Southend United vs. Northampton Town – Preview

Like last season, the home of football in Essex has been less of a fortress and more of a charity shop, where teams come along and pick up much needed points. In the past fortnight, both Leyton Orient and Boston United, who arrived on the southeast Essex coastline in 21^st place and just two points ahead of Blues, departed with wins that have propelled them up to 17^th and 15^th respectively. Five home League defeats from eight matches is unacceptable, and explains Southend’s poisition in 22^nd, ahead of Kidderminster Harriers in the drop zone by a solitary extra goal scored.

United have failed to pick up a win at the Hall since the last-minute 1-0 win over Bury on August 30^th, and in the two months that have passed, have managed a solitary point in a 2-2 draw with bottom-placed Carlisle United. An extra-time 2-1 LDV Vans Trophy first round victory offered brief respite for the long-suffering Shrimpers supporters, but amazingly it is the four matches unbeaten on the road that have hauled the Seasiders clear of the relegation places rather than consistency on their own patch.

But as Steve Wignall looks to try and rectify the situation, he has been hit by an injury crisis, the like of which he has admitted in the local press to have not known before in his time as a manager of any club. Long-term victim Jamie Fullarton is looking at a New Year return after he was diagnosed with a torn abductor muscle in his right groin, and he may be joined on the physiotherapists couch by ex-England Under-21 star Jamie Stuart, who has a suspected stress freacture in his pelvic bone.

Aside from the players that are out for a sustained period, the former Doncaster Rovers and Aldershot Town man also has to worry about the nigling strains which are also keeping a number of other players out of the team. Steven Clark has returned from his month’s loan at Macclesfield Town with a continuation of his pelvic muscle/groin strain, which may required further treatment. Mark Warren continues to be plagued by an injury that he aggravated against Kidderminster Harriers in the groundbreaking 2-1 win at Aggborough, whilst Leke Odunsi has only just resumed light training and running exercises.

And that is not all. Wignall looks likely to have to risk bringing in a number of doubtful players after they all came through the penalty shoot-out triumph over Ford United on Tuesday night in the Essex Senior Cup unscathed. Michael Husbands netted his first goal for the club and showed no signs of his medial ligament injury as he ran quickly up front for the full 120 minutes, whilst Jimmy Corbett also managed the full match after his thigh strain. Che Wilson has overcome a number of niggles and Carl Emberson was the hero between the sticks, showing no ill-effects of a thigh strain obtained in the September 6^th challenge against Oxford United’s Julian Alsop.

Darryl Flahavan is almost certain to retain his position between the sticks after enjoying a quiet run-out at Moss Rose seven days ago, meaning that Emberson will start on the substitutes bench. In front of the Southampton-born shotstopper should be new loan signing Lewis Hunt of Derby County, who is likely to partner Leon Cort in the centre of defence. Dave McSweeney will continue at left-back, whilst Duncan Jupp will mirror him on the right and Wilson will offer options as a sub.

After much criticism, Wignall may return to 4-4-2 at home, whilst sticking with the 4-5-1 formation away from Roots Hall. As such, Neil Jenkins will start on the left-wing, with Mark Gower on the opposite flank. Kevin Maher and Jay Smith, as the only two fully fit central midfielders, will patrol the middle of the park. Michael Kightly and James Corbett may both be named on the bench as back up.

Up front, the two form men should start together again. Leon Constantine, who has already bagged seven goals this year, and Tesfaye Bramble appear to have formed a decent strike partnership, although Bramble’s record of having failed to find the net at the Hall this year remains worrying. Husbands and Drewe Broughton could be paired on the bench after playing together against Ford in midweek.

The Cobblers have problems of their own. Scottish defender Paul Reid definitely misses out with a knee injury that has kept him out for two weeks, and he is joined on the sidelines by striker Tom Youngs, who has a knee complaint, former Brimingham City man Jeremy Gill (knee again) and defender Ashley Westwood, who continues to struggle with a shoulder injury. Worse still, Chris Hargreaves, Christopher Doig and Paul Trollope will all undergo last fitness tests, as will forward Martin Smith, who was hauled off last weekend against Leyton Orient with a sore hamstring as a precaution.

