Southend United vs Mansfield Town - The Little Gazette preview

Steven Clark in action for the Hammers

Southend United will welcome back Steven Clark into the starting line-up for the clash with high-flying Mansfield Town at Roots Hall. The right winger who is in his second month spell on loan from Premiership West Ham United will make his third appearance in a Blues shirt when he takes his place against the Stags, Clark has made all his starts at Roots Hall.

Player/manager Rob Newman will again wait until just before kick-off before naming his side to face Mansfield. Newman’s post-match comments after Tuesday’s home defeat suggest that the old stager might not start himself again this term. Blues have named a nineteen man squad. Darryl Flahavan will continue in goal but expect the Blues to revert to a 4-4-2 formation after the poor performance in the first half against Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup tie. Stephen Broad, Leon Cort, Phil Whelan and Damon Searle will be the defensive kingpins while the midfield will definitely include Kevin Maher, Carl Hutchings and Steven Clark.

Fit again Scott Forbes who completed Ninety minutes for the reserves on

Scott Forbes - On the bench?

Wednesday in the 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town could start on the left wing in an attacking formation but the rumours from the Blues camp is

Stuart Thurgood - On the bench?

that Stuart Thurgood could well keep his place in the Shrimpers side with Forbes on the bench.

Upfront Blues will start with the pairing of top scorer with nine goals Tes Bramble and Barrington Belgrave who has knocked in four in the last five games, both Mark Rawle and Tony Richards disappointed for the reserves at Whaddon Road in midweek but might make the bench.

Blues Squad: Flahavan, Gay, Broad, McSweeney, Whelan, Cort, Searle, Forbes, Thurgood, Maher, Hutchings, Clark Belgrave, Bramble, Rawle, Kerrigan, Johnson, Richards and Newman.

Blues Under nineteen’s are at home to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Football League Youth Alliance South East Division. Kick-off at Boots and Laces is at 11.00am a full report on the web-site will appear over the weekend.

Blues Under seventeen’s are without a fixture

On Monday 14th January, Blues reserves travel to Peterborough United for an Avon Insurance League match Kick-off 2.00pm

Steve Connolly
www.thelittlegazette.com