Southend United vs Torquay United - Team News

Last updated : 25 January 2002 By

Stuart Thurgood
Player/Manager Rob Newman will again stick to his policy of naming the side just before the kick-off for Saturday afternoon’s game at Roots Hall against relegation threatened Torquay United. Newman has named a nineteen man squad.

Blues squad: Darryl Flahavan, Daniel Gay, Stephen Broad, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle, Danny Kerrigan, Leon Cort, Phil Whelan, Rob Newman, Steven Clark, Kevin Maher, Leon Johnson, Stuart Thurgood, Carl Hutchings, Scott Forbes, Barrington Belgrave, Tes Bramble, Mark Rawle and Tony Richards.

It is expected that Rob Newman will keep to the 4-4-2 system that the players look more comfortable with. Kevin Maher is free from suspension but could find himself on the bench after the players did so well in his absence in Tuesday nights impressive 2-0 win over promotion chasing Hull City.

Stuart Thurgood certainly played his part in the middle of the park in the victory over the Tigers and will be disappointed if he is not in the starting eleven. Steven Clark who completed his signing from West Ham United on Friday will replace Scott Forbes on the right wing provided he has recovered from his “dead leg” that saw him miss the Hull City game. Forbes who was the only player to disappoint on Tuesday night should make the bench..

Upfront Barrington Belgrave will partner ten goal leading goal scorer Tes

Leon Cort - in impressive form
Bramble, Mark Rawle will play wide left alongside Carl Hutchings in the middle while the defence will be the usual five of Darryl Flahavan, Stephen Broad, Damon Searle, Leon Cort and Skipper Phil Whelan.

Probable side: Flahavan, Broad, Searle, Whelan, Cort, Clark, Thurgood, Hutchings, Rawle, Belgrave and Bramble.

Subs: Gay, Forbes, Maher, Newman and Richards.

Blues Under Nineteen’s and Under Seventeen’s are without fixtures in the Football League Youth Alliance and will play each other at Boots and Laces on Saturday morning

Steve Connolly
www.thelittlegazette.com