Southend United vs. Leyton Orient – Preview

Kevin Maher will skipper Blues against a side that have often chased his signature

Last time out, in March, Southend triumphed by a single fifth-minute Mark Salter goal to nil in southeast Essex, but the game will be remembered as being Rob Newman’s last in charge of the club. His fate had been sealed already by Ron Martin et al, and the match was his swansong. And there has been yet more managerial activity either side of the A13 since – Steve Wignall was appointed Blues boss in April, and Paul Brush was sacked by Barry Hearn just three weeks ago. Ex-Southend favourite Martin Ling is in caretake charge for the moment, but the indecision around Brisbane Road has started to affect him.

After triumphing in his opening two matches – 1-0 against fellow strugglers Carlisle United at Brunton Park and then 2-0 against another poor side in 21^st-placed Macclesfield Town, the O’s have slumped to defeats to promotion-chasing Swansea City at home and then in humiliating fashion to Nationwide Conference Dagenham & Redbridge 4-1 in the LDV Vans Trophy first round in midweek. Ling’s public applications for the job occurred in the middle, and he will be desperate for a result against his old club to try and lay his hands on the position once again.

Ling is not the only connection between the two sides. For the home team, Mark Warren started his career in East London with Leon Constantine a goalscorer for the O’s two years ago in the derby clash, and captain Kevin Maher seems to be linked with a move to London each and every season. For the visitors, Matty Lockwood started his career as a youngster at Roots Hall before moving on to serve his apprenticeship at Queens Park Rangers. He was born just down the road in Rochford, and fellow O’s Lee Harrison and Wayne Purser were born in ‘Southend territory’ of Billericay and Basildon respectively.

However, the Third Division is unlikely to see anyone exchanging pleasantries tomorrow afternoon. Both sides will be eager to get their faltering campaigns moving, with United appearing more likely to do so after losing just one of their last six matches. That was a last-minute defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Town at Roots Hall, but since then a first away win in sixteen matches at Kidderminster Harriers’ Aggborough Stadium and a 2-1 extra-time triumph over Bristol Rovers in the LDV Vans Trophy at the Hall suggest that this season is starting to come together.

As the Shrimpers look to consolidate on that form, they may be able to welcome back three more players from injury. In defence, Leon Cort and Warren both missed out against the Pirates on Tuesday night, and the former is likely to come back into the fray after returning to training. Warren is still doubtful, and may have to wait until the Boston game next week until he is ready. Duncan Jupp continues to play through the pain barrier, but Wignall must also choose whether to pick Jamie Stuart or Dave McSweeney alongside Cort, and if the latter, whether former England Under-21 star Stuart should win back the left-back berth in place of Neil Jenkins.

Che Wilson is likely to miss out on a place on the bench as he awaits his comeback from injury, but without a reserve match until the 4^th November unless tomorrow’s Essex Senior Cup draw throws up a fixture before then, the ex-Norwich City utility man could remain out of action for some time. Right-back Stuart Williams will travel with the Under-19 squad to Portsmouth for the Youth Alliance encounter there. Darryl Flahavan will play between the sticks before signing a new contract next week, with Ryan Robinson still ahead of Carl Emberson in the fitness stakes.

Energetic midfielder Jay Smith should return to the fray after he missed the midweek clash after aggravating a previous knock in the win over Kidderminster. He has also been spotted in training, and should he play from the start, will replace youngster Michael Kightly, who is almost certain to be placed on the bench after impressing the entire 1,700-odd crowd three days ago. With Leke Odunsi still unavialable, captain Kevin Maher and the tenacious Jamie Fullarton will continue in the centre of the park.

With the manager likely to keep faith in the 4-3-2-1 formation that he has used in recent weeks at home, he must choose who will fill the wide positions and the lone striking role. Tesfaye Bramble was dangerous all night against the Bristolian outfit, and should maintain his place up front, and although Mark Gower was in the middle in the same match, he should revert to the wide left role, with forward Leon Constantien staying on the right. Both Michael Husbands and Drewe Broughton will be named on the bench.

For the opposition, Greg Heald and Donny Barnard will definitely miss out with long-term injuries, whilst the likes of Justin Miller, Ciaran Toner and Matt Joseph are all struggling to overcome slight knock. O’s boss Ling has managed, however, to obtain two loan signings leading up to the fixture. Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Dean Hammond and Portsmouth defender Sean Cooper are the men that Ling has placed his faith in as they join on month-long deals.

