Southend United vs. Colchester United – Preview

Tesfaye Bramble should replace cup-tied Lawrie Dudfield

Southend United have already sold in the region of 7,500 tickets and Colchester approaching 2,000, so a huge crowd is on the cards for tonight’s important encounter. Only a few seats in the North Bank, some in the South Lower and the ‘barrier’ section in the northwest corner seems set to be left empty this evening as Roots Hall prepares itself for the biggest game of the season…again!

After the likes of Canvey Island, Scarborough and Queens Park Rangers (the 4-0 victory that ensured that this tie would even take place), this game surpasses the lot of them. Recent fixtures in Division Three have been massive as well – defeats to Cambridge United and Kidderminster Harriers would have left the Shrimpers deep in the relegation mire, so it is not without some accolade that this game is the best of the lot.

But it is so primarily because it offers a break from the drudgery of this Third Division season. This is a match without the pressure of relegation, but with arguably a much larger factor at stake – countywide pride. Colchester’s excellent matchday programme last Tuesday proclaimed, ‘Essex Expects’, and it does exactly that again this evening. Maybe this means little to all but a few of the players – on Southend’s side Mark Warren and Kevin Maher would be the notable exceptions – and to those on the field it is the chance to take to the field at the Millennium Stadium that counts. But to those in the stands, it’s a matter of north against south, and the bragging rights until the teams next meet.

Steve Tilson proclaimed this morning on BBC Essex that his team had not focused on this clash until post-Kidderminster, and that is exactly the right approach to have. He continued to state that this was his players chance to walk out in Cardiff, perhaps for the only time in their careers. Just two players remain at Roots Hall from the last time that the Southend squad had the chance to get to the final of the Associate Members Cup (to give the LDV it’s formal name) and Darryl Flahavan and Maher again will be desperate for the win this time around after losing out 4-2 on aggregate to Brentford.

This game will not be easy, especially as the hosts carry a slender 3-2 advantage coming into the game, with away goals not counting double at any stage. That means, of course, that a 1-0 victory for the U’s at the end of silver goal extra time would send the match into a penalty shoot out. Anything including or better than a draw will be enough to see Blues prevail – their visitors require at least a two-goal margin to go through.

Once again, Tilson and Paul Brush will be unable to call upon two of their charges for this tie – loanee Lawrie Dudfield and Mark Bentley both played, and scored, for Northampton Town and Dagenham & Redbridge respectively earlier in this season’s competition. However, the other two loan signings, Lewis Hunt from Derby County, and Carl Pettefer, from Portsmouth, are eligible to play, and indeed there is likely to be a straight battle between the two for the second central midfield berth alongside captain Maher.

Out wide Tilson may one again plump for Leon Constantine. The rangy front man has now scored three goals in two games from the right wing, the first the opener against the U’s at Layer Road and then two penalties on Saturday in the 3-0 win over Kidderminster. He could stay there, although Steven Clark, Pettefer and Michael Kightly have all featured on the right at various stages of the run thus far. Mark Gower will almost certainly start on the left.

Constantine’s selection on the right would allow Tesfaye Bramble to come back into the starting line-up at the expense of the ruled-out Dudfield, alongside Drewe Broughton. The pair played well in the north of the county, and another good game for Bramble would put him in pole position to take the ex-Norwich City striker’s place when he starts a three-match suspension at Gigg Lane next Tuesday. James Corbett came through last week’s reserve match at Crystal Palace with no reaction and could take his place in the squad.

In defence, the management dup are unlikely to make any changes to the side that has started the last four, unbeaten, games so well. Darryl Flahavan continues to impress in goal, with three clean sheets in his last four outings, whilst the backline of Duncan Jupp, Leon Cort, Warren and Jamie Stuart has held relatively firm despite some mistakes. Dave McSweeney, Che Wilson and Neil Jenkins all lie in wait for their chance. Carl Emberson will sit on the bench against his old club again.

Colchester will welcome back Craig Fagan to their squad after he missed the previous two cup defeats to the Seasiders and Sheffield United, 1-0, in the fifth round of the F.A. Cup. He will be replacement for Wayne Andrews, who will serve a one-match suspension himself. The U’s have also snapped up Wayne Brown from Watford on loan to bolster their defence, and he could make his debut tonight. Scott Fitzgerald, the club captain, could be on his way out as a result.

The doors open at Roots Hall bright and early at around 5:20, and the club are advising that everyone arrives in their seats by 7:15 to avoid a delayed kick-off and any confusion over seats. And a final word from us at TLG – let’s hear that Roots Hall roar and show the U’s what it’s like to be part of a proper crowd!

