Duncan Jupp is one of many in line for a return to the side

Sunday 28^th December has been named as the latest in Southend United’s hugely successful such days, and the Lights Entertainment Group, for the second time since tacky Essex FM handed over the baton at the end of the 2002/3 campaign, are in charge of presenting the show. The BlueBelles, of course, will be in attendance, and all the usual fun and games for the younger generation will also be available again, no doubt with a festive feel as befits the time of year. The occasion will be rounded out with the second performance of the tenor tune best-known as the theme to the Italia ’90 World Cup. It all begins at two o’clock, so take your seats early!

But the most important action of the day starts an hour later when second-placed Oxford United visit the Mecca of Essex football. There has been much confrontation between the Blues and the U’s in the past twelve months, all starting with the contentious signing of now ex-Southend striker Mark Rawle in June, just 24 hours after the former Boston United front man had declared that he would be visiting Steve Wignall’s office to put pen to paper on a new one-year deal at Roots Hall.

Wignall’s own dismissal after the 1-0 reversal to Northampton Town in November led to the next real off-field meeting of the two clubs (Oxford having swept aside a lacklustre Seasiders outfit 2-0 in September). Blues supreme Ron Martin, in some way contacted Yellows chairman Firoz Kassam and manager Ian Atkins in whatever order and attempted to bring the at-the-time table-topping boss to relegation-threatened Southend. The bid failed and Kassam has reportedly handed over details of the approach to the Football League. The outcome of any such action will not be known until 2004.

All of that points to a potentially fiery clash in the time of goodwill. The 800-or-so Shrimpers at the Kassam Stadium for the seventh match of the season made enough noise towards late substitute Rawle in the reverse fixture to suggest that he will be greeted by a deafening din of derision at any such time as he appears on the lush turf of Roots Hall, and there could be a distinct lack of respect in the direction of Atkins as well for the way in which his club have handed the whole managerial affair.

However, the current caretaker partnership of Tilson and Paul Brush will have to attempt to keep a lid on the feelings of the playing staff and make sure that they are able to concentrate on the task in hand, especially after the extraordinary (and surprisingly not particularly bad-tempered) clash at the Vetch Field just over two weeks ago. Dave McSweeney picked up his second red card of the season and starts a four-match reprisal against Oxford, whilst Jay Smith and Mark Gower were also dismissed at the end of the game, meaning that they will sit out this singular encounter. Forward Tesfaye Bramble picked his fifth caution of the campaign in the first half as well, so he will miss the game as well.

The good news for those thousand Southend fans at the Abbey Stadium on Boxing Day (and those that couldn’t make it) was the sight of four injury victims warming up with the rest of the squad. Duncan Jupp was running freely, and he may slot straight into the side in place of McSweeney. Also defensively, Jamie Stuart replaced the impressive Neil Jenkins on the left-hand side of midfield for the two minutes of stoppage time with no repercussions, and he could take Che Wilson’s spot at left-back.

The rest of the defence picks itself – Leon Cort was back to his best, and Lewis Hunt was able to overcome any niggling doubts about his slight hamstring pull against Bristol Rovers six days earlier with a composed display in the centre of the back line. Darryl Flahavan kept the thirtieth clean sheet in his Football League career with little threat to his lines, and Carl Emberson continues to wait in the wings. The only casualty at the back is Mark Warren, still four weeks away from training with his deep-seated muscle strain in his buttock.

Without classy midfielder Smith and Gower, who becomes the last player to surrender an ever-present record for Blues this season in the process, the midfield looks a little bare. But once again on the pitch at Cambridge were Jamie Fullarton, who was running in a laboured fashion, but should be able to fill a spot on the bench, and Steven Clark, who looked sprightly despite the knock to the roof of his foot, and likewise will be there if called upon.

Kevin Maher is the only central midfielder who is truly ready to take his place, and former England Under-20 international Jenkins, who seemed to be groomed for such a role during the Shrimpers’ pre-season campaign before he broke down through injury, may join him. Michael Kightly is almost certain to return to the side having sat out the victory at Cambridge, whilst Clark could be the man to appear on the right, although equally nippy Michael Husbands could be handed his first start since August in a slightly unfamiliar role.

Leon Constantine, the first Southend forward since Brett Angell to reach double figures in terms of goals by Christmas, starts up front, with big target man Drewe Broughton set to be named as his partner with James Corbett still a long way from fitness. Broughton will be hoping to put the ghosts of his penalty miss against the Pirates to rest with his first Division Three goal in the final match of 2003.

Oxford have few worries of their own. Rawle has been relegated to the bench for much of the campaign as Steve Basham and the lumbering Julian Alsop smash the goals that have propelled them to their current position in the league table. Jon Ashton, who had only just signed from Premiership Leicester City at the time of the first match, was one of the most impressive defenders that Blues faced early in the season, but he has struggled to gain a place in the side of late, and missed the 2-1 win over Leyton Orient on Boxing Day.

Apart from the 2-0 defeat with goals either side of half-time from Basham and Paul Wanless with a wonder strike at the Kassam Stadium, the last meeting between the two sides was a rearranged clash in January this year; a game moved from New Years Day due a frosty surface. On that day goals from Bramble and ironically Rawle condemned Oxford to a 2-1 defeat of their own – more of the same, but from the likes of Constantine and Broughton, would be much appreciated on Sunday.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire)

Assistant Referees: Gary Ives (Essex), Keith Yeo (Kent)

Berkshire-based Williamson has taken charge of eighteen matches so far this season, booking 62 and only sending off Luton Town’s Sol Davis in the LDV Vans Trophy second round against Rushden and Ipswich Town’s George Santos at Millwall in Division One. This is his second season as a Football League referee, and last year’s Third Division clash with Rochdale brought about two of his 53 yellow cards in fifteen games. Mark Beard was the Shrimper cautioned, joining ‘Dale’s Simon Grand. None of his four dismissals occurred in Blues’ one-nil triumph.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Friday 26^th December 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three @ the Abbey Stadium

Cambridge United 0 Southend United 1 (Leon Constantine 38) [attendance: 5,368]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Dave McSweeney, Leon Cort, Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson; Mark Gower, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Neil Jenkins (Jamie Stuart 90); Tesfaye Bramble, Leon Constantine. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Drewe Broughton, Michael Husbands, Michael Kightly.

