Southend United vs. Macclesfield Town – Preview

Last updated : 29 August 2004 By Robert Craven

Tesfaye Bramble will want to start
Blues were handed a boost on Saturday afternoon as Chester City allowed themselves to be mauled 3-0 at the hands of Darlington at the newly-renamed Saunders Honda Stadium. That result meant that the Shrimpers were lifted emphatically off of the bottom of the League Two table, albeit only on goal difference.


More worryingly, though, Notts County defeated Lincoln City at Sincil Bank to pick up their first victory of the campaign, leaving the Seasiders and the Seals as the only two sides not to have recorded a win this season in what promises to be a closely-fought division. Shrewsbury Town have managed a solitary triumph to sit one point clear of the desperate duo, but Tilson and head coach Paul Brush will be hoping to change matters tomorrow afternoon.


United now lie just seven defeats from equalling the club record seventeen matches without a win, set in the dark days of 1983/4, when Southend failed to record a single victory for three-and-a-half-months. Currently this squad has ten matches on the trot without that League success, and a Carling Cup opening round defeat to West Ham United to boot.


A win has to come at some stage, though, and Macclesfield Town represent as good as any opposition for the feat. The Silkmen are lying third in the table after three matches under new boss Brian Horton, who was at the helm as the Macc Lads avoided relegation in the closing weeks of 2003/4. They have never managed so much as a point on their five past visits to Roots Hall, a statement that should breathe new life into the Shrimpers dressing room.


Southend will also gain some impetus from another fantastic LDV Vans Trophy draw – at least in the inspirational stakes. Colchester United will be the hosts for the first round of a competition in which United have reached the area finals twice in the last four years, and even went to the Cardiff final itself in 2003/4. Layer Road will once again be populated by hundreds of Shrimpers supporters roaring their side on, but despite the motivational factor, the management must ensure there is not a massive downside.


For there is a danger that the players in southeast Essex will already have one eye on that tie, and that could spell problems in the League. What Blues require now is steely determination and commitment from all at the club, and they can ill afford to look forward to a one-off match which means nothing more than local pride.


For an example of exactly how to react they should turn to central defensive rock Adam Barrett. The 25-year-old returned to his former home at the Memorial Ground, but the occasion did not affect him in any way, and indeed he managed to plant a 71st-minute header past Kevin Miller for the Shrimpers’ first goal from open play this season. The points meant a lot to him, but not just because he wanted to get one over on his old team-mates. He also wanted to prove something to the management.


Many others may hope for a similar chance. Tesfaye Bramble has been three times used as a substitute, but is yet to make his first start of the season, and has been snapping at the heels of Drewe Broughton over the past seven days. Wayne Gray will also be wishing for a return to the side at the expense of Broughton or strike partner Lawrie Dudfield, who is yet to find the back of the net in 2004/5.


Barrett’s place in the side has meant that Andy Edwards has had to make way for Spencer Prior, and with the former Norwich City man struggling to find his form, his early 90s defensive partner will be gunning to regain his starting slot. Likewise Lewis Hunt has not put a foot wrong in the opening gambits of this term, but has yet to be rewarded for his efforts with a place in the side.


In the centre of midfield it is a slightly different story. Jay Smith has now have the metal screws taken out of his foot, but he will not be available for selection until early November, so he remains a frustrated spectator. Michael Kightly, too, is out of action with another niggle, having only just got back to full fitness during the reserve team match against Brighton & Hove Albion.


That means that Kevin Maher, the club captain and much-maligned midfielder, is set to retain his position in the team as he struggles to overcome a lack of form in the first month of the season. Mark Bentley, who was originally set-back by his non-selection in the squad for the game against Cheltenham Town, has imposed himself alongside the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man, and will deservedly keep his place.


