Blimey, what will Tilly do? He's got five fit, and unsuspended, defenders, half a dozen midfielders, including the Moose, who showed him what he can do in the middle last week, and a few forwards, including Damien Scannell, who showed what he can do with some decent game time.
So at last we should see a full bench of players who are allowed to drive with the Blues boss having to decide who to leave out!
The main choice, I guess, would be between Anthony Grant and Jean-François Christophe, and if it is he was going with the former Chelsea man before the recent round of time off for various players.
For me I want to see us get something from a team at the bottom after poor results at Carlisle, Yeovil and Tranmere, the latter being particularly poor.
The bottom line is a win for the home side will see them only a point behind the Shrimpers and make it all very tight again between the bottom four and the top half of the table.
We have to make sure this time we build on a good home win, Boxing Day and the Farmers await.
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, Morrison, Barrett, Malone, Laurent, Grant, McCormack, Moussa, Ibehre, Barnard.
Subs: Joyce, Sankofa, Christophe, O'Keefe, Scannell, Freedman, Walker.
OPPOSITION
23-year-old Fleetwood pulled out of last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at the Latics at the last moment after it emerged that Dennis Fleetwood was gravely ill. Having made a dash back to Gloucester to be at the 72-year-old's side, his grandfather passed away later that day.
Stuart told www.thisisexeter.co.uk: "I got the phone call on Saturday morning telling me that my grandad only had a couple of hours to live. I jumped on the train from Manchester all the way back to Gloucester to join my family by his side."
18 | Gillingham | 21 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 25 | 31 | 22 | -6 | ||||
19 | Exeter City | 21 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 31 | 22 | -8 | ||||
20 | Leyton Orient | 21 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 25 | 37 | 22 | -12 | ||||
21 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 21 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 39 | 20 | -15 |
Last Time Out : Oldham Athletic 2 Exeter City 0
In recent weeks City have faced three out of form sides in Bristol Rovers, Brighton and Oldham and have now lost to each of them. The Grecians boasted a seven-point cushion between themselves and the drop zone following their 3-1 win at Stockport County three weeks ago. Just when they thought they had moved clear of the relegation battle and reached the comfort zone, reality is beginning to bite once more.
The worrying thing is that City are losing games against teams in and around them in Coca-Cola League One. And their only saving grace at the moment is most of the sides in the bottom eight of the division are also struggling to pick up results.
Paul Tisdale's side have not scored in their last three games and they didn't look like altering that trend at Boundary Park. Bertie Cozic shaved the crossbar with a speculative effort, Adam Stansfield blazed wide and Matt Taylor sent a free header over the crossbar. That was as good as it got and City only raised their game once they had shipped two goals in the opening 13 minutes of the second half.
While they struggled to create chances, what was more disappointing was the soft nature of the goals they conceded against an Oldham side who have been sinking faster than the Titanic in recent weeks. After squandering possession cheaply Dean Furman swept the ball into the feet of Deane Smalley and he lashed a rasping drive beyond the reach of Andy Marriott.
If the first goal was disappointing, then the second was a shocker. Danny Whitaker lofted a hopeful ball up field and Andy Marriott elected not to come and deal with it. That would prove the wrong decision as Paul Heffernen raced into the box, cut inside Taylor and watched his shot deflect off the defender and loop over the veteran keeper.
Tisdale admitted in the build-up to this game that he was not looking to add to his squad in the January transfer window. But on the evidence of this, he might well have to think again. City are lacking a regular goalscorer and while their midfield look at ease spraying passes around there is a chronic lack of width and decent delivery from wide areas. To make matters worse the team are leaking sloppy goals and they have now conceded 21 times in their 11 away matches this season.
The Grecians could count themselves unfortunate to have lost to Brighton and Bristol Rovers in the last two games, but on Saturday they could have few complaints. They only registered one shot on target all afternoon and that was a weak Stansfield effort easily dealt with by, yes it is he, little Darryl Flahavan.
City lack ideas in the final third and, despite fielding three strikers, there was no cutting edge. Given some of the precision passing football City have played this season, they simply failed to do themselves justice on Saturday.
Tisdale was hoping his side would come flying out of the traps, but the opening exchanges were scrappy and disjointed. Cozic's 25-yard shot brushed the top of the bar, while at the other end Whitaker was twice off target with rasping drives. Stansfield failed to get a proper connection on Barry Corr's knock down and the ball dropped invitingly into the hands of keeper Flahavan.