Friday 26^th December 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three @ the Kassam Stadium

Oxford United 2 (Andy Crosby 33 [pen], Julian Alsop 90) Leyton Orient 1 (Gary Alexander 26) [attendance: 9,477]. Oxford United line-up (5-3-2): Andy Woodman; Scott McNiven (Mark Rawle 69), Matthew Bound, Andy Crosby, Dean Whitehead, Paul McCarthy; James Hunt, Paul Wanless, Matt Robinson; Julian Alsop, Steve Basham (Lee Steele 89). Subs not used: Danny Brown, Chris Hackett, Jon Ashton.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

W1-0 (away; Cambridge United; League Division Three; Leon Constantine)

L0-1 (home; Bristol Rovers; League Division Three)

W3-2 (away; Swansea City; League Division Three; Leon Constantine, Mark Gower, Mark Warren)

W3-0 (home; Luton Town; LDV Vans Trophy; Leon Constantine, Michael Kightly, Drewe Broughton)

W3-0 (home; Lincoln City; F.A. Cup; Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Gower, James Corbett)

Oxford United

W2-1 (home; Leyton Orient; League Division Three; Andy Crosby [pen], Julian Alsop)

D1-1 (away; Huddersfield Town; League Division Three; Mark Rawle)

W2-1 (home; Carlisle United; League Division Three; Matt Robinson, Andy Crosby [pen])

W2-1 (away; Rochdale; League Division Three; Steve Basham, Julian Alsop)

W3-1 (home; Macclesfield Town; League Division Three; Julian Alsop, James Hunt, Paul Wanless)

Southend United home form

L0-1 (League Division Three; Bristol Rovers)

W3-0 (LDV Vans Trophy; Luton Town; Leon Constantine, Michael Kightly, Drewe Broughton)

W3-0 (F.A. Cup; Lincoln City; Tesfaye Bramble, Marl Gower, James Corbett)

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

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

Oxford United away form

D1-1 (League Division Three; Huddersfield Town; Mark Rawle)

W2-1 (League Division Three; Rochdale; Steve Basham, Julian Alsop)

D1-1 (League Division Three; Cambridge United; Mark Rawle)

L0-1 (F.A. Cup; Colchester United)

D2-2 (League Division Three; York City; Chris Brass [o.g.], Chris Hackett)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 23 [11]

Won: 7 [3]

Drawn: 3 [1]

Lost: 13 [7]

Scored: 22 [11]

Conceded: 36 [15]

Goal Difference: -14 [-4]

Points: 24 [10]

Position: 22^nd [22^nd]

F.A. Cup

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

Second Round: beat Lincoln City (home) 3-0

Third Round: vs. Scarborough (home) on Saturday 3^rd January 2004

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: beat Luton Town (home) 3-0

Southern Section Semi-Final: vs. Queens Park Rangers (home) on Tuesday 20^th January 2004

Oxford United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [away])

Played: 23 [11]

Won: 13 [3]

Drawn: 9 [7]

Lost: 1 [1]

Scored: 37 [14]

Conceded: 16 [10]

Goal Difference: +21 [+4]

Points: 48 [16]

Position: 2^nd [6^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: lost to Colchester United (away) 0-1

Carling Cup

First Round: beat Millwall (away) 1-0

Second Round: lost to Reading (home) 1-3

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: lost to Rushden & Diamonds (home) 0-1

THE HISTORY

Last Match

 

 

Last Five Meetings

6th September 2003 – Oxford United 2 (Steve Basham 26, Paul Wanless 47) Southend United 0 – League Division Three

21st January 2003 – Southend United 2 (Mark Rawle 45, Tesfaye Bramble 70) Oxford United 1 (Steve Basham 89) – Nationwide League Division Three

24th August 2002 – Oxford United 0 Southend United 1 (Mark Rawle 20) – Nationwide League Division Three

2nd March 2002 – Southend United 2 (Tesfaye Bramble 29 [pen], Leon Cort 43) Oxford United 2 (Andy Scott 45, Paul Powell 71 [pen]) – Nationwide League Division Three

22nd September 2001 – Oxford United 2 (Paul Moody 29, Sam Ricketts 46) Southend United 0 – Nationwide League Division Three

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

2003/4 – A0-2 (League)

2002/3 – H2-1 A1-0 (League)

2001/2 – H2-2 A0-2 (League)

1999/2000 – H0-2 A0-1 (League Cup)

1996/7 – H2-2 A0-5 (League)

1993/4 – H6-1 A1-2 (League)

1992/3 – H0-3 A1-0 (League)

1991/2 – H2-3 A1-0 (League)

1983/4 – H0-1 A1-2 (League)

1982/3 – H1-2 A0-1 (League)

1981/2 – H0-1 A2-0 (League)

1980/1 – H0-2 A1-0 (League Cup)

1979/80 – H1-1 A0-1 (League)

1978/9 – H2-0 A0-0 (League)

1965/6 – H2-1 A2-3 (League)

Summary

Overall (29 matches)

Southend United 9

Oxford United 16

Draws 4

In the League (25 matches)

Southend United 8

Oxford United 13

Draws 4

At Southend United (14 matches)

Southend United 4

Oxford United 7

Draws 3

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com