Swansea City vs. Southend United – Preview

Leon Constantine will be looking to seize his opportunity again

After beating Lincoln City by three goals to nil in the F.A. Cup last Saturday, Southend replicated the scoreline in a highly impressive display against Second Division Luton Town in the LDV Vans Trophy southern section quarter-final at Roots Hall three days later. However, despite the draw for the area semi-finals ataking place at 9:55 a.m. tomorrow morning, it will be the three o’clock kick off at the Vetch that the squad will be intently focused on.

For whilst Blues were demolishing the Red Imps a week ago, Darlington were climbing out of the relegation zone and putting the southeast Essex side back in with a 3-0 win of their own at the Reynolds Arena against York City. Cup runs are all well and good and put a healthy amount of money into the coffers, but it is Nationwide League survival that Steve Tilson and Paul Brush know is imperative in the coming six months.

Form at home has picked up, but unfortunately that has coincided with a drop on the Seasiders’ travels again. After winning four of five matches away, the last two Third Division trips from Roots Hall have seen a 4-0 pasting at high-flying Yeovil Town’s Huish Park and a 3-0 reverse at the hands of play-off hopefuls Torquay United. Tomorrow’s opponents find themselves in a similar position to the Gulls, and will also be looking to secure what they perceieve as three vital points.

Thankfully as the squad travel westwards, Tilson and Brush have a number of good selection dilemas. At the back, Mark Warren is back from a mixture of a niggling injury and a one-match suspension, although he did put the ball into his own net in the reserve defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek. Jamie Stuart is also likely to be able to take toi the field after undergoing painkilling injections to see that he can continue despite suffering from a pelvic stress fracture.

Duncan Jupp will not be fit to return having only recently started to comtemplate training with his broken toe. As a result Dave McSweeney is likely to continue at right-back, with Stuart replacing Che Wilson on the opposite flank. Leon Cort and Lewis Hunt have been very impressive in the centre of defence, and will continue ahead of Warren. Darryl Flahavan has managed consecutive clean sheets, and holds his position ahead of Carl Emberson.

The midfield is bolstered by the return of Neil Jenkins, despite the former England Under-20 international having performed poorly after setting Michael Husbands on his way for the 57-second opener on Wednesday. Teenage superstar Michael Kightly is expected to continue after netting his first senior goal against the Hatters three days ago, ahead of Jenkins. In the other wide position, Mark Gower’s withdrawal at half-time was nothing more than a precaution and he should get the nod ahead of the improving Steven Clark.

In the middle, it is a case of as you were. Blues have little option but to persevere with captain Kevin Maher and F.A. Cup first round hero Jay Smith. To their credit, both are fighting hard to impress and retain their places when the injured duo of Jamie Fullarton and Leke Odunsi return to full fitness. The former is expected to return to Boots & Laces training inside the next fortnight, whilst the ex-Millwall and Colchester battler continues to be setback in his fight against the knock sustained against Huddersfield Town in October.

At the spearhead of the team are the club’s two top goalscorers – Tesfaye Bramble who has seven strikes to his name, and Leon Constantine, who netted his ninth of the campaign two minutes into the match against Luton. He was handed his chance when James Corbett dropped out injured, and with the former Blackburn Rovers man out of the picture for a further month, Drewe Broughton, who netted with a diving header in the LDV, and Husbands, who drilled home from thirty yards in the Combination match, are heaping the pressure on.

Swansea will be without influential striker and talisman Lee Trundle, who begins a three-match suspension for a sending-off against York tomorrow. They will also miss midfielder Roberto Martinnez, who continues to struggle with a knee injury and has been forced to consult a specialist. Former Aston Villa man Leon Hylton could miss out after limping away from the Swans’ Tuesday reserve fixture.

The head-to-head record does not make pretty reading, but a victory in Wales has a good omen – the only other time Blues have beaten Swansea at the Vetch Field was a 4-1 triumph in 1990/1, when, of course, United were promoted from the basement division. The 2-1 win six weeks ago was just the second victory against City in 24 meetings on ‘foreign’ soil, but a third would be most appreciated by the gathering of souls opposite the infamous North Bank tomorrow!

Southend United squad (probable): Darryl Flahavan, Carl Emberson, Dave McSweeney, Che Wilson, Lewis Hunt, Mark Warren, Leon Cort, Jamie Stuart, Steven Clark, Michael Kightly, Mark Gower, Jay Smith, Kevin Maher, Neil Jenkins, Michael Husbands, Tesfaye Bramble, Leon Constantine, Drewe Broughton.

Full statistical appraisal to appear this afternoon.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: George Cain (Merseyside)

Assistant Referees: Ron Ganfield (Somerset), Kevin Hawkes (Gloucestershire)

This will only be the fifth Third Division match of the season for Cain, with twelve matches already under his control from more lofty fixtures. So far 21 yellow cards have been dished out, with only Warren Goodhind of Cambridge United dismissed. The Scouser has not refereed a Southend match in the last six-and-a-half seasons.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Tuesday 9^th December 2003 – LDV Vans Trophy southern section quarter-final @ Roots Hall

Southend United 3 (Leon Constantine 2, Michael Kightly 27, Drewe Broughton 84) Luton Town 0 [attendance: 2,027]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Dave McSweeney, Leon Cort, Lewis Hunt, Che Wilson; Michael Kightly (Michael Husbands 83), Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Mark Gower (Steven Clark 46); Tesfaye Bramble (Drewe Broughton 73), Leon Constantine. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Mark Warren.

