Southend United v Bristol Rovers - Preview

Tes Bramble makes his final appearance before a three-match suspension

Last Saturday Shrimpers old-boy Peter Taylor brought Hull City to Roots Hall, and they were despatched with consummate ease, Jay Smith grabbing two and Mark Rawle the other in a 3-0 triumph. At the same time, the Pirates were stumbling to a 2-1 home reversal to perennial relegation candidates Carlisle United in front of over 7,000 supporters. Boss Ray Gradon is one of the most experienced and well-respected gaffers in the business, but this season, which promised much at the outset, has quickly fallen away so that tomorrow’s clash is important for both sides. Blues must continue to rack up the points if they wish to get anywhere near to the promotion spots, whilst Rovers are desperate to climb clear of the two relegation places.

United manager Newman can welcome back model professional Mark Beard if he wishes but, with former team-mate Daryl Sutch impressing in the right-back berth, the ex-Millwall and Sheffield United defender may have to settle for a place on the bench as he returns from a one-match suspension. Centre-back Dave McSweeney has also served out his one-game ban, but he will certainly not be in action. He acquired a badly-strained ankle trying to climb a garden wall and will miss the next four weeks of action. Stephen Broad’s hernia operation means that he will come back into the fray at roughly the same time, and Phil Whelan’s troublesome knee means that United are light at the back. However, Stephen Kelly of Spurs, on a one-month loan, was comfortable alongside Leon Cort last week and should continue, with Welshman Damon Searle at left-back.

Darryl Flahavan returned to the starting eleven last weekend, keeping a clean sheet against the Tigers, and coming through the ninety minutes without an adverse reaction to the increased work-load for his groin. He is likely to continue, although once again Danny Gay had a fine Reserve game on Tuesday night against Queens Park Rangers, and continues to keep up healthy competition for the goalkeeping jersey.

Southend’s midfield has widely been regarded as the key to their run of four wins in five games, and the consistent quartet of Steven Clark, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith and Danny Marney across the centre of the park should feature once again. Neil Jenkins offers wide variation, whilst Stuart Thurgood is also in contention for the middle of then pitch after netting a screamer at Northwood in the Avon Insurance Combination.

Up front, top scorer Tes Bramble will play the final match before he sits three games out for an alleged head-butt on Hull defender Matt Joseph. Rob Newman had been hoping to gain a change in decision from the Football League when Bramble denied the charges, but sufficient camera footage was not forthcoming and the suspension is likely to be upheld. Bramble’s partner should be Mark Rawle, who is beginning to find the form that David Webb paid Boston United for. Barrington Belgrave seems uninterested in football at the moment, but should remain on the bench, whilst Mark Salter, the ex-Frome Town player is still looking for his first Division Three start, missing out on the squad on this occasion. Graeme Jones and club physio John Stannard visited a specialist during the week, and the former Wigan Athletic marksman looks set to miss the next four to six weeks with complications over his knee injury.

However, the Bristolians are also plagued by injury. One time Shrimpers trialist Anwar Uddin played his first 90 minutes since the Memorial Ground clash back in November against the Cumbrians last week, but may not be risked. Gradon has right-back Danny Boxall extremely doubtful having pulled a leg muscle in training, whilst opposite full-back Trevor Challis is out until Easter with an ankle injury. Latvian international captain Vitalijis Astafjevs injured his foot in the Carlisle match, whilst Bradley Allen’s stomach problems has still not been sorted out after a fortnight out. Midfielder Simon Bryant has picked up the flu from the returning Richard Rose and Paul Tait, who appear to have recovered from the same illness. In short, the Pirates are down to the bare bones.

In early November, with Blues in a dreadful run of form, Tes Bramble somehow secured a 1-0 victory nine minutes from time in a fixture that failed to come to life, although the former Cambridge City front runner also hit the crossbar in the first period. The hardy souls gathered on the tiny terrace got their reward, and the home faithful will hopefully get theirs tomorrow afternoon. Certainly the form book indicates that this could be the case, with United having won four from five and Rovers just two in the same period.

SQUAD DETAILS

Right-back Mark Beard is back in contention

Southend United (full matchday squad): Darryl Flahavan, Daniel Gay, Daryl Sutch, Mark Beard, Stephen Kelly, Leon Cort, Tom Jordan, Damon Searle, Daniel Marney, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Stuart Thurgood, Steven Clark, Neil Jenkins, Steve Tilson, Barrington Belgrave, Mark Rawle, Tes Bramble.

Bristol Rovers (from): Scott Howie, Ryan Clarke, Anwar Uddin, Adam Barrett, Kevin Austin, Richard Rose, Robert Scott, Neil Arndale, Rob Quinn, Wayne Carlisle, Graham Hyde, Lewis Hogg, Andrew Shore, Mark McKeever, Paul Tait, Guiliano Grazioli, Kevin Gall, David Gilroy, Kevin Street, Sonny Parker.

OFFICIALS
Referee: David Crick (Surrey)
Assistant Referees: Mark Ives (Bedfordshire), Gary Lewis (Cambridgeshire)

Crick, of Worcester Park, has had a relatively quiet season, taking charge of just three matches thus far having missed the whole of the first half of the season. So far, those matches have yielded just five bookings. His last Shrimpers match was the dull 0-0 draw with Rochdale last season, where two yellow cards were brandished, and the time before that the 2-1 defeat at Exeter City in a campaign where he booked only 76 and sent off two men in 33 games. Crick will be familiar to Shrimpers supporters though – on Blues 2000/1 LDV Vans Trophy run he was the man who sent off two Swindon Town men as Leo Roget handed the home side a golden-goal triumph. On the whole though, the Surrey-based official is one of the more lenient on the circuit – he only dismissed one other player that season.

