All of the facts point towards a Shrimpers victory tomorrow. Their record at Moss Rose in the past three seasons is good, with the Silkmen having failed to score against Blues from open play in Cheshire. A torrid home spell means that Macclesfield’s last home win was on 29th October against Oxford United, and they have only managed to win one of their past thirteen matches overall. The Macc Lads have the worst home record in the Division, and currently find themselves just one point off of the bottom of Division Three in 22nd place, with a 1-1 draw at Bristol Rovers in a dull game doing little to boost either club’s hopes of survival. By contrast, United come into the match with renewed confidence having beaten second-placed Rushden & Diamonds at Roots Hall seven days ago, and with five wins from seven matches against Town. But, as we all know to our cost, form means little at this stage of the campaign.
One of the biggest absences in the squad for the trip north will be left full-back Damon Searle. The Welshman picked up his fifth booking of the season back on home soil in the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Wrexham and misses this match before returning at Kidderminster Harriers in mid-week. His place in the eleven is a straight choice between ex-England Under-20 performer Neil Jenkins, who last pulled on a Blues shirt over a month ago as an injury time substitute for Steven Clark against Oxford and testimonial man Steve Tilson. Also suspended is star striker Tesfaye Bramble, serving the final match of a three-game ban received for head-butting Hull City’s Marc Joseph.
The rest of the defensive unit should be unchanged. Daryl Sutch and Mark Beard are fighting for the right-back position, although Newman’s ex-Norwich City team-mate should get the nod. Leon Cort and Stephen Kelly, for whom this is the last match of his initial one-month loan period, should constitute the central defensive pairing. Boss Newman is having negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur and the Republic of Ireland over extending Kelly’s stay by the seaside. Tom Jordan is the only other fit centre-back. Phil Whelan, available for transfer, continues to miss out through injury, Stephen Broad is awaiting another reserve game to fully test his hernia recovery and David McSweeney has at least a fortnight further out of action having fallen off his garden wall. Darryl Flahavan should continue in goal.
There is little debate over the midfield positions. Daniel Marney remains on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, and the 21-year-old will fill the right wing position. On the opposite side, Steven Clark has continued to show an upturn in form that augers well for the future, whilst captain Kevin Maher and Jay Smith are firmly entrenched in the middle of the park. Reserve team captain Stuart Thurgood awaits his chance to add some bite to the midfield should Smith’s groin niggle, which troubled the former Aston Villa man throughout the Rushden win, not clear up.
Up front, the same pair that constantly threatened Rushden & Diamonds goalkeeper Billy Turley are likely to continue. Mark Rawle has reached double figures for the season after latching onto partner, Watford loanee, Dominic Foley’s through ball. Foley is yet to score, but still finds himself being praised by Newman for other aspects of his game. Ridiculed Barrington Belgrave, like Whelan allowed to go at the end of the season, has recovered from an ankle problem, and takes his place in the squad, with Mark Salter alongside him. Graeme Jones, also subject to release, is still experiencing difficulties with his right calf.
Macclesfield boss David Moss’ options have been largely enhanced since the Pirates match, with defenders Steve Macauley and Danny Adams both being welcomed back into the squad having served out suspensions at the Memorial Ground. Chris Byrne and Paul O’Neil are not yet ready to return from injury though. Their top striker is Bermudan international Kyle Lightbourne, who notched his tenth goal of the season in the south-west, and the two W’s, goalkeeper Steve Wilson and midfield playmaker Danny Whitaker, who is top scorer with 11 goals to his name, are the men to watch.
SQUAD DETAILS
The Little Gazette Predicted Line-Up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Daryl Sutch, Leon Cort, Stephen Kelly, Neil Jenkins; Daniel Marney, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Steven Clark; Dominic Foley, Mark Rawle.
Southend United Full Matchday Squad: Darryl Flahavan, Danny Gay, Mark Beard, Daryl Sutch, Leon Cort, Stephen Kelly, Tom Jordan, Neil Jenkins, Steve Tilson, Daniel Marney, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Stuart Thurgood, Steven Clark, Barrington Belgrave, Mark Rawle, Mark Salter, Dominic Foley.
Macclesfield Town Squad (From): Steve Wilson, Lee Martin, Steve Hitchen, Darren Tinson, Dave Ridler, Michael Welch, Steve Macauley, George Abbey, Danny Adams, Danny Whitaker, Chris Priest, Lee Hardy, Martin Nash, David Smith, Darren Dunning, Kyle Lightbourne, Neil Robinson, David Eaton, Neil Ross, Matthew Tipton.
OFFICIALS
Referee: Tony Bates (Stoke-on-Trent)
Assistant Referees: Dave Cooke (West Midlands), Ian Nolan (Rochdale)
Mr. Bates’ last experience in officiating the Shrimpers was the F.A. Cup Second Round double-header with AFC Bournemouth in December, when he cautioned eight players over the two legs. In the first match especially, Bates let the Cherries get away with a lot of niggly fouls and time-wasting tactics. Overall this year he has sent off two players in 31 matches, with 90 bookings thrown in for good measure. Bates has a record of being rather lenient in Southend matches, save for one incident at Rotherham late in the 1999/2000 campaign when Steve Jones was sent off for a second bookable offence. For the most part though, Bates is now restricting the number of cards that he shows.
