Southend United vs. Lincoln City – Preview

Cup competitions will have come as a great relief to caretaker bosses Steve Tilson and Paul Brush as they seek to guide the team away from the 22^nd position that they currently occupy in the Division Three table. Far from being a distraction, so far this term the Shrimpers have saved their best for the F.A. Cup, Carling Cup and LDV Vans Trophy, from a narrow 3-2 defeat to Swindon Town to a similar scoreline, this time the right way around, on Canvey Island in this competition.

As Southend have managed only five wins all season in the Nationwide League, it is interesting, if a little worrying, to note that if the Essex Senior Cup triumph over Ford United is included, a victory tomorrow would mean that Blues will have won the same amount in Cup compeitions. Quite aside from the prestige gained for reaching the third round and the stage where all the big boys enter the competition, the monetary aspect would also be most rewarding for ther club, especially if recent reports from Oxford United suggesting that they have reported Southend to the Football League are to be believed.

Nothing will quite top the sheer elation experienced by the 630 or so Shrimpers supporters at the Sea Wall end of Park Lane (a last minute winner at Old Trafford in round three aside perhaps!), but a win over the high-flying Red Imps would certainly be a huge boost to the managerless club, who have stuttered from public relations disaster to public relations disaster in recent weeks. The image of the club has gone substantially downhill in the past month since sacking Steve Wignall, and the only way to turn that around is to start acting properly and get matters on (and off) the field sorted.

With the LDV Vans Trophy southern section quarter-final against Luton Town to be staged at the Mecca of Essex football three days after tomorrow’s fixture, the next four days could go a long way to deciding whether or not the Tilson/Brush combination are the men to lead Blues into 2004. Two wins and a lucrative cup tie could just yet see the pair team up for the rest of the season, and although this is not the hustle and bustle of the League campaign, a record of four wins from five in all competitions would be a tough one to overlook on the part of Ron Martin and his directors.

However, what may just be distatrous would be a draw and subsequent replay. Not because it would mean fixture congestion, or because it would mean going up to Sincil Bank on a cold Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon, but because of the amount of injuries that the Shrimpers currently possess. A potential nine players could miss out tomorrow, and if that is the case then the Under-19 squad will simply have to be raided.

At least goalkeeping in one position where United do not have to worry. Darryl Flahavan seems likely to retain his place between the sticks as he put in a fine performance in the 3-0 reversal at Plainmoor – the Southampton-born shotstopper was certainly not to blame for any of the three strikes and without him it may have been many more. On the bench should be Carl Emberson, overcoming an injury scare, whilst Ryan Robinson is left to kick his heels in the stands.

Defensively, the situation is a completely different matter. Neil Jenkins will certainly miss out as he completes a two-match suspension for his dismissal at Yeovil Town’s Huish Park. He is joined by ex-Notts County centre-back Mark Warren, who misses ourt thanks to his red card against Canvey in the last round. Duncan Jupp’s broken little toe is still causing him problems, and he will not be ready until the Swansea City encounter at least, whilst Jamie Stuart is undergoing cortisone injections for his pelvic stress fracture.

The good news is that as part of the second loan arrangement between the Seasiders and Derby County, defender Lewis Hunt is able to play in the cup. The bad news is that he has contracted the flu from James Corbett and is rated no better than fifty-fifty. Leon Cort will start, with Dave McSweeney and Che Wilson as full-backs. Stuart Williams or Jamie Gray will be called up if required, although Tilson could step into his boots again at left-back.

The midfield situation is little better. Although Corbett is being deployed as a striker at the moment, he has managed to infect Mark Gower, undoubtedly the player of the past two months. With only Steven Clark or a makeshift Michael Husbands or Leon Constantine being available for the wide positions, Michael Kightly may be rushed into a wide position for his first big match.

In the middle, things look the same as they have for the past month or so. Leke Odunsi doesn’t seem to be responding well to treatment on his ankle, and he has yet to return to training. Jamie Fullarton is ahead of schedule, but that plan did not envisage a return until January anyway, so a New Year comeback is on the cards for the Scot. Captain Kevin Maher and Jay Smith will be the two men used in the centre of the park.

