1. Footymad
  2. Shrimpers Mad
  3. Shrimpers Latest
  4. Shrimpers News

LDV Vans Trophy Special: The Preview

Last updated : 09 April 2005 By Adam Duffill

Blackpool lift the Trophy
Both teams will be hoping that they can get their hands on the Trophy like Blackpool last year
After all of the disappointments from last years defeat at the hands of Blackpool in last years final, many of the Blues' players have come out and said that they don't want to get stage fright again and blow away an opportunity to lift a trophy, told the clubs official site: "Hopefully we will put in a good performance because last year I thought we let ourselves down a lot." Former Southampton trainee Flahavan went on to add: " I think we have a much better chance of winning this year, our results in the league speak for themselves and we have nothing to fear."

Co-owner Ron Martin then followed up followed up Flahavan's confidence by saying: "We're hugely excited about the day - the whole town is I think - and I can guarantee that this Southend side is going there to give their all."

The man who has turned the Blues fortunes around, Steve Tilson, also had his as always professional opinion on what the current crop of Southend players can acheive in Cardiff: "Last year the goal in the first minute set the trend of the game and that put us on the back foot. It will be a good footballing match against Wrexham but I am quietly confident that we can overturn last year's result."

Southend are not the only team in this final however, and Wrexham also believe they can win a game that could prove to be one of their last as the club struggles with finances. Manager Denis Smith told Mick Currie of the Wrexham Daily Post, "I want to make sure they (the wrexham players) take everything in because I don't want the game on Sunday or the occasion to pass them by. I want them to go and enjoy it and make it a day to remember becasue it's been a tough three years."

Both sides faught hard battles up and down the country to get to the final, and this table shows how both sides battled their way to the final.

Southend

Wrexham

Rnd 1 – Colchester United (a) D1-1 (won 5-3 on pens)

Rnd 1 – Notts County (a) W3-2

Rnd 2 – Shrewsbury Town (h) W4-1

Rnd 2 – Stockport Coutny (h) W2-0

Rnd 3 – Northampton Town (a) W2-0

Rnd 3 – Chester City (a) W1-0

Area Semi– Swindon Town (h) W2-0

Area Semi – Hereford United (a) W2-1

Area final, leg 1 – Bristol Rovers (a) W2-1

Area final, leg 1 – Oldham Athletic (a) W5-3

Area final, leg 2 – Bristol Rovers (h) D2-2 (Southend win 4-3 on aggregate)

Area final, leg 2 – Oldham Athletic (h) W1-0 (Wrexham win 6-3 on aggregate)

Southend and Wrexham have never actually met in the LDV or the associates members cup as it used to be called, with only two FA cup ties in 1950 to add to the 38 league encounters the two teams have battled out. In none of those 38 matches have the sides met on a nuetral ground, which of course they will do in Cardiff, but Wrexham have won the majority of league games - winning 16 along with 13 draws. Although the Shrimpers are the better side at Roots Hall with nine wins and six draws compared to Wrexham's five wins, at the Racecourse stadium Wrexham have won a stunning eleven times compared to Southend's lowly two.

The last match between Southend and Wrexham was contested at the Racecourse stadium in the old Division 3 back in the 2002/03 season. It happened to be the season that Wrexham would get promoted so it was no surprise that the Blues were trounced 3-0 on a cold Saturday in Feburary 2003.

Barrett and Prior have been immense at the back for Southend
Although Wrexham got a 3-0 win back in 2003, times have changed since then and after Wrexham got deducted 10 points back in December, it seems as though Denis Smith's men may be on their back to the old Third Division as they currently sit precariously in 22nd position , which of course is inside the relegation zone. As for Southend however, a 3-0 defeat is almost unheard of in the league this season after Steve Tilson stopped the ship from sinking last year and has made Southend into an unstoppable force. Whilst Wrexham are starting to pick up some form - having won three and drawn one from six - Southend are currently on a 17 game unbeaten run and in their last six league games the Shrimpers have won four and drawn two, conceding just three goals and scoring a massive thirteen.

Southend will have to be very careful of red hot striker Juan Argarte, who has scored an incredible 18 goals from 22 games, which is even better than Freddy Eastwood's record for Southend to give people an idea how good the former Real Sociedad striker is. The Spanish born 25-year old can muster up a chance out of nothing and is well known for his electrifying pace. Hector Sam will be partnering Argarte up-front on Sunday and he has managed 23 starts and 12 goals, again a good goals to game ratio. Along with Darren Fergusuon, son of Manchester United manager Sir Alex, pulling the strings in midfield Wrexham threaten to be one of the Shrimpers toughest opponents so far this season.

Missing for Wrexham in the LDV Vans Trophy final will be 'keeper Andy Dibble, Brian Carey, Jim Whitley, Danny Williams and Simon Spender. Southend have no fresh injury worries although Bart Griemink and Jay Smith are both still injured with knee ligaments and ankle ligaments respectively.

Possible Teams:

Southend United: Flahavan, Jupp, Prior, Barrett, Wilson, Pettefer, Maher, Bentley, Gower, Eastwood, Gray. Subs: McCormack, Holloway, Dudfield, Guttridge, Blewitt.

Wrexham: Foster, Roberts, Morgan, Lawrence, Carlos, Holt, Jones, Crowell, Ferguson, Llewellyn, Ugarte. Subs: Harrison, Pejic, Smith, Llewellyn, Armstrong.

Referee:

Brian Curson (Leicestershire)