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Added to all of that, the Southend United supporters’ Player of the Year award will be presented on the Roots Hall pitch just before the start of the game, and following Leon Cort’s success in the Players’ Player of the Year presentation on Wednesday evening, the tall defender is expected to ‘do the double’. And, at the end of the ninety minutes, the team will do a lap of honour to reward the long-suffering fans after another mediocre season.
Manager Steve Wignall has taken the squad for training for the first time during the past week, and Cort is one of the players who is sure to be offered a new deal for next season. The other twenty players who find themselves without a contract will be attempting to make a lasting impression on the new gaffer with many expected to be released at the end of next week. And, after lacklustre displays at Boston United and against Barnet in the Avon Insurance Combination League, Wignall will now have a much better idea of who will remain at the Hall next year.
Two of the players who returned from injury for that clash with the Bees are struggling again to be fit in time for tomorrow’s clash. Barrington Belgrave will almost certainly miss out after a recurrence of his ankle problem, causing the ex-Yeovil man to be withdrawn at half-time. Tesfaye Bramble, who came through the whole ninety minutes on both the right flank and up front, has also suffered a reaction to his groin strain, and may not be included, although Wignall is hopeful that the one-time Cambridge City striker will figure for an hour.
Away from the injury front, the front line should continue to be Mark Rawle and Mark Salter, who have combined well in the past two matches, the former netting a brace in the 3-0 triumph over Torquay last time out in south-east Essex seven days ago. Wignall should continue with the 4-4-2 formation as the 4-5-1 experiment failed, although changes in personnel elsewhere on the pitch may be forthcoming.
In midfield, Steven Clark was disappointing on the left wing in midweek, and looks to be lacking the confidence that he found at the turn of the year. His absence means that Neil Jenkins should continue to fill the left-midfield role, with young Brett Darby on the opposite side. Darby has come in for some criticism after a few lightweight displays, and will be anxious to prove to the management that he can remain at the club. In the centre, Stuart Thurgood may replace Gavin Strachan alongside captain Kevin Maher, with Jay Smith continuing to miss out.
Further back, Stephen Broad came through the reserve match on Wednesday, and returns to the first-team squad. He offers another option to Wignall for partnering Cort after Dave McSweeney’s poor back pass allowed David Town to nip in and win the decisive penalty in the Easter Monday game at York Street. Mark Beard may remain at right-back with Ronnie Henry and Daryl Sutch also involved in the squad. Damon Searle will perform at left-back and Darryl Flahavan is expected to keep his place in goal ahead of Danny Gay. Phil Whelan is still injured and Tom Jordan sees out the last match of a three-game ban.
Bury have injury problems ahead of the game. Both in-form strikers David Nugent and Ian Lawson are unavailable for selection, heralding player-manager Andy Preece to name himself in the travelling squad. Chris Porter, Michael Clegg and teenager Simon Whaley are also viable replacements. However, skipper Michael Nelson has made speedy recovery from a knee complaint and is desperate to lead his side. Blues won 3-1 in October, and of course Southend fans have happy memories of Gigg Lane in 1991 when Ian Benjamin sealed promotion to the old Second Division for the first time in the club’s history. Let’s hope for some more happy memories tomorrow afternoon.
TEAM DETAILS
The Little Gazette predicted Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard, Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle; Brett Darby, Stuart Thurgood, Kevin Maher, Neil Jenkins; Mark Salter, Mark Rawle.
Full Southend United matchday squad: Darryl Flahavan, Danny Gay, Mark Beard, Ronnie Henry, Daryl Sutch, Stephen Broad, Dave McSweeney, Leon Cort, Damon Searle, Brett Darby, Steven Clark, Gavin Strachan, Kevin Maher, Stuart Thurgood, Neil Jenkins, Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Rawle, Mark Salter.
Bury (probable squad): Glyn Garner, Michael Nelson, Steve Redmond, Colin Woodthorpe, Lee Connell, Lee Unsworth, Chris Billy, Michael Clegg, Jamie Stuart, Martyn Forrest, Terry Dunfield, Paul O’Shaughnessy Andy Precce, Chris Porter, Simon Whaley, Colin Cramb, Jon Newby.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Paul Taylor (Cheshunt)
Assistant Referees: Darren Deadman (Hertfordshire), Ray Lee (Essex)
Taylor is notorious in the Football League for his harsh brandishing of yellow cards, regularly showing more than five in his games. This season he has also shown thirteen red cards in just 34 matches, also flourishing a massive 143 cautions, thankfully not including any Southend matches. Last year, on his way to 131 yellows and eleven reds in 36 games, Taylor showed four as Blues went down 1-0 at home to Plymouth. The Hertfordshire-born official was on the Premier League panel three seasons ago, but before that he witnessed Blues go down 1-0 to Cambridge in 1998/9, as well as a 1-0 win over Fulham with seven bookings and the 4-4 draw with York as well the season before.
TEAM FORM
Last Matches
Monday 21st April 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three
Boston United 1 (Angel 85 [pen]) Southend United 0 [attendance: 3,247]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard, Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle; Brett Darby (Steven Clark 87), Gavin Strachan, Kevin Maher, Neil Jenkins; Mark Salter (Barrington Belgrave 87), Mark Rawle. Subs not used: Danny Gay, Stuart Thurgood, Ronnie Henry.