Tisdale, who had started the game playing a 4-3-3, switched to a 4-4-2 on 35 minutes in a bid to breathe fresh life into his side. But still the service to the frontmen was missing.
City survived a scare at the start of the second half as Keigan Parker scrambled an angled shot narrowly wide before the opener arrived. Furman set up Smalley to unleash a blistering drive into the bottom corner and stun the Grecians. Heffernan heaped more misery on the lacklustre visitors when his run from deep ended with a deflected shot dropping over the outstretched glove of Marriott.
'Can we play you every week?' was the taunt from the Latics fans as they sensed a rare home win.
Tisdale changed to a 3-4-3 and Stansfield headed over the crossbar following good work from Scott Golbourne and Steve Tully. To their credit City piled on the pressure in the closing stages and Taylor headed over, while Logan nodded straight at Flahavan. But there was no way through and the 335 away fans were left to reflect on another defeat.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
(Report supplied by www.thisisexeter.co.uk)
PREVIOUSLY
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
GROUND
Opposite is the Flybe Stand which was opened in 2001 and replaced the former Cowshed Stand. This smart looking all seater stand is single tiered, with a row of executive boxes to the rear.
At one end is the Blackthorn 'Big Bank' covered terrace, which was opened in February 2000 and replaced a former large open terrace.
Concerning the new Big Bank Stand, Neil Le Milliere on www.footballgroundguide.com says; "The stand is a covered terrace with accommodation for 4,000 home supporters, the Club has decided upon the name "The Cliff Bastin Stand". Cliff Bastin formerly played for Exeter City before moving onto Arsenal in 1929. During his many years at Highbury, Cliff Bastin scored more league and cup goals for Arsenal than any other player prior to Ian Wright".
The other end is a very small open terrace, called the St James Road terrace. This end is given to away supporters. It is that small, you can clearly see a row of houses that sit beyond it.
The away end holds 1,200 fans and is open to the elements. It may be advisable, (especially if the weather is not great....and cold), to try and get one of the 300 seats made available to away supporters in the old, but at least covered Stagecoach Grandstand. (In fact, due to the conditions it may be closed.)
(Ground information supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com)
WEATHER
Don't winge, it will be clear and sunny and...... two degrees. Match should be on though!
The man in the middle is Roger East from Wiltshire.
He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/134/1/roger-east
BET
To Win:
Exeter - 6/4 , Draw - 5/2, Southend - 2.
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/update_exeter_from_44_return_450273/index.shtml
By Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/exeter_450470/index.shtml
HISTORY
Exeter City FC was formed from two predecessor clubs: - Exeter United and
St Sidwell's United. Exeter United was a football club from Exeter, Devon, that played between 1890 and 1904. In 1904, Exeter United lost 3-1 to local rivals St Sidwell's United and after the match, it was agreed that the two clubs should become one. The new team took the name 'Exeter City' and continued to play at Exeter United's ground, St James Park, where Exeter City still play today.
The club is nicknamed The Grecians. This name has a disputed history, with many theories being proposed for its origin. No-one is sure of the definitive answer to why but one source suggests that the club voted for the name in 1908 because of its association with St Sidwells parish.
People living in the parish of St Sidwells in Exeter have been known as "Greeks" or "Grecians" for many centuries. This is possibly due to the parish's location outside the city walls. In Homer's epic poem Iliad the Greek forces laid siege to the walls of Troy. The association possibly arose because of rivalries between city boys and St Sidwellians during the annual beating the bounds.
It has also been suggested that there was a group of children in St Sidwells who were referred to as the 'Greasy Un's' and another possible, but unlikely source for the name was from clock that hung outside a jeweller's shop in Sidwell Street, close to the ground, which had the word 'Grecians' engraved or painted on the face.
A further possible source for the name is that it is a corruption of Caerwysg, the Welsh word for Exeter (similar to the Cornish word Karesk). Citizens would have been called Caer Iscuns which became Grecians.
On 10 September 1904, Exeter City played its first ever competitive match: - a 2-1 victory at St James over 110th Battery of the Royal Artillery, in the East Devon League. The attendance was 600, and the winning goal scored by Sid Thomas, who was to serve the club in various capacities for 70 years. City topped the East Devon League with 11 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat in its 1st season, and transferred to the Plymouth & District League for next 3 seasons.
