Caretaker gaffer Robson, new boss Wignall and board members Geoffrey King and Ron Martin all agreed that it should be the former Wimbledon coach who takes charge of the team having trained with them throughout the past week and selected the team already. In his time in control, Robson has lost at York City and AFC Bournemouth, but also gained a vital three points in his only Roots Hall game against Darlington. With the Shrimpers now virtually assured of beating the drop, Wignall will have the final three matches of the current campaign and the new head coach’s dossier to select who he wishes to remain at the club into 2003/4.
However, as the pair decide who is for the chop, some players are finding it increasingly difficult to beat the end of season injury-wise. Jay Smith is assured of being contracted to the club into next year, but misses out for the rest of this year with his groin strain. Rob Newman had already told Phil Whelan that he could look elsewhere – any chance of overturning that decision rescinded when the former England Under-21 star’s knee continued to trouble him. Fellow defender Stephen Broad has barely performed in front of Robson, but his hamstring means that he misses out again, although the one-time Chelsea reserves captain should return against Barnet for the second-string on Wednesday. Tom Jordan, who made his League debut at Dean Court seven days ago, is serving a three-match suspension until May 3rd.
More players are also in danger of missing out. Tesfaye Bramble has not appeared in first-team action since his one-year driving ban was awarded at Suffolk Crown Court on April 1st and he looks certain to miss out again with a niggling groin problem that has seen him play just one reserve clash under Robson. Barrington Belgrave was handed an opportunity by the former West Ham United and Arsenal player at Bootham Crescent, but having walked away from Steve Tilson’s testimonial with an ankle knock sustained when Ray Wilkins tackled him, the ex-Yeovil Town marksman has failed to show himself. Daryl Sutch too, a player brought in by previous manager Rob Newman as an old team-mate, has failed to overcome an illness over the past ten days, and looks set to be consigned to bed again.
This leaves the management with very limited options for the clash with Torquay, and made the reserve team on Wednesday play with only Steven Clark as an experienced talent. Clark and Brett Darby played on either flank in that match, and both are options for Robson as he looks to revert to the 4-4-2 formation once again. Neil Jenkins has also been employed in central midfield and on the right flank in the past fortnight – he should return to the left wing for the Roots Hall encounter.
In the centre of the park, captain Kevin Maher will continue to hold down a first-team spot despite a series of inconsistent displays, and alongside him should be ex-Scotland Under-21 international Gavin Strachan, who has shown some nice touches in his time at the club since signing on transfer deadline day. Stuart Thurgood, who was commanding in the reserves 4-0 drubbing of Gillingham on Monday afternoon, and Michael Kightly, who played on the left-hand side of midfield in that game, are the other midfielders available for selection.
Up front, there are few choices to be made. Mark Rawle has been playing through a number of injuries throughout the season, but will continue to perform at less than 100% in order to do a job for the team. He is unlikely to be handed a lone striker’s role again though after struggling at the Fitness First Stadium, and non-League hotshot Mark Salter should be alongside him. Darby could play up front but is considered a little lightweight.
Another player to appear lightweight in the single-goal defeat to Bournemouth
was Ronnie Henry, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee. However, without Sutch’s experience, only Mark Beard is a rival for the youngster, and Beard himself has been battling to overcome various knocks over the past week. On the opposite side, Damon Searle should improve upon last Saturday’s showing whilst Leon Cort will make his 100th Blues appearance in the centre, probably alongside Dave McSweeney. Darryl Flahavan and Danny Gay contest the goalkeeper’s jersey, with the Southampton-born shotstopper the clear favourite.
Torquay United boss Leroy Rosenior has his own problems, despite the Plainmoor outfit being unbeaten in nine. Left-sided midfielder Simon Clist is suffering from broken ribs and has returned to Bristol City to receive treatment before the possibility of the play-offs. Defenders Steve Woods and Sean Hankin also miss out, along with Paul Holmes with knee, ankle and hamstring knocks respectively. As a result, the ex-West Ham United and Bristol City player may name David Graham in the starting line-up again, with fellow strikers Martin Gritton and Jo Kuffour also firing on all cylinders. Youth-team scholars Graham Killoughery, Lucas Burgess and Ben Camara have also been included in the squad.
TEAM DETAILS
The Little Gazette’s predicted Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard, Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle; Brett Darby, Kevin Maher, Gavin Strachan, Neil Jenkins; Mark Salter, Mark Rawle.