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Michael Ryan (Lancashire)

Assistant Referees: Gary Lewis (Cambridgeshire) and Jarnail Singh (Middlesex)

Ryan, as the designated northern official, does not often take charge of either Blues or U’s matches, but embedded in his 23 match season to date, with 69 yellow cards and eight reds, is a fiery clash between Colchester United and Wycombe Wanderers at Adam Park. On that day in September, only Andy Myers of the U’s was booked, but he later received his second caution just minutes after a penalty had been won, and converted, by the Chairboys. In the dying stages, with the visitors leading 2-1, Roger Johnson and substitute Stuart Roberts, who had only been on the pitch three minutes were sent from the field for the hosts. This is the fifth year Ryan has been a Football League official; he is notorious for losing control and sending players off freely. Two years ago he was in charge of our 2-1 home defeat to Luton Town with little incident, similarly a 3-1 loss at Carlisle.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Saturday 14^th February 2004 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall

Southend United 3 (Leon Constantine 6 (pen), 54 (pen), Lawrie Dudfield 79) Kidderminster Harriers 0 [attendance: 3,716]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Duncan Jupp, Leon Cort, Mark Warren, Jamie Stuart; Leon Constantine (Mark Bentley 84), Kevin Maher, Carl Pettefer (Lewis Hunt 66), Mark Gower; Lawrie Dudfield, Drewe Broughton (Tesfaye Bramble 79). Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Che Wilson.

Sunday 15^th February 2004 – F.A. Cup Fifth Round @ Bramall Lane

Sheffield United 1 (Paul Peschisolido 61) Colchester United 0 [attendance: 17,074]. Colchester United line-up (4-4-2): Simon Brown; Paul Tierney (Scott McGleish 70), Alan White, Liam Chilvers, Joe Keith; Sam Stockley, Kem Izzet, Thomas Pinault, Karl Duguid; Wayne Andrews, Rowan Vine. Subs not used: Richard McKinney, Gavin Johnson, Bobby Bowry, Greg Halford.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

W3-0 (home; Kidderminster Harriers; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2 [2 pens], Lawrie Dudfield)

W3-2 (away; Colchester United; LDV Vans Trophy; Leon Constantine, Drewe Broughton, Tesfaye Bramble)

W1-0 (home; Cambridge United; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

D0-0 (home; York City; League Division Three)

L0-1 (away; Mansfield Town; League Division Three)

Colchester United

L0-1 (away; Sheffield United; F.A. Cup)

L2-3 (home; Southend United; LDV Vans Trophy; Thomas Pinault, Wayne Andrews)

L0-1 (away; Luton Town; League Division Two)

W3-1 (home; Coventry City; F.A. Cup; Rowan Vine 3)

D1-1 (home; Tranmere Rovers; League Division Two; Kem Izzet)

Southend United home form

W3-0 (League Division Three; Kidderminster Harriers, Leon Constantine 2 [2 pens], Lawrie Dudfield)

W1-0 (League Division Three; Cambridge United; Lawrie Dudfield)

D0-0 (League Division Three; York City)

W4-0 (LDV Vans Trophy; Queens Park Rangers; Leon Constantine, Steven Clark, Drewe Broughton 2)

L0-2 (League Division Three; Doncaster Rovers)

Colchester United away form

L0-1 (F.A. Cup; Sheffield United)

L0-1 (League Division Two; Luton Town)

L0-1 (League Division Two; Bristol City)

D1-1 (F.A. Cup; Coventry City; Dele Adebola)

W3-2 (LDV Vans Trophy; Northampton Town; Scott McGleish 3)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 30 [16]

Won: 9 [5]

Drawn: 5 [2]

Lost: 16 [9]

Scored: 27 [15]

Conceded: 41 [18]

Goal Difference: -14 [-3]

Points: 32 [17]

Position: 20^th [22^nd]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Canvey Island (away) 3-2 in replay after 1-1 draw at home

Second Round: beat Lincoln City (home) 3-0

Third Round: lost to Scarborough (away) 0-1 in replay after 1-1 draw at home

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Swindon Town (home) 2-3

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: beat Bristol Rovers (home) 2-1 after silver goal extra time

Second Round: beat Swansea City (away) 2-1

Southern Section Quarter-Final: beat Luton Town (home) 3-0

Southern Section Semi-Final: beat Queens Park Rangers (home) 4-0

Southern Section Final: lead Colchester United 3-2 after first leg (away), second leg vs. Colchester United (home) on Tuesday 17^th February 2004

Colchester United

Nationwide League Division Two (overall [away])

Played: 29 [15]

Won: 10 [4]

Drawn: 8 [2]

Lost: 11 [9]

Scored: 29 [12]

Conceded: 37 [24]

Goal Difference: -8 [-12]

Points: 38 [14]

Position: 15^th [13^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Oxford United (home) 1-0

Second Round: beat Aldershot Town (home) 1-0

Third Round: beat Accrington Stanley (home) 2-1 in replay after 0-0 draw away

Fourth Round: beat Coventry City (home) 3-1 in replay after 1-1 draw away

Fifth Round: lost to Sheffield United (away) 0-1

Carling Cup

First Round: beat Plymouth Argyle (home) 2-1

Second Round: lost to Rotherham United (away) 0-1

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: beat Cheltenham Town (away) 3-1

Second Round: beat Yeovil Town (away) 4-2 on penalties after 2-2 draw after silver goal extra time

Southern Section Quarter-Final: beat Wycombe Wanderers (away) 3-2 after silver goal extra time

Southern Section Semi-Final: beat Northampton Town (away) 3-2 in silver goal extra time

Southern Section Final: trail Southend United 2-3 after first leg (home), second leg vs. Southend United (away) on Tuesday 17^th February 2004

THE HISTORY

Last Meeting

For a full run-down of meetings between the two clubs, and the Shrimpers’ complete history in the Associate Members Cup, see articles on the front page.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com