Indeed, only Doncaster Rovers have a better stretch in the Third Division, having gone thirteen matches without defeat, and it is the same team that has the longest away run, again the only side to better United, as they are currently eight unbeaten away from Belle Vue compared to the Shrimpers’ five. Since the Yorkshiremen are currently top of the Third Division, that is no mean feat for the outfit from southeast Essex.
In addition to that, Blues have lost just one match (away to Leyton Orient) away from Roots Hall since late January in the Third Division, with only the 2-0 LDV Vans Trophy final reverse to Blackpool in addition to that. All of this is, of course, a far cry from the club record thirteen straight games lost on the trot that continued into the start of this campaign.
A more worrying statistic as United go north is the number of points that they have collected against sides in the top ten of the Third Division. In home and away matches combined, the figure is just five points – and four of those were gleaned against Swansea City. The only other side to have been tested is Lincoln City in the 2-2 draw just over three weeks ago. The positive side to that is the 43 points gained against the other thirteen sides in the Division, from a possible 72, have been vital ones, and only twelfth-placed Leyton Orient have done the double over the Shrimpers.
One man that will be missing for the two Easter clashes – Darlington visit Essex on Easter Monday – is club captain Kevin Maher. His booking against Blackpool in that LDV final was his third in succession, and more importantly his tenth of the current campaign, and since they were picked up before the end of next weekend, he now has to sit out the trip to Huddersfield.
In his place, Lewis Hunt is set to be named alongside Mark Bentley as he looks to win a contract by the seaside next season. Hunt still has a year to run on his current deal with Derby County, but should he be released then Steve Tilson will be the first manager in line to snap him up. He was rested for the Pontin’s Holidays Combination defeat to Colchester United on Wednesday afternoon, which means that his inclusion is safe.
Steven Clark played in that fixture, but he is unlikely to be included in the matchday squad after revealing that he is still some way from full fitness. He told the Southend Evening Echo on Thursday, “I felt OK for the opening thirty minutes, but after that I felt awful to be honest”. The hard-working 22-year-old, signed from West Ham United for a fee that could yet reach £50,000 based on appearances, stated, “I’ve got no match sharpness at the moment and it’s going to take a few more weeks before I am likely to be challenging for a place in the first team again”.
The present incumbents of Clark’s positions on the left and right flanks are doing particularly well at the moment, meaning that even when the Londoner is back to his best, he may struggle to earn a place in the squad, let alone the starting line-up. Carl Pettefer has been a revelation in the last three or four matches, and he will be looking to continue his partnership with Nicky Nicolau down the left-hand side.
Meanwhile Mark Gower has been continuing his excellent form on the right wing, the side that he favours to the left. Gower set up a further two goals last Friday as the Shrimpers saw off Scunthorpe United in yet another six-pointer to almost haul themselves right out of the relegation trouble, and the former Barnet man has also netted a series of important goals in the current campaign to prove his worth to the team.
Up front, another man searching for goals is Drewe Broughton. The former Kidderminster Harriers front man has notched eight now n all competitions – with just two in the League thus far – and incredibly all have come under the floodlights. Broughton, whose only away goal was at Cheltenham Town in the first Third Division match of 2004, told the Echo, “I didn’t realise it was my first home League goal for Southend but I was just pleased to see it go in because I hadn’t scored for five games going into the match”.
He is likely to again be partnered by Leon Constantine, whose form this season has made him a key player. 22 goals overall (just one behind the Iron’s Steve MacLean) and 18 in the League (just three behind the Scunthorpe hitman) mean that the 26-year-old will be looking to finish as the golden boot winner for the Third Division, and that can only help the Seasiders’ cause in the final seven matches of the year.
With Lawrie Dudfield sitting out the next seven days at least before the visit of Hull City, Tesfaye Bramble wasted his chance to earn a starting spot with an abject display in the north of the county in midweek, missing one guilt-edged chance to fire Blues’ Twos in front. Michael Husbands fared no better, failing to register a single shot, whilst Jimmy Corbett sits out with a groin strain.
Leon Cort will be buoyed by his first goal of 2003/4 against Scunthorpe nearly eight days ago, and despite conceding eight in the last five matches, Southend have nevertheless been more solid-looking in defence in recent weeks. Mark Warren will again partner him at the heart of the back-line, with Dave McSweeney on loan at Welling United.
Jamie Stuart looked at his most secure this season at centre-half on Wednesday afternoon, but he is unlikely to be handed any sort of opportunity to shine with that pairing performing well and Nicky Nicolau, on loan from Arsenal, warming to his role at left-back. That also means no start for Neil Jenkins, whilst Che Wilson’s chances of a return to first-team action are hampered by Duncan Jupp’s solid and consistent displays.
Darryl Flahavan will begin between the sticks as he continues to perform adequately, with Carl Emberson on the substitutes’ bench. Ryan Robinson’s appearance at Layer Road was more a sign of Emberson’s appearance as a replacement in Yorkshire than any possibility that he may find himself travelling, despite a fine display wearing the gloves.
Huddersfield Town will name Nigerian international Efetobe Sodje as their new captain after he won the Third Division Player-of-the-Month award for March. The bandana-clad central defender has been a key figure in the Terriers’ promotion push with a series of vital goals, and Football League Communications Director Ian Christon commented, “You are guaranteed 100 per cent leadership and commitment every time Efe Sodje takes to the pitch. He has become the focal point for Huddersfield’s promotion push”.
Another key figure for Town is goalkeeper Paul Rachubka, on loan from Charlton Athletic, and he will be remaining with the Yorkshire club until the end of the season. The 22-year-old is on a 24-hour call-back for the Latics, but that is not likely to affect his appearance against the Shrimpers on Saturday.
The bad news for the Terriers in the last week was that Iffy Onoura has been told that he will be out for the rest of the season. The 37-year-old experienced hit man injured his left knee in the warm-up to the 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient, and having seen a specialist it was diagnosed that he will be out for up to six weeks. Adnan Ahmed has also undergone double hernia surgery.
Huddersfield boss Peter Jackson told the club’s official website, www.htafc.co.uk, “Southend have improved a lot since we played them at their place. They have hoisted themselves up from being in the relegation zone into mid-table and, like Orient last week, don’t have a lot to play for”. Shrimpers’ supporters may disagree with that statement, and then Jackson’s next proclamation.
He declared, “They will come here and want to beat us as Huddersfield Town and because we have the best form in the Division”. The stats say differently, but the 43-year-old did single out praise for Leon Constantine, “[He] is full of goals at the moment and is a very dangerous player. We have already highlighted him as the main threat and he will cause problems for our defence”. Jackson continued, “Broughton is another who will make things difficult for the back line so we will have to be solid as we have been in recent games”.
Southend supporters making the trip will be eager that Jackson is still full of such praise come Saturday evening. TLG’s full coverage of the match will be online later that night, after co-editors Mark Wallis and Robert Craven return from the McAlpine Stadium to bring you their take on the days’ events.
TEAM DETAILS
Likely Squads
Huddersfield Town | Southend United | |
4-4-2 Gary Harkins Paul Scott John McAliskey Ian Hughes | Starting Line-Ups DL | 4-4-2 Tesfaye Bramble Neil Jenkins Anthony Clark |
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com