In fact, the Shrimpers have won only seven ties in the competition over that period, and only two of those have appeared during the past fourteen seasons. The rut started in 1985/6, when Kent side Gillingham won a two-legged tie 3-1 in the first round.
In 1986/7 and 1987/8, there were three victories, two of which came against Brentford, both in the first round. If the first passage was a comfortable 4-2 triumph, the second was a more tough 5-4 aggregate win, with a 2-1 defeat at Griffin Park avenged by a 4-2 triumph at the Hall. In between, Manchester City inflicted a 2-1 win in the second round of the former season, Glenn Pennyfather netting at Maine Road in the second leg of a clash that had ended goalless in southeast Essex.
Roy McDonough was the hero in the second round of the ‘87/8 competition, with a penalty in the first leg of the fixture with Derby County at home enough to see Blues through to a third round match-up with Ipswich Town, United going down 1-0 in a one-off game at Portman Road. In 1988/9, Derby exacted revenge with a 3-1 aggregate second round win, Martin Ling scoring in the 2-1 home defeat.
There is only one match in the history of the League Cup that Southend United supporters remember with any semblance of nostalgia. A 6-4 aggregate win over Colchester United in the first round set up a tantalising clash with Tottenham Hotspur over two legs. The Shrimpers were top of the Fourth Division with an unbeaten home record, and came up against the former ‘Double’ winners a goal down from the first leg at White Hart Lane, when Terry Fenwick scored the matchwinner.
The superstars of the north London club, including England striker Gary Lineker, prodigious midfielder Paul Gascoigne and Spanish magician Nayim, induced a crowd of over 10,000 to Roots Hall. It took only five minutes for Dave Martin to head home a Jason Cook corner and wipe out the visitor’s advantage. McDonough, the hero some four years ago, then struck Erik Thordsvedt’s crossbar as United laid siege to the Spurs goal.
Four minutes before the break, Southend forged ahead, Gary Bennett driving home a David Crown centre, Clive Allen pulled one back after a lack of concentration at the back, and McDonough had another ruled out for a Crown offside. The hosts retained the upper hand when Paul Stewart was controversially sent off by referee Paul Danson for a foul on Blues skipper Paul Roberts, although ten minutes after the interval Nayim tucked past Paul Sansome after a David Howells knock-down.
Current assistant manager Paul Brush was then involved as United forged ahead on the night once again, floating a long free-kick into the penalty area for McDonough to outjump Gary Mabbutt and set up Bennett for his second. The same player was denied by Thordsvedt and strikers Crown and Lineker traded efforts against the post at either end. The match went to extra time, Crown denied by the Norwegian goalkeeper and McDonough sent off for a lunge on Howells. The 3-3 aggregate draw was not enough, and Blues went out on away goals, a famous victory over a top flight side but ultimate dejection.
It set up a ridiculous run of pathetic defeats, a 4-3 win over Aldershot Town notwithstanding. In the next round of that 1990/1 competition – another promotion-winning campaign, remember - the Seasiders crumbled 10-1 to Crystal Palace, and in the next three years it was only a little less emphatic, losing 3-1 to Watford and Barnet and 7-1 to Derby.
In the past ten seasons, there have been two aggregate wins – 4-2 over Cardiff City in 1997/8 and 2-0 against Gillingham in 1998/9. In amongst those results have been a 6-2 loss to the Rams, 5-0 slumps at the hands of Coventry City and Birmingham City followed up by a 3-0 defeat to the Blues and a 4-1 reverse at Roots Hall to Wimbledon before they became Milton Keynes Dons.
Two years ago, United led twice against Swindon Town, but were thwarted by former forward Tommy Mooney for a 3-2 defeat at Roots Hall, and then almost blew West Ham United’s bubbles away before Marlon Harewood’s late second sealed a 2-0 Boleyn Ground winner for the Hammers. Whatever the outcome of the seeded draw tomorrow, Blues will be up against it in the penultimate week of August.
LAGER BOTTOM: Southend United’s pathetic Carling (League) Cup record | |||||
Won: 33 | Drawn: 23 | Lost: 52 | Goals: 119 | Against: 182 | |
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com