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I’m sure I don’t need to mention Southend’s run in this competition last season, besides there’s more detail on that elsewhere on this site, but victory this evening will see Steve Tilson’s side just three matches away from reaching the final for a second successive season.
For Southend, the LDV Vans Trophy remains as the only Cup hope for the first team, whilst the Cobblers still have FA Cup interests and host Bury in Round Two on Saturday. As a result, with the home side having divided interests, and looking to emulate last season when they were handed a home FA Cup tie with Manchester United, Tilson’s men go into the game as slight favourites.
Added to that is the fact that eight-placed Southend have already beaten Northampton, currently lying in tenth spot and one point behind United, in League Two at Roots Hall exactly a month ago. On that afternoon Darryl Flahavan saved a penalty to help Southend on their way with goals coming from Mark Gower and Wayne Gray in a 2-1 win. Eric Sabin grabbed a late consolation for Town.
Of course Flahavan will not be in action tonight, he is still at least three weeks away from a return to action having bruised a bone in his foot during the 4-1 rout of Shrewsbury Town in the previous round of this competition, and Bart Greimink, undisputed man-of-the-match against Grimsby Town in Friday’s 1-1 draw will retain his place between the sticks with third year scholar Nick Morgan once again on the bench.
It remains to be seen whether boss Tilson tries a few new things tonight, but if he does players of the calibre of Tesfaye Bramble, former Cobbler Lawrie Dudfield as well as Nicky Nicolau may see themselves involved. Seventeen-year old attacker James Lawson may well be given a chance to impress from the bench.
Captain Kevin Maher will return to his central midfield role having sat out the clash with the Mariners courtesy of a one-match suspension. As a result Lewis Hunt may well try his luck at right back at the expense of Duncan Jupp. Mark Bentley should retain his place alongside Maher whilst Carl Pettefer and Mark Gower are almost guaranteed starters.
Andy Edwards is still suffering from the facial injuries he sustained at Yeovil Town and is unlikely to feature, with Spencer Prior and Adam Barrett set to partner once again in the centre of defence.
Northampton themselves got to the Area semi-final of this competition last season, losing out 3-2 after extra time to Colchester United, who of course went on to meet the Shrimpers. Ironically all the U’s goals that evening came courtesy of a Scott McGleish hat-trick, having only arrived as a half-time substitute. McGleish will be involved again tonight, but in the maroon of Northampton, having nearly signed for Blues in the summer.
Southend and Northampton last met in this competition back in January 1990, goals from David Crown and Jason Cook earning Blues a 2-1 victory in Round One – this followed the Preliminary group stage – in front of 1,346 at Roots Hall before David Webb’s side crashed out, 4-1, to Walsall at Fellows Park at the next stage.
Previous to that, the side’s met the previous season at the County Ground, also in Round One, United losing 2-1 in front of 2,539 with Crown grabbing the Shrimpers only goal.
A 3-1 Group stage defeated was inflicted on Southend, at Roots Hall, during 1985-86 with Blues smallest ever crowd of 683 all that turned up.
SOUTHEND UNITED (from):- Bart Griemink, Nick Morgan, Nicky Nicolau, Che Wilson, Duncan Jupp, Lewis Hunt, Spencer Prior, Andy Edwards, Kevin Maher, Mark Bentley, Carl Pettefer, Mark Gower, James Lawson, Tesfaye Bramble, Lawrie Dudfield, Freddy Eastwood, Wayne Gray.