Town have not won a match at all since 16^th September, a sorry state of affairs that saw former manager Martin Wilkinson sacked at the end of that month. One-time Tottenham Hotspur defender Colin Calderwood has taken over, with John Deehan overseeing the operation, but so far they have yet to claim all three points. Last weekend they were denied by a late, late Gary Alexander strike at Brisbane Road, and they have gained just one win away this season, 2-0 at high-flying Yeovil Town in August.

So let’s get along to Roots Hall and cheer the lads on to a vital win, and one that would take Blues above the Cobblers. Remember, tickets for the F.A. Cup clash against Canvey Island go on general sale immediately after the final whistle from the main ticket office. There will be a separate booth for season ticket holders wishing to reserve their seat for the match.

Before the fixture against Northampton, both the club’s youth teams will be in action. The Under-19s travel to Brighton & Hove Albion, whilst the Under-17s tackle local rivals Leyton Orient at Boots & Laces, looking for revenge after the F.A. Youth Cup defeat eight days ago. The Little Gazette will be at the Shrimpers training ground with all the action.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Joe Ross (London)

Assistant Referees: Graham Horwood (Besdfordshire), Mick Russell (Hertfordshire)

Yes, it’s that man again! Joe Ross, surely one of the most incompetant and downright awful officials in the Football League is the man in charge of tomorrow’s fixture. So far this year he has booked 31 men, but failed to send anyone off in ten matches. Blues amanzingly also missed him in 2002/3 as well, as he sent off three and cautioned a round hundred in 33 games, but few people will ever forget his third match, the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Luton Town in August 2001. After a mere twenty minutes Mark Rawle was booked for a second bookable offence, and after Kevin Maher had missed a penalty, Ross blundered his way through the rest of the match before two late goals gave the Hatters the three points. He later reffed the 4-1 LDV Vans Trophy win against Stevenage Borough and sent off Paul Buckle as Blues won 3-1 against Exeter City.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Saturday 25^th October 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Moss Rose

Macclesfield Town 1 (Colin Little 90) Southend United 2 (Leon Constantine 51, Jay Smith 59 [pen]) [attendance: 1,821]. Southend United line-up (4-5-1): Darryl Flahavan; Duncan Jupp, Leon Cort, Jamie Stuart, Dave McSweeney; Leon Constantine (Drewe Broughton 83), Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Neil Jenkins, Mark Gower; Tesfaye Bramble (James Corbett 76). Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Che Wilson, Michael Husbands.

Saturday 25^th October 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Brisbane Road

Leyton Orient 1 (Gary Alexander 89) Northampton Town 1 (Josh Low 59) [attendance: 4,130]. Northampton Town line-up (4-4-2): Lee Harper; Chris Willmott, Christoper Doig, Ian Sampson, Chris Carruthers; Josh Low, Martin Reeves (Luke Chambers 75), Paul Trollope, Chris Hargreaves; Martin Smith (Lawrie Dudfield 67), Richard Walker (Marc Richards 85). Subs not used: Glyn Thompson, Paul Harsley.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

W2-1 (away; Macclesfield Town; League Division Three; Leon Constantine, Jay Smith [penalty])

L0-2 (home; Boston United; League Division Three)

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

W2-1 (home; Bristol Rovers; League Division Three; Leon Constantine, Mark Gower)

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

Northampton Town

D1-1 (away; Leyton Orient; League Division Three; Josh Low)

L0-1 (home; Kidderminster Harriers; League Division Three)

D1-1 (home; Scunthorpe United; League Division Three; Martin Smith)

D1-1 (away; Rochdale; League Division Three; Martin Smith)

L1-5 (home; Hull City; League Division Three; Paul Trollope)

Southend United home form

L0-2 (League Division Three; Boston United)

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

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)

Northampton Town away form

D1-1 (League Division Three; Leyton Orient; Josh Low)

D1-1 (League Division Three; Rochdale; Martin Smith)

D0-0 (League Division Three; Lincoln City)

L0-3 (League Division Three; Oxford United)

L2-5 (Carling Cup; Portsmouth; Chris Hargreaves [penalty], Lawrie Dudfield)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 16 [8]

Won: 4 [2]

Drawn: 3 [1]

Lost: 9 [5]

Scored: 14 [7]

Conceded: 25 [13]

Goal Difference: -11 [-6]