Essex Police have informed supporters through a statement that all public houses in the vicinity of Roots Hall will be closed between four o’clock and six o’clock in the afternoon after disturbing scenes last season, and it is believed that many will be shut between three o’clock and seven in the evening. As a result, why not pop down to the Shrimpers Bar and the excellently-run Shrimpers Trust stall before and after the match and support your local club.

The club’s Under-17 side is also in action tomorrow morning as they face Brentford in what could be a pre-cursor to a possible F.A. Youth Cup second round meeting between the two Under-18 sides next month. The match may well kick off at 10:45 although no official time has been arranged, and The Little Gazette will be covering the game in its entirity. If you’re at a loose end, why not pop down as well and see the stars of the future?

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)

Assistant Referees: Glenn Hambling (Norfolk), Patrick Miller (Bedfordshire)

Referee Taylor has been on the selct list for a number of years now, and this will be just his second Third Division match after sending off Adam Barrett in Bristol Rovers’ 0-0 Memorial Ground drawm with Rochdale earlier this season. He has a slight reputation for showing reds – four other players have been dismissed this year in just eight matches, with thirty cautions also dished out. Contrary to that, his last Southend fixture was the 2-1 defeat to Bury; the last home game of last year, when only Mark Beard was shown a yellow card. Due to his high reputation, prior to that April rencounter he had not taken charge of a Blues’ match since April 1999, when Dave Morley and Leo Roget fell foul of his code and were booked in a 4-1 Roots Hall reverse against Brentford. That year he also officiated a 1-0 home defeat to Cambridge United, so the last time the Cheshunt-born ref controlled a Shrimpers win was September 1997, a Division Two 1-0 win over now-Premiership Fulham.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Tuesday 14^th October 2003 – LDV Vans Trophy first round @ Roots Hall

Southend United 2 (Leon Constantine 39, Mark Gower 110) Bristol Rovers 1 (Lewis Haldane 36) [attendance: 1,714]. Southend United line-up (4-3-2-1): Darryl Flahavan; Duncan Jupp, Dave McSweeney, Jamie Stuart, Neil Jenkins; Mark Gower, Kevin Maher, Jamie Fullarton; Leon Constantine, Michael Kightly (Michael Husbands 119); Tesfaye Bramble (Drewe Broughton 100). Subs not used: Ryan Robinson, Che Wilson, Anthony Clark.

Wednesday 15^th October 2003 – LDV Vans Trophy first round @ Victoria Road

Dagenham & Redbridge 4 (Mark Bentley 49, 69, Tony Scully 56, Leon Braithwaite 66) Leyton Orient 1 (Matt Lockwood 76 [pen]) [attendance: 1,857]. Leyton Orient line-up (4-4-2): Lee Harrison; David Hunt, Dave mcGhee, Mark Peters, Matt Lockwood; Wayne Purser, Marcus Ebdon, Alan McCormack (Billy Jones 61), Boniek Forbes (Lee Thorpe 68); Chris Tate (Gary Alexander 61), Jabo Ibehre. Subs not ued: Glenn Morris, Brian Saah.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

W2-1 (home; Bristol Rovers; LDV Vans Trophy; Leon Constantine, Mark Gower)

W2-1 (away; Kidderminster Harriers; League Division Three; Mark Warren, Tesfaye Bramble)

L2-1 (home; Huddersfield Town; League Division Three; Leke Odunsi)

D0-0 (away; Darlington; League Division Three)

D1-1 (away; Scunthorpe United; League Division Three; Leon Constantine)

Leyton Orient

L1-4 (away; Dagenham & Redbridge; LDV Vans Trophy; Matt Lockwood [pen])

L1-2 (home; Swansea City; League Division Three; Chris Tate)

W2-0 (home; Macclesfield Town; League Division Three; Dave McGhee, Gary Alexander)

W1-0 (away; Carlisle United; League Division Three; Jabo Ibehre)

L0-3 (away; Huddersfield Town; League Division Three)

Southend United home form

W2-1 (LDV Vans Trophy; Bristol Rovers; Leon Constantine, Mark Gower)

L1-2 (League Division Three; Huddersfield Town; Leke Odunsi)

