Neil Jenkins could be reinstated after suspension
Cup football has been a welcome break for a squad that has now returned to the relegation zone of the Third Division following
The good news for caretaker bosses Steve Tilson and Paul Brush is that they can welcome two players back from suspension. Neil Jenkins has now served his two-match ban for picking up a red card for foul and abusive language at
As a result, it is a reasonably large squad that Tilson has to choose from, although the usual candidates are missing. Darryl Flahavan is expected to be named in goal as Southend continue to take this competition very seriously, and he will be backed up on the bench by Carl Emberson, with the club no doubt hoping that another non-League loan arrangement can see Ryan Robinson gain more first-team experience.
Despite
One of Tilson’s most pressing decisions concerns teeenage whizzkid Michael Kightly. The coach revealed that he felt the second-year scholar should have seen more first-team action in the past month or two, since impressing against Bristol Rovers in the first roudn of this competition. Once again he was outstanding for his age against the Red Imps, but his position comes under threat from the returning Jenkins and Steven Clark, who will be eager to get a start. Mark Gower is assured of his spot in the side and is quickly confirming himself as one of the most talented players in Division Three.
In the middle the choice is, yet again, very simple. Club captain Kevin Maher has put a poor spell of form behind him, and Jay Smith, under the guidance and advice of David Webb whilst he was in caretaker control during November, has found a new lease of life in the middle. The pair are yet to be challenged by returns from injury by Jamie Fullarton (expected back at Christmas now after positive test results) and Leke Odunsi, who continues to suffer from a swollen ankle.
Up front, the 100% partnership of Tesfaye Bramble and James Corbett, both of whom netted in the last outing, will not return. Corbnett has picked up an ankle injury in the 3-0 win against Lincoln and will be out until the end of January. Every time they have played together, at least of them has scored and Blues have won every game. Top-scorer Leon Constantine should come into the side, whilst Drewe Broughton and Michael Husbands will be on the bench.
Luton
Blues will have happy memories of the last Cup meeting between the two sides as a brace from Tesfaye Bramble and another from Mark Rawle ensured a 3-2 F.A. Cup win at Roots Hall in the first round back in 2001. However, the last meeting between the sides was in Division Three in December of the same year, when a seven-match unbeaten run was ended by the Hatters 2-1 win at the Hall.
A reminder that the West Stand is not open for this fixture, but tickets, which are priced at £10 and £5 for adults and concessions respectively, are available for the South and East Stands. Should the scores be level after ninety minutes, then silver goal extra time will be played – should one side take the lead before half-time in extra time then the game will be played until that point unless an equaliser is scored, in which case a second ‘regular’ fifteen minutes is played. If the scores remain level, then a penalty shoot-out will ensue.
Finally, another reminder that the reserve side are in action tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon at two o’clock as they face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Pontin’s Holidays Combination at Roots Hall.
TEAM DETAILS
Likely Squads
Southend United | ||
Darryl Flahavan Dave McSweeney Che Wilson Lewis Hunt Leon Cort Mark Gower Kevin Maher Jay Smith Neil Jenkins Leon Constantine Tesfaye Bramble --- Carl Emberson Mark Warren Drewe Broughton Michael Husbands --- Stuart Williams Steve Tilson | Starting Line-Ups GK DR DL DC DC MR MC MC ML FC FC Substitutes 1 2 3 4 5 Also Available * * * * | Dean Brill Ian Hillier Emmerson Boyce Chris Coyne Sol Davis Ahmet Brkovic Kevin Nicholls Peter Holmes Steve Howard Enoch Showunmi --- Marlon Beresford Kevin Foley Dean Crowe Michael Leary Steven O’Leary --- David Deeney Adrian Forbes Steve Robinson Lee Mansell |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: David Crick (
Assistant Referees: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex) and Steve Tomlinson (Hampshire)
Crick’s last match was the F.A. Cup second round tie at
TEAM FORM
Last Matches
Saturday 6th December 2003
Southend United 3 (Tesfaye Bramble 39, Mark Gower 64, James Corbett 89)
Saturday 6th December 2003
Last Five Matches
Southend United
W3-0 (home;
L0-3 (away; Torquay United; League Division Three)
W4-0 (home;
W3-2 (away;
L0-4 (away;
Luton
W2-0 (away;
W1-0 (home;
D0-0 (away;
W3-1 (home;
W3-2 (home; Wrexham; League Divison Two; Adrian Forbes, Steve Robinson, Lee Mansell)
Southend United home form
W3-0 (F.A. Cup;
W4-0 (League Division Three;
D1-1 (F.A. Cup;
L0-1 (League Division Three;
L0-2 (League Division Three;
Luton
W2-0 (F.A. Cup;
D0-0 (League Division Two;
D1-1 (F.A. Cup;
W2-1 (LDV Vans Trophy; Rushden & Diamonds; Enoch Showunmi, Michael Leary [pen])
D1-1 (League Division Two;
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: 23rd [20th]
F.A. Cup
First Round: beat
Second Round: beat
Third Round: vs.