Points: 15 [7]

Position: 22^nd [22^nd]

F.A. Cup

First Round: vs. Canvey Island (home) on Sunday 9^th November 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: vs. Swansea City (away) on Tuesday 4^th November 2003

Northampton Town

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [away])

Played: 16 [8]

Won: 4 [1]

Drawn: 5 [3]

Lost: 7 [4]

Scored: 13 [7]

Conceded: 21 [13]

Goal Difference: -8 [-6]

Points: 17 [6]

Position: 19^th [19^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: vs. Plymouth Argyle (home) on Saturday 8^th November 2003

Carling Cup

First Round: beat Norwich City (home) 1-0

Second Round: lost to Portsmouth (away) 2-5

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: bye

Second Round: vs. Hereford United (away) on Tuesday 4^th November 2003

THE HISTORY

Last Match

Last Five Meetings

25^th March 2000 – Northampton Town 2 (Dave Savage 27, Jamie Forrester 71) Southend United 0 – League Division Three

26^th December 1999 – Southend United 2 (Martin Carruthers 51, Neil Tolson 81) Northampton Town 2 (John Frain 61, Ian Sampson 78) – League Division Three

14^th February 1998 – Northampton Town 3 (Christopher Freestone 30, David Brightwell 42, John Frain 55) Southend United 1 (Jeroen Boere 34) – League Division Two

4^th October 1997 – Southend United 0 Northampton Town 0 – League Division Two

27^th March 1989 – Northampton Town 2 Southend United 2 – Division Three (old)

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

1999/2000 – H2-2 A0-2 (League)

1997/8 – H0-0 A1-3 (League)

1998/9 – H2-1 A2-2 (League)

1987/8 – H1-1 A0-4 (League)

1986/7 – H0-4 A1-2 (League), H4-4 A2-3 (F.A. Cup)

1985/6 – H0-4 A0-0 (League)

1984/5 – H2-1 A2-1 (League)

1980/1 – H0-0 A0-2 (League)

1977/8 – H0-0 A0-0 (League), H2-3 A1-2 (League Cup)

1971/2 – H4-1 A1-1 (League)

1970/1 – H1-0 A2-0 (League)

1969/70 – H2-2 A0-2 (League)

1962/3 – H5-1 A3-5 (League)

1961/2 – H1-3 A1-3 (League)

1957/8 – H6-3 A3-1 (League)

1956/7 – H0-1 A2-2 (League)

1955/6 – H2-0 A1-1 (League)

1954/5 – H4-1 A2-6 (League)

1953/4 – H2-0 A0-5 (League)

1952/3 – H3-1 A3-4 (League)

1951/2 – H2-0 A3-4 (League)

1950/1 – H3-0 A1-1 (League)

1949/50 – H1-2 A0-2 (League)

1948/9 – H0-1 A2-2 (League)

1947/8 – H4-1 A0-2 (League)

1946/7 – H4-0 A3-2 (League)

1938/9 – H2-0 A2-2 (League)

1937/8 – H4-2 A2-0 (League)

1936/7 – H2-0 A3-4 (League)

1935/6 – H0-1 A0-2 (League)

1934/5 – H2-1 A1-1 (League)

1933/4 – H2-0 A0-2 (League)

1932/3 – H1-0 A0-0 (League)

1931/2 – H0-1 A2-1 (League), A0-3 (F.A. Cup)

1930/1 – H2-1 A0-4 (League)

1929/30 – H1-2 A1-5 (League)

1928/9 – H2-2 A3-2 (League)

1927/8 – H2-0 A1-2 (League)

1926/7 – H2-0 A1-2 (League)

1925/6 – H6-1 A3-3 (League)

1924/5 – H0-1 A1-0 (League)

1923/4 – H5-1 A0-8 (League)

1922/3 – H1-2 A2-5 (League)

1921/2 – H1-1 A2-0 (League)

1920/1 – H1-2 A0-1 (League)

Summary

Overall (95 matches)

Southend United 34

Northampton Town 40

Draws 21

In The League (90 matches)

Southend United 34

Northampton Town 36

Draws 20

At Southend United (47 matches)

Southend United 25

Northampton Town 13

Draws 9

Robert Craven

www.thelittlegazette.com