Saturday 6^th December 2003 – F.A. Cup second round @ the Vetch Field

Swansea City 2 (Kevin Nugent 23, Lee Trundle 51) Stevenage Borough 1 (Anthony Elding 49) [attendance: 6,125]. Swansea City line-up (4-4-2): Roger Freestone; Michael Howard, Kristian O’Leary, Ezomo Iriekpen, Richard Duffy; Leon Britton, Lenny Johnrose, Kieron Durkan, Andy Robinson; Kevin Nugent, Lee Trundle. Subs not used: Anthony Williams, Roberto Martinez, Jason Thomas, Jonathan Coates, Stuart Jones.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

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)

L0-3 (away; Torquay United; League Division Three)

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

W3-2 (away; Canvey Island; F.A. Cup; Tesfaye Bramble, Jay Smith)

Swansea City

W2-1 (home; Stevenage Borough; F.A. Cup; Kevin Nugent, Lee Trundle)

D0-0 (away; York City; League Division Three)

W1-0 (home; Darlington; League Division Three; Lee Trundle)

L1-2 (away; Northampton Town; League Division Three; Leon Britton)

W3-0 (home; Rushden & Diamonds; F.A. Cup; Lee Trundle, Kevin Nugent, Kieron Durkan)

Southend United away form

L0-3 (League Division Three; Torquay United)

W3-2 (F.A. Cup; Canvey Island; Tesfaye Bramble, Jay Smith 2)

L0-4 (League Division Three; Yeovil Town)

W2-1 (LDV Vans Trophy; Swansea City; Tesfaye Bramble, James Corbett)
W2-1 (League Division Three; Macclesfield Town; Leon Constantine, Jay Smith [pen])

Swansea City home form

W2-1 (F.A. Cup; Stevenage Borough; Kevin Nugent, Lee Trundle)

W1-0 (League Division Three; Darlington; Lee Trundle)

W3-0 (F.A. Cup; Rushden & Diamonds; Lee Trundle, Kevin Nugent, Kieron Durkan)

L1-2 (LDV Vans Trophy; Southend United; Daniel Nardiello)

D0-0 (League Division Three; Bristol Rovers)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [away])

Played: 20 [10]

Won: 5 [2]

Drawn: 3 [2]

Lost: 12 [6]

Scored: 18 [7]

Conceded: 33 [19]

Goal Difference: -15 [-12]

Points: 18 [8]

Position: 23^rd [18^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Canvey Island (away) 3-2 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 in 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: draw to be made on Saturday 13^th December 2004

Swansea City

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 20 [10]

Won: 10 [6]

Drawn: 5 [3]

Lost: 5 [1]

Scored: 31 [19]

Conceded: 22 [7]

Goal Difference: +9 [+12]

Points: 35 [21]

Position: 6^th [8^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Rushden & Diamonds (home) 3-0

Second Round: beat Stevenage Borough (home) 2-1

Third Round: vs. Macclesfield Town or Cambridge United on Saturday 3^rd January 2004

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Bristol City (away) 1-4

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: bye

Second Round: lost to Southend United (home) 1-2

THE HISTORY

Last Meeting

Last Five Meetings

4^th November 2003 - Swansea City 1 (Daniel Nardiello 90) Southend United 2 (Tesfaye Bramble 70, James Corbett 78) – LDV Vans Trophy second round

18^th March 2003 - Southend United 0 Swansea City 2 (Jason Thomas 60 [pen]. Kevin Nugent 64) – League Division Three

19^th October 2002 - Swansea City 1 (Jason Thomas 52 [pen]) Southend United 0 – League Division Three

15^th February 2002 – Swansea City 3 (Christopher Todd 1, 32, Mamade Sidibe 75) Southend United 2 (Leon Cort 6, Phil Whelan 86) – League Division Three

13^th October 2003 – Southend United 4 (Tesfaye Bramble 57, Kevin Maher 81 [pen], 90 [pen], Barrington Belgrave 83) Swansea City 2 (Michael Howard 38, Stuart Roberts 86) – League Division Three

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

2003/4 – A2-1 (LDV Vans Trophy)

2002/3 – H0-2 A0-1 (League)

2001/2 – H4-2 A2-3 (League)

1999/2000 – H2-1 A1-3 (League)

1998/9 – H2-0 A1-3 (League)

1990/1 – H4-1 A4-1 (League)

1988/9 – H0-2 A0-2 (League)

1986/7 – H1-2 A0-1 (League)

1978/9 – H0-2 A2-3 (League)

1977/8 – H2-1 A0-0 (League)

1976/7 – H1-2 A0-2 (League)

1975/6 – H2-0 (F.A. Cup)

1972/3 – H3-1 A1-1 (League)

1969/70 – H2-1 A0-2 (League)

1968/9 – H4-0 A2-2 (League)

1967/8 – H1-0 A2-2 (League)

1965/6 – H2-0 A0-5 (League)

1948/9 – H0-0 A2-2 (League) H1-2 (F.A. Cup)

1947/8 – H1-1 A0-3 (League)

1924/5 – H1-0 A0-4 (League)

1923/4 – H0-0 A1-2 (League)

1922/3 – H0-1 A0-1 (League)

1921/2 – H1-0 A1-1 (League) H0-1 (F.A. Cup)

1920/1 – H1-2 A0-2 (League)

Summary

Overall (48 matches)

Southend United 15

Swansea City 24

Draws 9

In the League (44 matches)

Southend United 13

Swansea City 22

Draws 9

At Swansea City (23 matches)

Southend United 2

Swansea City 15

Draws 6

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com