Out wide in both defence and midfield, there still appear to be places up for grabs, although the same quartet – Duncan Jupp, Nicky Nicolau, Mark Gower and Carl Pettefer – have been in place for every one of the Shrimpers six matches to date. At the back, right-back Jupp’s position is most secure after a typically solid start to the season, but on the opposite side, Nicolau is struggling.


The one-time Arsenal reserves regular thought that he had carved out a niche for himself in the side having been awarded the corner-kicking duties, but after a lackadaisical display, culminating in a torrid part in Bristol Rovers’ winner on Friday night, Che Wilson once again comes into contention. Wilson has been in fine form since picking himself up over the summer, but is yet to get a run in the team.


Lawrie Dudfield scored last time out against the Silkmen
Carl Pettefer has endured a quiet beginning to 2004/5, not making too many mistakes, but on the contrary failing to impose himself on the side either. The former Portsmouth man has played so far primarily on the right to accommodate Mark Gower’s wish to perform on the left, but the Edmonton-born playmaker has been strangely out-of-sorts, and seems not to have recovered from the operation on his knee over the summer months. Michael Husbands and Jimmy Corbett are the pair most unfortunate not to have been given a run-out.


In goal, there is little hope of Darryl Flahavan regaining the gloves. The south-coast man has been thwarted by Bart Griemink who, one lapse in concentration apart for the Pirates’ opener, has been flawless in his form between the sticks, and deserves to continue to keep Blues’ defence in check. Flahavan will settle for a spot on the bench again.


Brian Horton is ecstatic with the way that his Macclesfield side have been performing. Talking to the Macclesfield Express, he revealed, “Nobody wants to go out of the side and it appears we have no injuries, so it should be the same again for our trip to Southend on Monday”.


One man who may make Horton eat his words is experienced goalkeeper Alan Fettis. The former York City and Hull City number one, and a Northern Ireland international to boot, has been struggling with an ankle injury, and instigated the only change in personnel on the playing staff this season when portly Steve Wilson had to deputise for him in midweek as the Silkmen lost their opening game in the Carling Cup 2-1 at Hartlepool United.


There have been changes on the subs bench, however, with Iraqi international Jassim Swadi Fayadh having recently been added to the squad. He was not handed his debut as the Silkmen drew 2-2 with Scunthorpe United on Saturday afternoon. Steve Payne and Matty Carragher are long-term injury victims, whilst the man to watch is Jon Parkin – six goals in the first six games represents a new club record for another former Minsterman.

Kick-off for the Bank Holiday clash is at three o’clock, and a restricted bus and train service means that you should leave in plenty of time for the afternoon’s encounter. If you’re early, why not pop down to the Shrimpers Bar beneath the East Stand, where you can now watch Blues TV on the plethora of screens in the room, as well as take in some fantastic Southend memorabilia!


LIKELY SQUADS


Southend United

Macclesfield Town

4-4-2

Bart Griemink

Duncan Jupp

Nicky Nicolau

Spencer Prior

Adam Barrett

Carl Pettefer

Mark Bentley

Kevin Maher

Mark Gower

Lawrie Dudfield

Tesfaye Bramble

---

Darryl Flahavan

Lewis Hunt

Andy Edwards

Drewe Broughton

Wayne Gray

---

James Corbett

Michael Husbands

Che Wilson

Starting Line-Ups

GK

DR

DL

DC

DC

MR

MC

MC

ML

FC

FC

Substitutes

1

2

3

4

5

Also Available

*

*

*

4-4-2

Alan Fettis

Mark Bailey

Graham Potter

Michael Welch

Antony Barrass

Paul Harsley

Tommy Widdrington

Michael Briscoe

Danny Whittaker

Jon Parkin

Matthew Tipton

---

Steve Wilson

John Miles

Mike Sheron

Ian Brightwell

Jassim Swadi Fayadh

---

Tom Deasy

Michael Carr

Steve Brackenbridge


REFEREE: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex) – for a full review of Mr. Singh’s career, read our column in tomorrow’s matchday programme ‘The Blues’.


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com