D2-2 (League Division Three; Carlisle United; Dave McSweeney, Leon Constantine)

L0-2 (League Division Three; Lincoln City)

W1-0 (League Division Three; Bury; Leon Constantine)

Leyton Orient away form

L1-4 (LDV Vans Trophy; Dagenham & Redbridge; Matt Lockwood [pen])

W1-0 (League Division Three; Carlisle United; Jabo Ibehre)

L0-3 (League Division Three; Huddersfield Town)

D0-0 (League Division Three; Lincoln City)

L1-2 (League Division Three; Torquay United; Tom Newey)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 13[6]

Won: 3 [2]

Drawn: 3 [1]

Lost: 7 [3]

Scored: 11 [6]

Conceded: 20 [9]

Goal Difference: -9 [-3]

Points: 12 [7]

Position: 22^nd [21^st]

F.A. Cup

First Round: draw to be made on Saturday 25^th October 2003

Carling Cup

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

LDV Vans Trophy

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

Second Round: draw to be made on Saturday 18^th October 2003

Leyton Orient

Nationwide League Divison Three (overall [away])

Played: 13 [6]

Won: 3 [1]

Drawn: 4 [2]

Lost: 6 [3]

Scored: 13 [4]

Conceded: 19 [11]

Goal Difference: -6 [-7]

Points: 13 [5]

Position: 19^th [16^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: draw to be made on Saturday 25^th October 2003

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Cardiff City (away) 1-4

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: lost to Dagenham & Redbridge (away) 1-4

THE HISTORY

Last Match

Last Five Meetings

22^nd March 2002 – Southend United 1 (Mark Salter 5) Leyton Orient 0 – Third Division

29th October 2002 – Leyton Orient 2 (Ezomo Iriekpen 2, Phil Whelan [o.g.] 45) Southend United 1 (Barrington Belgrave 73) – Third Division

12th March 2002 – Leyton Orient 2 (Kevin Nugent 12, Iyseden Christie 31) Southend United 1 (Brian Barry-Murphy 63) – Third Division

1st September 2001 – Southend United 1 (Phil Whelan 48) Leyton Orient 2 (Leon Constantine 2, Dean Smith 79) – Third Division

20th January 2001 – Leyton Orient 0 Southend United 2 (Ben Abbey 60, 64) – Third Division

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

2002/3 – H1-0 A1-2 (League)

2001/2 – H1-2 A1-2 (League)

2000/1 – H0-1 A2-0 (League)

1999/2000 – H1-1 A1-2 (League)

1998/9 – H2-2 A3-0 (League)

1990/1 – H1-1 A1-0 (League), A2-3 (F.A. Cup)

1986/7 – H2-1 A0-1 (League)

1985/6 – H5-1 A0-3 (League)

1984/5 – H0-0 A1-2 (League Cup)

1983/4 – H3-0 A0-1 (League)

1982/3 – H1-1 A1-1 (League)

1955/6 – H0-0 A0-3 (League)

1954/5 – H1-2 A1-5 (League)

1953/4 – H2-1 A1-1 (League)

1952/3 – H1-0 A0-3 (League)

1951/2 – H1-0 A4-1 (League)

1950/1 – H0-1 A1-1 (League)

1949/50 – H2-0 A2-2 (League), A2-0 (F.A. Cup)

1948/9 – H2-2 A0-2 (League)

1947/8 – H2-1 A0-2 (League)

1946/7 – H0-0 A1-1 (League)

1938/9 – H1-0 A0-5 (League)

1937/8 – H1-1 A1-2 (League)

1936/7 – H0-0 A0-3 (League)

1935/6 – H2-1 A0-3 (League)

1934/5 – H0-2 A0-3 (League)

1933/4 – H2-1 A2-5 (League)

1932/3 – H3-3 A0-0 (League)

1931/2 – H1-3 A4-2 (League)

1930/1 – H2-0 A1-3 (League)

1929/30 – H4-1 A1-1 (League)

Summary

Overall (64 matches)

Southend United 20

Leyton Orient 26

Draws 18

In The League (60 matches)

Southend United 19

Leyton Orient 24

Draws 17

At Southend United (30 matches)

Southend United 13

Leyton Orient 7

Draws 10

Robert Craven

www.thelittlegazette.com