Carling Cup
First Round: lost to
LDV Vans Trophy
First Round: beat Bristol Rovers (home) 2-1 after silver goal extra time
Second Round: beat
Southern Section Quarter-Final: vs.
Luton
Nationwide League Division Two (overall [away])
Played: 20 [10]
Won: 8 [1]
Drawn: 6 [4]
Lost: 6 [5]
Scored: 33 [12]
Conceded: 33 [22]
Goal Difference: 0 [-10]
Points: 30 [7]
Position: 10th [21st]
F.A. Cup
First Round: beat
Second Round: beat
Third Round: vs.
Carling Cup
First Round: beat
Second Round: lost to Charlton Athletic (away) 7-8 on penalties after 4-4 draw
LDV Vans Trophy
First Round: beat Stevenage Borough (away) 1-0
Second Round: beat Rushden & Diamonds (away) 2-1
Southern Section Quarter-Final: vs. Southend United (away) on
THE HISTORY
Last Match
Southend United | 1-2 | |
Carl Hutchings 53 | Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall on |
Daniel Gay Stephen Broad Damon Searle Leon Cort Phil Whelan Kevin Maher -- Jay Smith Steven Clark Stuart Thurgood Tesfaye Bramble -- | - -(32) - - - - - - -(82) - - | Mark Ovendale Emmerson Boyce Matthew Taylor Russell Perrett David Bayliss Adrian Forbes Jean-Louis Valois Kevin Nicholls Steve Howard Dean Crowe | - - - - - -(45) -(45) - - - - |
Paul Sansome Leon Johnson Mark Rawle Dave McSweeney Scott Forbes | - - -(89) -(32) -(82) | Carl Emberson Marvin Johnson Paul Hughes Ahmet Brkovic Ian Hillier -- | - - - -(45) -(45) |
Last Five Meetings
29th December 2001
The Complete Head-to-Head Record
2001/2 – H1-2 A0-2 (League), H3-2 (F.A. Cup)
1997/8 – H1-2 A0-1 (League)
1995/6 – H0-1 A1-3 (League)
1994/5 – H3-0 A2-2 (League)
1993/4 – H2-1 A1-1 (League), A0-1 (F.A. Cup)
1992/3 – H2-1 A2-2 (League)
1967/8 – H3-0 A1-3 (League)
1966/7 – H2-0 A0-1 (League)
1964/5 – H5-0 A1-0 (League), A0-1 (F.A. Cup)
1963/4 – H0-1 A1-4 (League)
1936/7 – H3-0 A0-1 (League)
1935/6 – H0-1 A2-1 (League)
1934/5 – H3-3 A1-1 (League)
1933/4 – H0-1 A1-3 (League)
1932/3 – H2-1 A3-3 (League)
1931/2 – H1-1 A3-1 (League)
1930/1 – H0-2 A1-2 (League)
1929/30 – H1-1 A3-0 (League)
1928/9 – H5-0 A2-4 (League), A1-5 (F.A. Cup)
1927/8 – H1-0 A0-0 (League)
1926/7 – H2-1 A0-0 (League)
1925/6 – H2-0 A0-2 (League)
1924/5 – H2-1 A0-4 (League)
1923/4 – H1-1 A4-4 (League)
1922/3 – H1-3 A0-2 (League)
1921/2 – H0-1 A0-3 (League)
1920/1 – H1-1 A0-4 (League)
Summary
Overall (58 matches)
Southend United 18
Draws 13
At Southend United (28 matches)
Southend United 14
Draws 5
In Cup competitions (4 matches)
Southend United 1
Draws 0
Robert Craven