Finally, the strikeforce has an almost clean bill of health, with former Blackburn Rovers man Corbett exoected to return. Tesfaye Bramble hit a brace in his last Roots Hall outing, so will be full of confidence, whilst Leon Constantine heaped on the pressure with a last-minute fourth against Rochdale. Drewe Broughton has failed to impress recently, Michael Husbands hasn’t had a chance to.

The Red Imps arrive by the seaside with very few injury concerns by comparison, although the two men that do miss out are key men. Defender Richard Liburd is still suffering from a dead leg, whilst striker Francis Green, signed from Peterborough United on the eve of the Third Division encounter between the two sides, is out with a groin strain. Long-term victims Chris Cornelly and the perenially injuried Paul Smith will miss out, whilst Mark Bailey should be fit to return.

Blues have the edge sixteen to eleven on previous meetings, with eleven draws, with the only previous meeting in the world’s most prestigious domestic cup competition occurring in January 1956 – Southend running out 3-2 winners. More of the same will be appreciated tomorrow afternoon. Lincoln won the last encounter though, at Roots Hall in September, when loanee Marcus Richardson and midfielder Richard Butcher fired home, with Duncan Jupp missing a penalty. City also did the double over United last year, meaning Southend’s last win was in March 2002, when Steven Clark scored his only Shrimpers goal in a 1-0 victory.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

Referee: Ray Olivier (West Midlands)

Sutton Coldfield-based Olivier has barely seen any actiopn this season, flourishing fifteen yellow cards in just six matches to date. He has yet to send anyone off. Last season eh was in charge for just one Shrimpers match – the 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground – Barrington Belgrave, Tony Scully and Ian Selley amongst five bookings in the game. However, most Blues fans will rememer him for the 0-0 draw the previous season when he awarded Plymouth Argyle a penalty at their promotion party at Home Park, only to be corrected by a linesman some sixty yards away. Indeed, earlier that season he gave Blues a spot-kick against Hull City in their 2-0 win at Roots Hall.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Saturday 29^th November 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Plaimoor

Torquay United 3 (Tony Bedeau 45+2, Matt Hockley 52, David Graham 54) Southend United 0 [attendance: 2,631]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Dave McSweeney, Lewis Hunt, Leon Cort, Che Wilson; Leon Constantine (Michael Kightly 82), Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Mark Gower (Steven Clark 57); Drewe Broughton (Michael Husbands 76), Tesfaye Bramble. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Steve Tilson.

Saturday 29^th November 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Huish Park

Yeovil Town 3 (Colin Pluck 54, Adam Stansfield 85, Jamie Gosling 90) Lincoln City 1 (Simon Yeo 50) [attendance: 4,867]. Lincoln City line-up (3-5-2): Alan Marriott; Matt Bloomer, Paul Morgan, Simon Weaver (Rory May 87), Ben Futcher, Paul Mayo; Niall McNamara, Richard Butcher, Peter Gain; Simon Yeo, Gary Fletcher. Subs not used: Lee Frecklington, Mark Bailey, Ben Sedgemore, Allan Pearce.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

L0-3 (away; Torquay United; League Division Three)

W4-0 (home; Rochdale; League Division Three; Tesfaye Bramble 2, James Corbett [pen], Leon Constantine)

W3-2 (away; Canvey Island; F.A. Cup; Tesfaye Bramble, Jay Smith 2)

L0-4 (away; Yeovil Town; League Division Three)

D1-1 (home; Canvey Island; F.A. Cup; Mark Gower)

Lincoln City

L1-3 (away; Yeovil Town; League Division Three; Simon Yeo)

W3-1 (home; Bristol Rovers; League Division Three; Simon Yeo, Ben Futcher, Gary Fletcher)

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

W3-1 (home; Brighton & Hove Albion; F.A. Cup; Paul Mayo [pen], Matt Bloomer, Simon Yeo)

