Preview - Rushden & Diamonds v Southend United - Shrimpers24

This match comes so quickly after the Blues winning streak of nine matches was ended at the weekend following a 2-0 defeat at Doncaster, where a long range strike from Ricky Ravenhill and a Michael Forte goal was enough to kill off Steve Tilson’s men. However, Tilson himself wasn’t too downbeat after the result. “Losing isn’t the end of the world we have enough quality to be fine” said the 38-year-old. We might make some changes for the LDV match against Rushden and hopefully we will be ready for Barnsley,” Tilson told the clubs official site.

Rushden on the other hand only did marginally better than the Shrimpers – drawing 0-0 away at Wycombe Wanderers in League Two, and former Blues loanee and current Diamonds manager Barry Hunter was very happy with the result, telling the clubs website: “It was a good point and hopefully an enjoyable game to watch. In the early stages they did everything we expected them to do and they played some good football but we stuck to our game plan and hung in there.” In the same interview, Hunter also confirmed he would be choosing a full strength side for tomorrow nights game.

Whilst the Blues have only one injury to contend with – Spencer Prior may miss out with a hamstring strain – the Diamonds don’t have that luxury as they will be without defender Graham Allen (Achilles), Andy Burgess (broken leg) and Daniel Chillingworth (knee) who are the long-term absentees, along with Gary Mills and midfielder David Bell (knee).

However one man Hunter will have available is former Southend striker Drewe Broughton. Broughton, 26, was never considered the most clinical in front of goal by Shrimpers fans by any stretch of the imagination but it was due to his work rate – which never dipped under 100% - that made him a favourite with supporters. Most ironically, Drewe had his best days in a Southend shirt in the LDV Vans Trophy, not only playing in the final against Blackpool during the 2003/04 season, but also scoring many goals in the build up to the final – including two strikes over arch enemy Colchester United over two legs in the Area Final stage of the competition. Drewe has managed one goal in six starts for the Diamonds so far this season, and will be hoping for another to add to his LDV collection.

The last time the two sides met however, Drewe couldn’t have played – he was on loan to Wycombe Wanderers at the time, having been on loan to Rushden earlier on in the season. The last time the two teams came up against each other was just after the mid-way point of last season, when the Diamonds low in the table met a Southend side on a high having only lost one game in their last eight. As it was on the day, the Blues took all three points thanks to goals from Andy Edwards - against his old club – Kevin Maher and Mark Bentley in front of 5,930 spectators, and it was a result that saw the Shrimpers cement fourth position whilst Rushden maintained 22^nd – which was how things ended up come the end of the season.

In total, their have been six matches between the two teams and Rushden have only been victorious once. There have been no draws, which won’t change tomorrow of course as the game must be settled on the night, so in some respects Southend can consider Rushden a ‘happy hunting ground’ so to speak. In the three meetings there have been at Roots Hall the Shrimpers have won all three games, whilst at Rushden’s impressive Nene Park ground Southend have taken two victories with Rushden taking just the one.

And whilst the history books don’t particularly favour a Diamonds win tomorrow, neither do the form books. On current form, Southend are top of the tree – winning five out of their last six games – of course the Seasiders had won eight games on the trot before their unfortunate demise against Doncaster at the weekend. However, Rushden have not enjoyed such boastful form. Instead they have only managed one win in their last six games along with two draws and three defeats. Moreover, Rushden have scored only five goals in that spell whilst also conceding an astonishing thirteen goals in their last six home matches.

However, with Steve Tilson openly admitting changes will be made and Barry Hunter announcing he will start with his strongest team, an upset is possible, but in truth the Shrimpers should have the strength in depth to make it just one win in fourteen games for Rushden and Diamonds.

Possible Teams:

Rushden & Diamonds (4-4-2):