Last
However, the plight of the
The situation for the Shrimpers is much less worrying, thankfully. Unlike when the two sides clashed in November, when a 4-0 victory for the home side kept them just two points above the relegation zone, Blues are now safe from relegation, although four points from their remaining matches would almost certainly see them finish in the top half of the table, no mean achievement for a side still languishing in the bottom two in late February.
An interesting note for the statisticians out there concerns the 1969 meeting, when
Southend chief Steve Tilson was disgruntled after last Saturday’s reverse against the Glovers, stating, “I never felt that we really had a go. I know we are safe but I want to get as many points as I possibly can”. Of course, United are already looking to next year, and Tilly confirmed as much, declaring, “We have been on a great run and there is a great buzz around the club and I want to keep that going. I explained to the players that I want it to continue to the start of next season”.
Ominously for the Lancastrians, the Wickford-born coach has looked to the final two games to recover some lost pride from the Yeovil defeat. He stated, “Hopefully over the next two games we will show some character and bounce back”. The chances of that happending are good, since Blues have not lost to consecutive matches since the F.A. Cup third round debacle against Scarborough and the following Nationwide League clash at home to Doncaster Rovers.
Rochdale
The Spotland outfit have managed to win their last two games to haul themselves away from the Cumbrians and doomed York City, and like Southend, they have been against sides that already seem safe from the drop in Leyton Orient and Kidderminster Harriers, although the O’s could yet fall through the trapdoor if their winless run extends to fifteen games by the end of the campaign.
As United travel north, they will call upon Darryl Flahavan as usual between the sticks. He seems assured of his spot in the side to the end of the season with Ryan Robinson once again sitting on the substitutes’ bench for the reserves in midweek, with Arsenal trialist Craig Holloway keeping him out of the starting eleven.
In front of Flahavan, Mark Warren made a huge boast for a return to the first-team against Queens Park Rangers’ second-string with an imposing display at centre-back for the reserves. He told the club’s official website after completing 71 minutes of that fixture, “I would like to think that I will play in out last two League games but Jamie Stuart has come in and done really well so I am not expecting to come straight back in”.
Warren, who sat out the draw with Northampton Town and the defeat to Yeovil with a twisted ankle, concluded, “It would be nice and also it will be just as good to end the season with two good results and end the seaqson on a high”, echoing the sentiments of his manager. The former Leyton Orient and Colchester United man will be looking to edge out Stuart for the second centre-back role, with Leon Cort having missed just one fixture this season through injury.
The two full-backs are also unlikely to be changed. Duncan Jupp continues to prove consistent and Nicky Nicolau, on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season, is keen to extend his stay at Southend after impressing the Shrimpers support in his seven-match long visit. He told the Southend Evening Echo this week, “I’m out of contract at the end of the season at Highbury and I would definitely be interested in staying here”. Che Wilson and Neil Jenkins will deputise.
In midfield, both Carl Pettefer and Jay Smith have expressed their intent to remain in southeast
Whilst that pair, and Leke Odunsi, who continues to do rehabilitation work, recover, Tilson and team coach Paul Brush have to decide which of the three central midfielders play there and who goes wide to the right. Kevin Maher is the only man to have remained in the centre thus far, and that is likely to stay the same, but a late decision will be taken between Mark Bentley and Lewis Hunt for the final spot in the middle.
Michael Husbands could be deployed in a surprising left-wing berth
Up front, the management duo will be pleased to have plenty of options up their sleeves. As well as the aforementioned Corbett, who has three goals in five games as a front man for Blues this term, and Husbands, who started the season opener against
The former Kidderminster Harriers man was not utilisied in midweek, but another ankle victim Tesfaye Bramble was, looking as sharp as possible for that level of the game. With Leon Constantine, still one shy of Steven MacLean’s 25 goals this season in all competitions, gunning to finish as the Division’s top-scorer, and Lawrie Dudfield alongside him, the Shrimpers will be hoping to replicate the four goals slammed past ‘Dale earlier this campaign.
And as
As if that were not enough, Scott Warner picked up a calf strain in training earlier in the week and is described as 50-50 whilst Patrick McCourt’s ankle, Simon Grand’s similar compaint and Michael Simpkin’s dead leg add more cause for concern. United will still have to worry about striking duo Leo Bertos and Kevin Townson though, who have 22 strikes between them.
As ever, the game kicks off at
LIKELY SQUADS
Southend United | ||
4-4-2 Neil Edwards Wayne Evans --- Matthew Gilks Patrick McCourt | Starting Line-Ups GK DR DL DC DC MR MC MC ML FC FC Substitutes 1 2 3 4 5 | Darryl Flahavan Duncan Jupp Nicky Nicolau Leon Cort Mark Warren Lewis Hunt Mark Bentley Kevin Maher James Corbett Lawrie Dudfield Leon Constantine --- Jamie Stuart Tesfaye Bramble Drewe Broughton Che Wilson Neil Jenkins |
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com