W4-3 [aet] (home; Chesterfield; LDV Vans Trophy; Gary Fletcher 2, Simon Yeo, Paul Mayo [pen])

Southend United home form

W4-0 (League Division Three; Rochdale; Tesfaye Bramble 2, James Corbett [pen], Leon Constantine)

D1-1 (F.A. Cup; Canvey Island; Mark Gower)

L0-1 (League Division Three; Northampton Town)

L0-2 (League Division Three; Boston United)

L1-2 (League Division Three; Leyton Orient; Leon Constantine)

Lincoln City away form

L1-3 (League Division Three; Yeovil Town; Simon Yeo)

D0-0 (League Division Three; Darlington)

L0-3 (League Division Three; Hull City)

W3-1 (League Division Three; Scunthorpe United; Ben Futcher, Gary Fletcher, Francis Green)

D2-2 (League Division Three; Swansea City; Richard Butcher, Paul Mayo [pen])

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 20 [10]

Won: 5 [3]

Drawn: 3 [1]

Lost: 12 [6]

Scored: 18 [11]

Conceded: 33 [14]

Goal Difference: -15 [-3]

Points: 18 [10]

Position: 22^nd [20^th]

F.A. Cup

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

Second Round: vs. Lincoln City on Saturday 6^th December 2003

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: vs. Luton Town on Tuesday 9^th December 2003

Lincoln City

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [away])

Played: 20 [10]

Won: 8 [3]

Drawn: 7 [3]

Lost: 5 [4]

Scored: 26 [11]

Conceded: 19 [13]

Goal Difference: +7 [-2]

Points: 31 [12]

Position: 8^th [9^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Brighton & Hove Albion (home) 3-1

Second Round: vs. Southend United (away) on Saturday 6^th December 2003

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Stockport County (home) 0-1

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: beat Telford United (home) 3-1

Second Round: beat Chesterfield (home) 4-3 on the silver goal rule

Northern Section Quarter-Final: vs. Halifax Town (away) on Tuesday 9^th December 2003

THE HISTORY

Last Match

16^th September 2003 – Southend United 0 Lincoln City 2 (Marcus Richardson 10, Richard Butcher 78)

8^th March 2003 – Southend United 0 Lincoln City 1 (Ben Futcher 10) – Nationwide League Division Three

21^st September 2002 – Lincoln City 2 (Peter Gain 62, Simon Yeo 71) Southend United 1 (Neil Jenkins 76) – Nationwide League Division Three

16^th March 2002 – Lincoln City 0 Southend United 1 (Steven Clark 7) – Nationwide League Division Three

1^st December 2001 – Southend United 1 (Tesfaye Bramble 29) Lincoln City 1 (Lee Thorpe 27) – Nationwide League Division Three

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

2003/04 – H0-2 (League)

2002/03 – H0-1 A1-2 (League)
2001/02 - H1-1 A1-0 (League)
2000/01 - H1-0 A0-3 (League)
1999/00 - H2-2 A0-1 (League)
1989/90 - H2-0 A0-2 (League)
1986/87 - H1-0 A3-1 (League)

1983/84 - H2-0 A2-1 (League)
1982/83 - H2-0 A1-0 (League)
1981/82 - H0-2 A1-1 (League)
1980/81 - H0-0 A1-2 (League)
1978/79 - H2-0 A1-1 (League)
1971/72 - H2-1 A0-0 (League)
1970/71 - H1-1 A2-1 (League)
1969/70 - H2-2 A3-3 (League)
1968/69 - H3-0 A1-2 (League)
1967/68 - H2-1 A2-4 (League)
1966/67 - H3-0 A2-2 (League)
1961/62 - H0-1 A0-2 (League)

1955/56 - A3-2 (F.A. Cup)

Summary

Overall (38 matches)

Southend United 16

Lincoln City 11

Draws 11

In F.A. Cup (1 match)

Southend United 1

Lincoln City 0

Draws 0

At Roots Hall (19 matches)

Southend United 10

Lincoln City 4

Draws 5

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com