Southend United Reserves v Norwich City Reserves Preview

Newman given his marching orders in Blues reserve match v Norwich last season

Since returning to the Football Combination in the 1999/2000 season Blues will be facing Norwich for the fourth time this afternoon, although victory has eluded Southend United to date.

The first meeting came at Carrow Road in the Avon Insurance Combination League Cup. Blues put up a good performance against the Norfolk side but lost to a solitary Chris Llewellyn strike on six minutes. The same season Norwich visited Roots Hall in the league and won convincingly 4-0. Goals from Julian Edwards, Erik Fuglestad, Pepe Diop and Lewis Blois sealed the three points. The last time Blues met Norwich was at Carrow Road last season. A match that Blues boss Rob Newman will quickly want to forget as he was sent off for two yellow cards. Blues were drawing 1-1 when 13 minutes into the second-half when Newman received his second yellow for a foul on Cedric Anselin. Despite a spirited display ten-man Blues eventually lost 4-1.