Full Southend United matchday squad: Darryl Flahavan, Danny Gay, Mark Beard, Ronnie Henry, Dave McSweeney, Leon Cort, Damon Searle, Brett Darby, Steven Clark, Gavin Strachan, Kevin Maher, Stuart Thurgood, Michael Kightly, Neil Jenkins, Mark Rawle, Mark Salter.
Torquay United squad: Arjun van Heusden, Kevin Dearden, David Woozley, Rueben Hazell, Lee Canoville, Kevin Hill, Jimmy Benefield, Matt Hockley, Jason Fowler, Alex Russell, Graham Killoughery, Kevin Wills, Lucas Burgess, Tony Bedeau, Ben Camara, Jo Kuffour, David Graham, Martin Gritton.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Alan Butler (Sutton-in-Ashfield)
Assistant Referees: Gary Evetts (Hertfordshire), Irvine Woodward (East Sussex)
Butler last officiated a match last Saturday, when he infuriated travelling Scunthorpe United fans when Peter Beagrie’s cross was clearly handled in the box by Swansea City’s Michael Howard and the referee waved away the Iron player’s appeals. He has not taken charge of a Shrimpers match this year, a season where he has brandished 84 yellow and five red cards in 28 games. Butler is reasonable well-respected in the Nationwide League, and this is reflected by the number of First and Second Division game s that he has controlled. Being based in Nottinghamshire also restricts his appearances in the south of the country, and it was the 4th October 1997 when he last refereed a Southend game – a non-eventful 0-0 draw with Northampton Town at Roots Hall where Phil Gridlet and Andy Rammell were cautioned for Blues. He rarely flashes the red card, although he is not averse to handing out yellows.
TEAM FORM
Last Matches
Saturday 12th April 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three
AFC Bournemouth 1 (Purches 9) Southend United 0 [attendance: 6,767]. Southend United line-up (4-5-1): Darryl Flahavan; Ronnie Henry (Mark Beard 60), Leon Cort, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle; Brett Darby (Mark Salter 46), Gavin Strachan, Kevin Maher, Neil Jenkins, Steven Clark (Tom Jordan 82); Mark Rawle. Subs not used: Danny Gay, Stuart Thurgood.
Saturday 12th April 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three
Torquay United 2 (Kuffour 4, Gritton 61) Macclesfield Town 2 (Miles 10, Lightbourne 26) [attendance: 2,970]. Torquay United line-up (4-4-2): Arjun van Heusden; Lee Canoville, Rueben Hazell, David Woozley, Kevin Hill; Tony Bedeau, Alex Russell, Matt Hockley (David Graham 51), Simon Clist (Kevin Wills 83); Jo Kuffour, David Gritton. Subs not used: Kevin Dearden, Lucas Burgess, Graham Killoughery.
Last Five Matches
Southend United
L0-1 (away; AFC Bournemouth)
W2-0 (home; Darlington; Maher, Jenkins)
L0-2 (away; York City)
W1-0 (home; Leyton Orient; Salter)
L0-2 (home; Swansea City)
Torquay United
D2-2 (home; Macclesfield Town; Kuffour, Gritton)
W2-0 (away; Rochdale; Griffiths [o.g.], Clist)
D1-1 (home; Boston United; Russell)
W3-2 (away; Shrewsbury Town; Gritton, Russell, Woozley)
D1-1 (away; AFC Bournemouth; Bedeau)
Southend United home form
W2-0 (Darlington; Maher, Jenkins)
W1-0 (Leyton Orient; Salter)
L0-2 (Swansea City)
L0-1 (Lincoln City)
W2-1 (Rushden & Diamonds; Rawle, Searle)
Torquay United away form
W2-0 (Rochdale; Griffiths [o.g.], Clist)
W3-2 (Shrewsbury Town; Gritton, Russell, Woozley)
D1-1 (AFC Bournemouth; Bedeau)
D1-1 (Hull City; Hill)
W1-0 (Cambridge United; Kuffour)
2002/3 SEASON
Southend United (overall [home])
Nationwide League Division Three
Played: 42 [21]
Won: 16 [11]
Drawn: 3 [1]
Lost: 23 [9]
Scored: 43 [25]
Conceded: 55 [21]
Goal Difference: -12 [+4]
Points: 51 [34]
Position: 14th [13th]
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)
Torquay United (overall [away])
Nationwide League Division Three
Played: 42 [21]
Won: 16 [7]
Drawn: 16 [6]
Lost: 10 [8]
Scored: 66 [29]
Conceded: 62 [36]
Goal Difference: +4 [-7]
Points: 64 [27]
Position: 8th [10th]
F.A. Cup
Second Round: L1-3 (Blackpool; away)
Worthington Cup
First Round: L0-1 (Gillingham; home)
LDV Vans Trophy
First Round: L0-4 (Wycombe Wanderers; home)
THE HISTORY
Last Meeting
Saturday 21st December 2002 – Nationwide League Division Three
Torquay United 3 (Kuffour 21, Dunning 65, Bedeau 78) Southend United 1 (Bramble 60) [attendance: 2,244].