Monday 21st April 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three
Bury 0 Scunthorpe United 0 [attendance: 3,898]. Bury line-up (4-4-2): Glyn Garner; Michael Nelson, Steve Redmond, Colin Woodthorpe, Lee Connell; Chris Billy, George Clegg, Jamie Stuart, Dave Nugent (Martyn Forrest 30); Colin Cramb (Andy Preece 68), Jon Newby. Subs not used: Lee Unsworth, Paul O’Shaughnessy, Terry Dunfield.
Last Five Matches
Southend United
L0-1 (away; Boston United)
W3-0 (home; Torquay United; Rawle 2, Jenkins)
L0-1 (away; AFC Bournemouth)
W2-0 (home; Darlington; Maher, Jenkins)
L0-2 (away; York City)
Bury
D0-0 (home; Scunthorpe United)
W2-1 (away; Rochdale; Nelson, Cramb [pen])
D1-1 (home; Carlisle United; Nugent)
W2-1 (away; Exeter City; Billy, Newby)
L1-3 (away; Darlington; Connell)
Southend United home form
W3-0 (Torquay United; Rawle 2, Jenkins)
W2-0 (Darlington (Maher, Jenkins)
W1-0 (Leyton Orient; Salter)
L0-2 (Swansea City)
L0-1 (Lincoln City)
Bury away form
W2-1 (Rochdale; Nelson, Cramb [pen])
W2-1 (Exeter City; Nugent)
L1-3 (Darlington; Connell)
D0-0 (Macclesfield Town)
D0-0 (Hartlepool United)
2002/3 SEASON
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Nationwide League Division Three
Played: 44 [22]
Won: 17 [12]
Drawn: 3 [1]
Lost: 24 [9]
Scored: 46 [28]
Conceded: 56 [21]
Goal Difference –10 [+7]
Points: 54 [37]
Position: 14th [10th]
F.A. Cup
Second Round: L2-3 (away; AFC Bournemouth [replay])
Worthington Cup
First Round: L1-4 (home; Wimbledon)
LDV Vans Trophy
First Round: L1-6 (away; Swindon Town)
Bury (overall [away])
Nationwide League Division Three
Played: 44 [22]
Won: 17 [9]
Drawn: 16 [8]
Lost: 11 [5]
Scored: 55 [30]
Conceded: 52 [29]
Goal Difference: +3 [+1]
Points: 67 [35]
Position: 5th [2nd]
F.A. Cup
First Round: L0-3 (home; Plymouth Argyle)
Worthington Cup
Third Round: L1-3 (away; Fulham)
LDV Vans Trophy
Northern Section Semi Final: L2-3 (away; Carlisle United)
THE HISTORY
Last Meeting
Saturday 5th October 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three
Bury 1 (Nelson 3) Southend United 3 (Jones 67, Jenkins 79, Bramble 84) [attendance: 3,301].
Bury line-up (4-4-2): Glyn Garner; Matthew Barrass (Gareth Seddon 77), Danny Swailes (Jamie Stuart 45), Michael Nelson, Lee Unsworth; Chris Billy (Liam George 85), Martyn Forrest, Terry Dunfield, Colin Woodthorpe; Pawel Abbott, Jon Newby. Subs not used: Andy Preece, Paul O’Shaughnessy.
Southend United line-up (3-5-2): Darryl Flahavan; Stephen Broad, Leon Cort, Phil Whelan; Mark Beard, Kevin Maher, Ian Selley, Jay Smith (Stuart Thurgood 88), Neil Jenkins (Damon Searle 89); Tesfaye Bramble, Graeme Jones (Barrington Belgrave 87). Subs not used: Danny Gay, Steven Clark.
Last Five Meetings
5th October 2003 – Bury 1 (Nelson 3) Southend United 3 (Jones 67, Jenkins 79, Bramble 84) – Division Three
4th May 1991 – Bury 0 Southend United 1 (Benjamin) – Division Three (old)
27th October 1990 – Southend United 2 (Angell, Tilson) Bury 1 – Division Three (old)
28th February 1989 – Southend United 1 (Crown) Bury 1 – Division Three (old)
25th October 1988 – Bury 3 Southend United 1 (Crown [pen]) – Division Three (old)
The Complete Head-to-Head Record
2002/3 – A3-1 (League)
1990/1 – H2-1 A1-0 (League)
1988/9 – H1-1 A1-3 (League)
1987/8 – H1-0 A2-2 (League)
1984/5 – H3-3 A0-2 (League)
1980/1 – H1-0 A2-1 (League)
1979/80 – H0-0 A1-1 (League)
1978/9 – H0-0 A3-3 (League)
1975/6 – H2-0 A0-1 (League)
1974/5 – H1-0 A1-0 (League)
1971/2 – H0-0 A0-2 (League)
1960/1 – H0-3 A0-2 (League)
1959/60 – H0-4 A0-3 (League)
1958/9 – H1-0 A3-2 (League)
Summary
Overall (all League meetings)
Southend United 11
Bury 8
Draws 8
At Roots Hall
Southend United 7
Bury 2
Draws 4
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com