TEAM FORM
Last Matches
Southend United 2 (Rawle 4; Searle 6) Rushden & Diamonds 1 (Hunter 38) [Attendance: 6,453). Southend United Line-Up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Daryl Sutch, Leon Cort, Stephen Kelly, Damon Searle; Daniel Marney, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith (Stuart Thurgood 78), Steven Clark (Mark Beard 73); Dominic Foley, Mark Rawle. Subs not used: Danny Gay, Tom Jordan, Mark Salter.
Bristol Rovers 1 (Llewellyn 80) Macclesfield Town 1 (Lightbourne 77) [Attendance: 6,005). Macclesfield Town Line-Up (4-4-2): Steve Wilson; Steve Hitchen, Michael Welch, Darren Tinson, Dave Ridler; Danny Whitaker, Chris Priest, Darren Dunning, George Abbey; Neil Ross (David Eaton 67), Kyle Lightbourne. Subs not used: Lee Martin, Matthew Tipton, Martin Nash, David Smith
Current Form
Macclesfield Town
D1-1 (away; Bristol Rovers; Lightbourne)
L1-3 (home; Swansea City; O’Leary [own goal])
L1-2 (away; York City; Welch)
D1-1 (home; Exeter City; Whitaker)
L0-1 (home; Hartlepool United)
Southend United
W2-1 (home; Rushden & Diamonds; Rawle, Searle)
L0-3 (away; Wrexham)
D2-2 (home; Bristol Rovers; Belgrave, Maher)
W3-0 (home; Hull City; Smith 2, Rawle)
L1-4 (away; Scunthorpe United; Smith)
Macclesfield Town Home Form
L1-3 (Swansea City; O’Leary [own goal])
D1-1 (Exeter City; Whitaker)
L0-1 (Hartlepool United)
L0-2 (Watford [F.A. Cup])
L0-1 (Lincoln City)
Southend United Away Form
L0-3 (Wrexham)
L1-4 (Scunthorpe United; Smith)
W1-0 (Shrewsbury Town; Smith)
L0-1 (Carlisle United)
D1-1 (Cambridge United; Rawle)
2002/3 SEASON
Macclesfield Town (Overall [Home])
League
Played: 31 [15]
Won: 7 [3]
Drawn: 8 [4]
Lost: 16 [8]
Scored: 37 [17]
Conceded: 46 [22]
GD: -9 [-5]
Points: 29 [13]
Position: 22nd [24th]
F.A. Cup
Third Round: lost to Watford (h) 0-2
Worthington Cup
Second Round: lost to Preston North End (h) 1-2
LDV Vans Trophy
First Round: lost to Tranmere Rovers (h) 1-2
Southend United (Overall [Away])
League
Played: 33 [16]
Won: 14 [5]
Drawn: 3 [2]
Lost: 16 [9]
Scored: 38 [16]
Conceded: 44 [26]
GD: -6 [-10]
Points: 45 [17]
Position: 12th [=13th]
F.A. Cup
Second Round: lost to AFC Bournemouth (a) 2-3 [after replay]
Worthington Cup
First Round: lost to Wimbledon (h) 1-4
LDV Vans Trophy
First Round: lost to Swindon Town (a) 1-6
THE HISTORY
Last Meeting
Southend United 1 (Cort 26) Macclesfield Town 0 [Attendance: 3,249].
Southend United Line-Up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard, Stephen Broad, Leon Cort, Damon Searle; Tesfaye Bramble, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Neil Jenkins; Graeme Jones, Mark Rawle. Subs not used: Danny Gay, Phil Whelan, Barrington Belgrave, Steven Clark, Danny Maye.
Macclesfield Town Line-Up (3-5-2): Steven Wilson; Michael Welch, Darren Tinson, Dave Ridler; Steve Hitchen, Danny Whitaker, Chris Byrne (Andrew Welsh 43), Chris Priest, Danny Adams; Kyle Lightbourne, Matthew Tipton (Neil Robinson 61). Subs not used: Lee Martin, Lee Hardy, Karl Munroe.
Last Five Meetings
14th September 2002 – Southend United 1 (Cort 26) Macclesfield Town 0 – Third Division
20th April 2002 – Macclesfield Town 0 Southend United 0 – Third Division
9th November 2001 – Southend United 3 (Rawle 2, 72; Bramble 78) Macclesfield Town 0 – Third Division
21st April 2001 – Macclesfield Town 1 (Glover 29 [pen]) Southend United 0 – Third Division
4th November 2000 – Southend United 3 (Abbey 67, 89; Forbes 90) Macclesfield Town 1 (Munroe 68) – Third Division
Complete Head-to-Head Record
2002/3 – H1-0 (League)
2001/2 – H3-0 A0-0 (League)
2000/1 – H3-1 A0-1 (League)
1999/2000 – H1-0 A2-1 (League)
Summary
Overall Record (all League fixtures)
Southend United 5
Macclesfield Town 1
Draws 1
At Moss Rose
Southend United 1
Macclesfield Town 1
Draws 1
Robert Craven