However if the Blues can get a positive result tomorrow, then promotion may await the hoards of travelling Shrimpers.
After last week’s disastrous 1-0 defeat at home at the hands of current league leaders Yeovil Town, the Blues chances of winning the League Two title look limited. However, automatic promotion for Southend would be a superb second best to the Shrimpers season, and one that seemed unimaginable after the Blues went to bottom of the table in August following defeat against Bristol Rovers.
Grimsby will end the season with nothing to play for other than pride and players trying to earn new contacts for next season. Although the Mariners have nothing to play for, they still seem to be putting the effort in – stuffing Kidderminster Harriers 4-1 away from home last weekend and sending Kiddy down to the Conference.
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The stats do not favour a Southend win tomorrow – in the 26 meetings at Grimsby’s Blundell Park stadium, Southend have only managed to win once and that was way back in the 1987/88 season when the Blues were victorious by three goals to one. In the other 25 matches, Grimsby have eased their way to 19 wins, including the most recent drubbings of 4-0 (1996/97) and 5-1 (1997/98). The other six encounters ended in a draw. At Roots Hall, Southend have a much better record – winning 16 of the 27 matches – but overall Grimsby still have the better wins to games ratio, having won 24 compared to Southends 17 from the total of 53 games played.
The Recent form between the Mariners and the Shrimpers shows a surprise – Despite the difference in league positions, Grimsby have accumulated more points in their last six games than Southend, having drawn four times and won once. Southends form has been poor, with four defeats and two draws. Southends away form on the other hand is still the best in the league, whilst Grimsby’s home form is average, with two wins, three draws and one defeat in their last six games at Blundell Park.
If Grimsby are going to get a positive result tomorrow it will be through three players: Andy Parkinson, Thomas Pinault and Michael Reddy. Quick front-man Andy Parkinson is a former Tranmere Rovers player who managed 89 appearances and 11 goals in his time at Prenton Park. The 5ft 8ins tall Liverpudlian has scored nine goals in 45 appearances this season and will be hoping to break into double figures tomorrow. Frenchman Thomas Pinault is an attacking midfield playmaker who scored seven goals in 126 games for Blues arch rivals Colchester United, and joined Grimsby at the start of the season and has since scored seven goals in 35 full appearances and seven substitute appearances. The Mariners final threat is that of Michael Reddy, who has played for Sunderland, Swindon, Hull City, York City and Sheffield Wednesday before linking up with the Mariners at the start of the season. Reddy has since partnered Andy Parkinson up-front, scoring eight goals from 43 appearances (26 starts, 17 substitute).
The Shrimpers have no new injury problems, although Jay Smith is still out with an ankle problem that has plagued him throughout the season. Bart Griemink is now fully recovered from a knee injury and will be on the substitute’s bench. As for Grimsby, Rob Jones (cheekbone), John McDermott, who scored Grimsby’s goal in the 1-1 draw at Roots Hall this season, and Stacy Coldicott (Achilles) are all out injured.
Possible Teams:
Grimsby Town: Williams, Bull, Whittle, Ramsden, Downey, Fleming, Pinault, Crane, Parkinson, Reddy. Subs: Hockless, Soames, Heggarty, Gritton, Forbes
Southend United: Flahavan, Jupp, Prior, Barrett, Wilson, Pettefer, Maher, Bentley, Gower, Gray, Eastwood. Subs: McCormack, Griemink, Dudfield, Guttridge, Blewitt.
Referee:
Graham Salisbury (Lancashire)
By Adam Duffill