already made himself known to the Shrimpers faithful by sending off Darryl Flahavan at Rochdale the previous season, the only other time that he has officiated a Blues match. This year he has got through eleven red cards and 77 yellows in just 24 games, bolstering his all-time record to 138 games, 482 cautions and 43 sendings off.
TEAM FORM
Last Matches
Southend United 0 Lincoln City 1 (Futcher 10) [attendance: 3912). Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Daryl Sutch, Leon Cort, Stephen Kelly, Damon Searle; Daniel Marney, Kevin Maher, Stuart Thurgood, Steven Clark (Neil Jenkins 57); Tesfaye Bramble, Dominic Foley. Subs not used: Danny Gay, Dave McSweeney, Mark Beard, Tom Jordan.
Hartlepool United 0 Bury 0 [attendance: 5734]. Hartlepool United line-up (4-4-2): Anthony Williams; Michael Barron, Graeme Lee, Chris Westwood, Mark Robinson; Darrell Clarke, Mark Tinkler, Ritchie Humphreys, Tommy Widdrington; Eifion Williams (Gordon Watson 81), Adam Boyd (Kevin Henderson 69). Subs not used: Jim Provett, Paul Arnison, Paul Smith.
Current Form
Southend United
L0-1 (home; Lincoln City)
L0-1 (away; Kidderminster Harriers)
L1-2 (away; Macclesfield Town; Jenkins)
W2-1 (home; Rushden & Diamonds; Rawle, Searle)
L0-3 (away; Wrexham)
Hartlepool United
D0-0 (home; Bury)
L0-3 (away; Lincoln City)
D2-2 (away; Darlington; Boyd, Clarke)
W4-0 (home; Swansea City; Humphreys 3, Widdrington)
D0-0 (away; York City)
Southend United Away Form
L0-1 (Kidderminster Harriers)
L1-2 (Macclesfield Town; Jenkins)
L0-3 (Wrexham)
L1-4 (Scunthorpe United; Smith)
W1-0 (Shrewsbury Town; Smith)
Hartlepool United Home Form
D0-0 (Bury)
W4-0 (Swansea City; Humphreys 3, Widdrington)
W2-1 (Exeter City; Humphreys, Boyd)
W3-2 (Torquay United; Clarke 2, Richardson)
W3-1 (Oxford United; Humphreys, Richardson 2)
2002/3 SEASON
Southend United (Overall [Away])
League:
Played: 36 [18]
Won: 14 [5]
Drawn: 3 [2]
Lost: 19 [11]
Scored: 39 [17]
Conceded: 48 [29]
Goal Difference: -9 [-11]
Points: 45 [17]
Position: 14th [20th]
F.A. Cup: Second Round, L2-3 vs. AFC Bournemouth (away; replay)
Worthington Cup: First Round, L1-4 vs. Wimbledon (home)
LDV Vans Trophy: First Round, L1-6 vs. Swindon Town (away)
Hartlepool United (Overall [Home])
Played: 36 [18]
Won: 21 [13]
Drawn: 9 [3]
Lost: 6 [2]
Scored: 57 [38]
Conceded: 37 [17]
Goal Difference: +20 [+21]
Points: 72 [42]
Position: 1st [1st]
F.A. Cup: First Round, L1-2 vs. Southend United (home; replay)
Worthington Cup: First Round, L1-2 vs. Tranmere Rovers (home)
LDV Vans Trophy: First Round, L0-5 vs. Tranmere Rovers (away)
THE HISTORY
Last Meeting
Hartlepool United 1 (Richardson 63) Southend United 2 (Bramble 88, Cort 89) [attendance: 4080].
Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard (Graeme Jones 82), Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle; Tony Scully, Jay Smith, Kevin Maher, Neil Jenkins (Steven Clark 73); Tesfaye Bramble, Barrington Belgrave (Stuart Thurgood 89). Subs not used: Danny Gay, Stephen Broad.
Hartlepool United line-up (4-4-2): Anthony Williams; Michael Barron, Graeme Lee, Chris Westwood, Brian Barry-Murphy; Paul Arnison (Steven Istead 59), Mark Tinkler, Ritchie Humphreys, Paul Smith; Eifion Williams (Adam Boyd 45), Marcus Richardson. Subs not used: Jim Provett, Darrell Clarke, Tommy Widdrington.
Last Five Meetings:
26th November 2002 – Hartlepool United 1 (Richardson 63) Southend United 2 (Bramble 88, Cort 89) – F.A. Cup First Round Replay
16th November 2002 – Southend United 1 (Lee 3 [o.g.]) Hartlepool United 1 (Barron 23) – F.A. Cup First Round
25th October 2002 – Southend United 0 Hartlepool United 1 (Eifion Williams 1) – Third Division
23rd February 2002 – Hartlepool United 5 (Humphreys 2, Coppinger, Smith, Easter) Southend United 1 (Belgrave 90) – Third Division
15th September 2001 – Southend United 0 Hartlepool United 0 – Third Division
Complete Head-to-Head Record
2002/3 – H0-1 (League), H1-1, A2-1 (F.A. Cup)
2001/2 – H0-0, A1-5 (League)
2000/1 – H2-1, A0-1 (League)
1999/2000 – H2-1, A2-1 (League)
1998/9 – H1-1, A4-2 (League)
1989/90 – H3-0, A1-1 (League)
1986/7 – H1-1, A0-1 (League)
1985/6 – H3-2, A2-3 (League)
1984/5 – H1-1, A1-2 (League)
1980/1 – H4-0, A3-1 (League)
1977/8 – H1-1, A0-1 (League)
1976/7 – H1-0, A1-1 (League)
1971/2 – H3-1, A2-2 (League)
1969/70 – H0-2, A1-2 (League)
1967/8 – H2-1, A1-0 (League)
1966/7 – H2-0, A2-1 (League)
Summary
Overall:
Southend United: 17
Hartlepool United: 9
Draws: 9
In The League:
Southend United: 16
Hartlepool United: 9
Draws: 8
At Victoria Park:
Southend United: 6
Hartlepool United: 7
Draws: 3
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com