Of course it was less than a month ago that Southend lost, at home to Mansfield after Carlton Palmer’s men stole all three points. Paul Warne was the man who hit home on that day after a dangerous run from quick striker Derek Asamoah. Warne has now returned to his employers Rotherham after his loan spell and it is unlikely that Mansfield will able to secure his services permanently. Later in that game substitute, Lawrie Dudfield appeared to have rescued a point but the officials ruled otherwise as the Stags left the hall with all three points. In fairness to Mansfield they played well enough and on the day probably merited all three points.
Mansfield will be boosted by the signing of Peterborough’s versatile left footed, Gareth Jellyman. It sounds like another shrewd piece of business by Posh manager Barry Fry who was reported to have phoned Mansfield to ‘honour’ the original deal that broke down with the involvement of agents. Before reading this most Blues fans would have found it hard to believe that the words ‘honour’ and ‘Fry’ could appear in the same sentence. Despite the signing of Jellyman he will be unavailable to play in Saturdays fixture due to the lack of surgeon’s available to Mansfield in order to complete the medical.
And it is because of this that it is expected that Mansfield will keep the same side that picked up an away point at Rochdale the previous Saturday. Former Manchester United trainee Kevin Pilkington will more than likely retain his place in the side having kept two more clean sheets since the game against Southend, one of them being against second place Scunthorpe as Mansfield picked up another one nil win.
Mansfield’s back line is expected to be pretty similar to the same back four that played against Southend at Roots Hall. That day the Stags defence kept Southend’s attack at bay, throwing their bodies in front of the ball regardless of the situation and much of the same is expected from them at Field Mill. Alex Neil, Luke Dimech, Alex John-Baptiste and Jamie Buxton are set to be the four trying to keep Freddy Eastwood and company at bay. Mansfield will be without fellow defender Dave Artell who, despite being out since early December will face another two months on the sidelines. It could have been a lot worse for Artell who could have died from deep thrombosis if he had not been taken to hospital last evening.
Mansfield’s midfield will of course include ever-dangerous Wayne Corden who has not scored since early September as he netted two goals against Northampton. Despite this Corden is often dangerous from all areas of the field and netted in the last game on the 2001/2002 season that saw Mansfield to promotion.
Fraser Mclachan is also set to start in the midfield after caretaker manager Carlton Palmer defended him on the clubs official website. After coming in for some stick from the Mansfield fans, Mclachan has received support from his boss this week as he has been labelled a player who does the ‘ugly side of football.’ Expect a battling performance from Mclachan this Saturday. Leyton Maxwell and Simon Brown are set to make up the midfield. Of course this isn’t the Simon Brown we all know and love. The ex- Colchester United baboon who gifted Tes Bramble a goal in the famous LDV Vans Area Final at Layer Road has found his way into Scottish football playing with Hibernian.
The forward line for Mansfield is set to feature Richie Barker and Colin Larkin who have only netted 10 times between them. Nippy striker Derek Asamoah is set to start the game on the bench after got sent off on the first day of the year against Northampton and has failed to regain his place. However Asamoah could be introduced from the sidelines at any time.
The men in the middle of the two teams will be lead by Leicestershire based referee Kevin Friend. The only occasion that Friend has refereed Southend was in the away game against Hull City last season. That day he awarded Southend a late penalty that Tesfaye Bramble failed to convert whilst also sending Dave McSweeney off for two cautions. McSweeney’s second caution was harsh as he kicked the ball away despite not realising the ball had left the field of play. Friend will be joined by assistants Daniel Roberts (Greater Manchester) and Ian Scarr (West Midlands).
Southend’s team begins with a change in the starting line up from the previous game against Notts County. Darryl Flahavan will replace Dutch stopper Bart Griemink who has picked up his second injury since joining the club in the summer. It is a blow for Griemink and the team as he was in a rich vein of form and appeared to be securing his place in the side ahead of Flahavan.
However Flahavan now has a few games to stake a claim for a place in the first team after keeping a clean sheet against Canvey in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday. Flahavan himself was keeping goal very well before succumbing to injury himself.
Southend’s back four is set to stay the same as it was against Notts County a week ago. Che Wilson and Lewis Hunt, continue in their places in the full back positions. Few people would have guessed that Wilson and Hunt would have been playing in the two full back positions at the start of the seasons. Centre backs will be Barrett and Prior. Andy Edwards pulled up in the week in the Essex Senior Cup match will not be contesting a place in the first team nor will he find himself on the bench.
The midfield will require a little bit of fine-tuning due to Mark Bentley’s suspension because of the five yellow cards that he has received. Carl Pettefer is set to move to his favoured central midfield position whilst Mark Gower will return from injury to play on the right side of the midfield. Gower who looked dangerous as he came on against Notts County, successfully completed 45 minutes in the Essex Senior Cup match and will provide the width that may have been lacking at times that Pettefer has played on the wing. Making up the midfield will be the blues captain, Kevin Maher and ex-Arsenal youngster Nicky Nicolau on the left wing.
It will be very interesting to see whom Tilson plays up front although I expect he will start with Dudfield and Eastwood. Wayne Gray who scored the one and only goal in the Essex Senior Cup match will be pushing for Dudfield’s place as I fully expect Eastwood to keep his place up front. Eastwood who has got a two game goal drought to his name will be looking to add to his tally no matter who is forward partner is. He has a far better record with Gray and has struggled to form a partnership with Dudfield as they have very similar styles of play.
Having not won against Mansfield since January 2002, a game in which Tes Bramble scored the winner and Adam Barrett played for the Stags, Southend will be looking to close the gap on Swansea before the travelling to the Vetch on 4th February.
Probable Teams
Mansfield Town – The Stags
GK Kevin Pilkington
RB Jake Buxton
LB Luke Dimech
CB Alex Baptiste
CB Alex Neil
RM Wayne Corden
LM Simon Brown
CM Fraser McLachlan
CM Leyton Maxwell
CF Richie Barker
CF Colin Larkin
SB Jason White
SB Adam Rundle
SB Chris Wood
SB Shane Smeltz
SB Derek Asamoah
Southend United – The Shrimpers
GK Darryl Flahavan
RB Lewis Hunt
LB Che Wilson
CB Spencer Prior
CB Adam Barrett
RM Mark Gower
LM Nicky Nicolau
CM Carl Pettefer
CM Kevin Maher
FC Freddy Eastwood
FC Lawrie Dudfield
SB Nick Morgan
SB Stuart Williams
SB James Lawson
SB Wayne Gray
SB Tesfaye Bramble
Venue: Field Mill
Date: 22nd January 2005
Kick Off: 3pm
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistant Referees: Daniel Roberts and Ian Scarr
Matt Donohue
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