TEAM FORM
Last Matches:
Southend United 3 (Smith 22, 45 [pen], Rawle 41) Hull City 0 [Roots Hall, attendance 4,534]. Line-up: Darryl Flahavan; Daryl Sutch, Stephen Kelly, Damon Searle; Daniel Marney, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Steven Clark (Stuart Thurgood 89); Tes Bramble, Mark Rawle (Barrington Belgrave 68). Subs not used: Daniel Gay, Tom Jordan, Mark Salter.

Bristol Rovers 1 (Grazioli 33) Carlisle United 2 (Farrell 45, Foran 51)[Memorial Ground, attendance 7,527]. Line-up: Scott Howie; Danny Boxall, Anwar Uddin, Adam Barrett, Kevin Austin; Wayne Carlisle, Vitalijis Astafjevs (Simon Bryant 45), Graham Hyde, Kevin Street; Paul Tait (David Gilroy 45), Guiliano Grazioli. Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Lewis Hogg, Sonny Parker.

Current Form:
Southend United:
W3-0 (home; Hull City; Smith 2, Rawle)
L1-4 (away; Scunthorpe United; Smith)
W2-1 (home; Oxford United; Rawle, Bramble)
W1-0 (home; Rochdale; Bramble)
W1-0 (away; Shrewsbury Town; Smith)

Bristol Rovers:
L1-2 (home; Carlisle United; Grazioli)
D0-0 (away; Boston United)
W2-1 (home; Scunthorpe United; Astafjevs, Carlisle)
D1-1 (home; Torquay United; Carlisle)
L0-1 (away; Hull City)

Southend United Home Form:
W3-0 (Hull City; Smith 2, Rawle)
W2-1 (Oxford United; Rawle, Bramble)
W1-0 (Rochdale; Bramble)
L1-2 (Scunthorpe United; Cort)
W4-2 (Boston United; Cort 3, Rawle)

Bristol Rovers Away Form:
D0-0 (Boston United)
L0-1 (Hull City)
W1-0 (Swansea City; Tait)
L1-3 (Cambridge United; Allen)
L2-3 (Rochdale; Barrett, Tait)

THE HISTORY
Last Five Meetings:
Nov 9^th 2002 - Bristol Rovers 0 Southend United 1 (Bramble 81) - Division Three
Feb 26^th 2002 - Southend United 2 (Bramble 45[pen], 57) Bristol Rovers 1 - Division Three
Sep 18^th 2001 - Bristol Rovers 2 Southend United 1 (Johnson 29) - Division Three
Jan 15^th 2001 - Southend United 1 (Carruthers 41) Bristol Rovers 0 - LDV Vans Trophy Area Quarter-Final
Mar 26^th 1998 - Bristol Rovers 2 Southend United 0 - Division Two

The Complete Season-by-Season Record:
2002/3 – League A1-0
2001/2 – League H2-1, A1-2
2000/1 – LDV Vans Trophy H1-0
1997/8 – League H1-1, A0-2
1992/3 – League H3-0, A2-0
1991/2 – League H2-0, A1-4
1988/9 – League H2-2, A1-1
1987/8 – League H4-2, A0-0
1983/4 – League H1-2, A1-2
1982/3 – League H1-0, A2-2
1981/2 – League H1-0, A1-2
1973/4 – League H0-0, A0-4
1972/3 – League H0-0, A2-1
1965/6 – League H2-0, A1-3
1964/5 – League H6-2, A2-2
1963/4 – League H3-4, A1-3
1962/3 – League H3-2, A2-1
1952/3 – League H2-1, A1-2
1951/2 – League H2-1, A0-2, F.A. Cup H2-1
1950/1 – League H1-1, A1-4
1949/50 – League H3-1, A1-1
1948/9 – League H0-0, A0-1
1947/8 – League H1-0, A2-1
1946/7 – League H2-3, A3-1
1938/9 – League H3-2, A1-4
1937/8 – League H1-1, A1-2
1936/7 – League H2-3, H2-1
1935/6 – League H1-1, A2-3
1934/5 – League H5-1, A1-2
1933/4 – League H2-2, A1-3
1932/3 – League H2-2, A1-3
1931/2 – League H4-1, A0-0
1930/1 – League H4-0, A3-2
1929/30 – League H6-0, A2-4
1928/9 – League H1-0, A1-4
1927/8 – League H2-1, A3-1
1926/7 – League H2-1, A1-5
1925/6 – League H3-1, A0-2
1924/5 – League H2-1, A3-1
1923/4 – League H1-0, A1-3
1922/3 – League H0-0, A0-2
1921/2 – League H3-0, A0-1
1920/1 – League H1-0, A1-2
1914/5 – F.A. Cup H3-0, A0-0

Summary:
Overall:
Southend United 39
Bristol Rovers 30
Draws 18

At Roots Hall:
Southend United 28
Bristol Rovers 4
Draws 10

In League Football:
Southend United 36
Bristol Rovers 30
Draws 17

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com