City's historic first match in the Football League took place on Saturday 28 August 1920, when Brentford was the visiting team to St James Park. Exeter won 3-0.
In 1931, City reached the sixth round of the FA Cup, losing a replay 4-2 to Sunderland in front of its largest ever home gate. Fifty years later, City reached the sixth round again, but lost 2-0 to eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur. Earlier Exeter had beaten Newcastle United 4-0 having beaten Leicester City in the previous round.
City's only major trophy was the Fourth Division Championship which it won in 1990. In that season, City won 20 league games at St James Park, and remained undefeated in 31 home matches, including dramatic draws against Norwich City in the FA Cup and Sunderland in the League Cup 4th round, both of which featured late equalisers for the visitors.
The end of the 1970s and the very early 1980s were regarded as City's most successful spell in the Third Division, including a finish of 8th in 1979-80 and an FA Cup run the following season. Star players included Tony Kellow, John Delve and David Pullar.
Following that promotion, City rarely shone at the higher level. The departure of manager Terry Cooper and key players such as Shaun Taylor, Richard Dryden, Clive Whitehead, Brian McDermott and Steve Neville left new boss Alan Ball to pick up the pieces.
There were some successes under the former World Cup winner - including winning both games against local rivals Plymouth in the clubs' first derbies for a decade - but Ball left for Southampton and the returning Cooper was unable to stop Exeter avoiding relegation.
Back in the bottom division, City struggled for several seasons, with chairman Ivor Doble taking the club into administration and starting a chain of events which resulted in the sale of the club's ground for what was considered by many to be a very low sum.
In 2003, City finished 23rd in Division Three and was relegated to the Conference National - Exeter was the first club to suffer automatic relegation without finishing bottom of the league. Exeter won its last game but was still relegated as Swansea City's victory over Hull City(!) left the Grecians one point short of safety.
Following relegation to the Conference, the club was taken over by the Exeter City Supporters Trust. In May 2007 two of the Directors who had been in charge during season 2002-2003 were convicted of fraudulent trading at the club, John Russell receiving a prison sentence and Mike Lewis a community service sentence.
Several million pounds in debt and with no big investor in sight, the Trust kept the club going through fund-raising activities amongst rank and file supporters. Complex legal arguments with both the Inland Revenue and the football authorities meant that City's first season of non-league football was plagued by off the field uncertainty.
In 2004, a Creditors Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) was put in place to reduce the club's debts. Through the club's "Red or Dead" scheme, hundreds of fans pledged at least £500 each to fund the CVA repayments, but the FA Cup proved to be the income boost the Grecians had needed, as City was drawn Manchester United away in the third round of the FA Cup.
Exeter drew 0-0 at Old Trafford in January 2005, gaining £653,511 as City's share of receipts from the near 70,000 attendance. Further income from a televised replay - won 2-0 by United - coupled with ongoing fund-raising and unpaid work from the club's supporters helped the club to repay its debts, and the CVA was cleared in December 2005.
2004 also saw the club's centenary. In May 2004 a friendly fixture was arranged against a Brazilian masters team at St James Park, a celebration of City's South American tour of 1914. The Brazilian team, containing such notable players as Careca and Dunga, won 1-0.
City's first team finished the 2006-07 season in fifth place, qualifying for the play-offs. After beating Oxford United on penalties in the semi-final City met Morecambe at Wembley in the final, where it lost 2-1 despite taking an early lead.
The Grecians reached the play-off final in the following season, this time Exeter looked to be heading out of the play-offs after losing the first leg of the semi final at home to local rivals Torquay United 2-1 but came back to win the second leg 4-1 with 3 goals in the last 20 minutes. In the final Exeter met Cambridge United in front of a Conference play-off record crowd of 42,511, winning 1-0 with a goal from Rob Edwards, earning promotion to League Two.
The club followed on from its success in the Conference by finishing as runners up to Brentford in League Two with a goal from Richard Logan helping Exeter to win promotion to League One with a 1-0 win away to Rotherham United on the last day of the season.
The club remains owned and run by its fans, through the Exeter City Supporters Trust, and especially due to that we at S24 wish them the best for the future, after Saturday of course.
For a more comprehensive history of Exeter City, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter_City_F.C.