Torquay United line-up (5-3-2): Arjun van Heusden (Kevin Dearden 45); Lee Canoville, Sean Hankin, David Woozley, Rueben Hazell, Kevin Hill; Jason Fowler, Matt Hockley, Tony Bedeau; Martin Gritton (Darren Dunning 5), Jo Kuffour (Steve Woods 76). Subs not used: Dean Stevens, Kevin Wills.
Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Mark Beard (Jay Smith 24), Dave McSweeney (Mark Salter 68), Leon Cort, Damon Searle; Tony Scully (Daniel Marney 76), Stuart Thurgood, Kevin Maher, Mark Rawle; Tesfaye Bramble, Graeme Jones. Subs not used: Danny Gay, Steve Tilson.
Last Five Meetings
21st December 2002 – Torquay United 3 (Kuffour 21, Dunning 65, Bedeau 78) Southend United 1 (Bramble 60) – Third Division
26th January 2002 – Southend United 1 (Whelan 49) Torquay United 1 (Eifion Williams 81) – Third Division
5th October 2001 – Torquay United 2 (Richardson 51, Graham 62) Southend United 1 (Hutchings 55) – Third Division
30th December 2000 – Southend United 1 (Roget 4) Torquay United 1 (Eifion Williams 60) – Third Division
28th November 2000 – Southend United 2 (Williamson 58, Roget 98) Torquay United 1 (Chalqi 79) – F.A. Cup First Round replay
The Complete Head-to-Head Record
2002/3 – A1-3 (League)
2001/2 – H1-1 A1-2 (League)
2000/1 – H1-1 A1-1 (League), H2-1 A1-1 (F.A. Cup)
1999/2000 – H0-1 A0-2 (League) A1-0 (F.A. Cup)
1998/9 – H0-0 A0-2 (League)
1989/90 – H1-0 A0-3 (League)
1986/7 – H4-0 A1-2 (League)
1985/6 – H1-2 A2-2 (League)
1984/5 – H1-0 A2-2 (League)
1980/1 – H3-1 A3-0 (League)
1977/8 – H4-0 A1-0 (League), A2-1 (F.A. Cup)
1976/7 – H0-0 A0-3 (League)
1961/2 – H2-1 A2-2 (League)
1960/1 – H3-2 A1-2 (League)
1957/8 – H0-0 A2-2 (League), H2-1 A1-1 (F.A. Cup)
1956/7 – H2-0 A3-3 (League)
1955/6 – H2-3 A2-2 (League)
1954/5 – H1-2 A1-4 (League)
1953/4 – H1-0 A1-1 (League)
1952/3 – H3-1 A2-4 (League)
1951/2 – H2-2 A3-1 (League)
1950/1 – H3-0 A2-2 (League)
1949/50 – H2-0 A4-2 (League)
1948/9 – H1-1 A3-0 (League)
1947/8 – H1-0 A1-4 (League)
1946/7 – H0-2 A1-0 (League)
1938/9 – H1-1 A0-2 (League)
1937/8 – H5-1 A3-3 (League)
1936/7 – H0-0 A4-1 (League)
1935/6 – H2-0 A1-1 (League)
1934/5 – H2-3 A0-2 (League)
1933/4 – H3-1 A0-3 (League)
1932/3 – H2-1 A1-8 (League)
1931/2 – H4-2 A1-2 (League) A3-1 (F.A. Cup)
1930/1 – H6-3 A1-3 (League) A0-1 (F.A. Cup)
1929/30 – H1-1 A1-1 (League)
1928/9 – H3-0 A1-2 (League)
1927/8 – H1-0 A3-3 (League)
Summary
Overall
Southend United 33
Torquay United 25
Draws 25
In the League
Southend United 29
Torquay United 23
Draws 23
At Southend United
Southend United 23
Torquay United 6
Draws 10
Robert Craven