v 
SHRIMPERS
Got the 2-1 right, just for the wrong side.
I was concerned about this week, we've been running on empty towards the end of games for a while now and it had to catch up with us.
The Ryan Hall saga doesn't help, the possibilty of not knowing if you're being paid even more so!
Anyway, Morecambe away was probably the easy one as the sheer emotion of facing Tilly's Lincoln City at the weekend will make that tough enough, leaving Gillingham in the middle, and let's face it they are usually annoying.
The Gills are very strong up front, our central defenders will have to try and not go walkabout at set pieces, while we've got to track back in midfield if Kane Ferdinand is missing again.
I've put him in hoping he was close for Saturday, if not Lee Sawyer must start, but even if Kane starts I've kept the former Chelsea youth playing behind top scorer Barry Corr, a 17th of the season for Big Baz would probably be asking too much, swapping with Anthony Grant in a flexible formation that would allow the obviously not 100% fit son of Luggy a rest on the bench.
Easy, probably not, and the score. 1-1, as tired legs come to the fore again, but only a point would not be a disaster, and keep us in good spirit for that trip to Sincil Bank and saying hi to our former boss.
Possible Southend United: Evans, Clohessy, Coughlan, Barker, Gilbert, Ferdinand, Sawyer, Easton, Hall, Sawyer, Corr.
Subs: Morris, Prosser, Comminges, Soares, Sturrock, Crawford, Asante.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
We were interested in him, but couldn't afford the wages of Adebayo Akinfenwa, in fact we can't afford anybody's wages at the moment, who is now scoring for the only proffessional football club in Kent, grabbing one on Saturday in the team's 2-0 win over Bradford City (report below).
Gillingham are now unbeaten in nine games and have suffered only six defeats in their last 26 league games, turning round a poor start to the season, (they lost to Dover at home in the FA Cup), similar to the Blues of which our goalless draw last September summed it up for both sides at the time, however, the three points were welcome after four successive draws.
Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler told the PA: "We needed to get back to winning ways. As good as the unbeaten run is, we've drawn too many games and the lads knew that. The back four don't get the credit they deserve, but Garry (Richards) and (Matt) Lawrence are playing brilliantly for us week-in, week-out. Curtis Weston did exactly the right thing crossing it and Adebayo (Akinfenwa) was there to tuck it home. Curtis is finding his form and I was delighted for him to score. It was a good strike by a lad with fantastic ability and, without being disrespectful to this league, he's too good for this level."
Yes, that's our Garry Richards, but Mark Bentley now sits on the bench after having a loan request allowed last month but no takers so far.
There were some injury concerns before the Bantams clash, but in the end Hess played his present first choice side and we've heard nothing from that game that suggests anything than a unchanged line-up.
Midfielders Danny Spiller (fractured finger) and Chris Palmer (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Player to watch:
Cody MacDonald
The striker on loan from Norwich in the deal that took Simeon Jackson to Carrow Road, has been an immediate success with 17 goals.
For full player details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cody_McDonald
Somebody saw his promise at Dartford!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIJk3VoYNHc
Last Time Out
Away; Aldershot Town 1 Gillingham 1 (played on Tuesday, March 1st, 2011.)
Report: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10416~51998,00.html
Home; Gillingham 2 Bradford City 0 (played on Saturday, March 5th, 2011.)
Report: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10416~53108,00.html
Beeb Highlights: To be posted
A good old fashioned six pointer
| 4 | Rotherham United | 34 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 37 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 59 | 42 | 55 | +17 |
| 5 | Shrewsbury Town | 34 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 28 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 52 | 35 | 55 | +17 |
| 6 | Port Vale | 33 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 39 | 31 | 54 | +8 |
| 7 | Gillingham | 35 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 27 | 26 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 48 | 40 | 52 | +8 |
| 8 | Torquay United | 33 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 24 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 51 | 39 | 48 | +12 |
| 9 | Southend United | 33 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 25 | 25 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 45 | 41 | 47 | +4 |
| 10 | Oxford United | 35 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 26 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 44 | 45 | 47 | -1 |
| 11 | Crewe Alexandra | 33 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 38 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 64 | 53 | 45 | +11 |
| 12 | Stevenage | 33 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 27 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 41 | 31 | 45 | +10 |
| 13 | Cheltenham Town | 35 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 45 | 55 | 44 | -10 |
PREVIOUSLY
| At Southend Utd. (50) | At Gillingham (51) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Southend Utd. | 27 | 54.00 | Gillingham | 33 | 64.71 | |
| Gillingham | 7 | 14.00 | Southend Utd. | 8 | 15.69 | |
| Draws | 16 | 32.00 | Draws | 10 | 19.61 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Southend Utd. | 87 | 1.74 | Gillingham | 91 | 1.78 | |
| Gillingham | 43 | 0.86 | Southend Utd. | 38 | 0.75 | |
| On Neutral Ground (0) | Overall (101 matches) | |||||
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 35 | 34.65 | |
| Gillingham | 0 | 0.00 | Gillingham | 40 | 39.60 | |
| Draws | 0 | 0.00 | Draws | 26 | 25.74 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 125 | 1.24 | |
| Gillingham | 0 | 0.00 | Gillingham | 134 | 1.33 | |
| Records | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Aggregate | 9 | Gillingham | 8 - 1 | Southend Utd. | 1987/1988 |
| Highest Southend Utd. score: | 5 | Southend Utd. | 5 - 0 | Gillingham | 1956/1957 |
| Highest Gillingham score: | 8 | Gillingham | 8 - 1 | Southend Utd. | 1987/1988 |
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010/2011 | Tue 28 Sep | Gillingham | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Two |
| Tue 31 Aug | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Gillingham | (Associate Members) | |
| Southend United won 4-3 on penalties | |||||
| 2009/2010 | Mon 05 Apr | Gillingham | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League One |
| Sat 07 Nov | Gillingham | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | F.A. Cup | |
| Fri 30 Oct | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Gillingham | League One | |
| 2007/2008 | Wed 26 Dec | Gillingham | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | League One |
| Sat 08 Sep | Southend Utd. | 3 - 0 | Gillingham | League One | |
| 2005/2006 | Fri 14 Apr | Southend Utd. | 0 - 1 | Gillingham | League One |
| Sat 01 Oct | Gillingham | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | League One | |
| 1998/1999 | Tue 18 Aug | Gillingham | 0 - 1 | Southend Utd. | League Cup |
| Southend United won 2-0 on aggregate | |||||
| Tue 11 Aug | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Gillingham | League Cup | |
| 1997/1998 | Mon 13 Apr | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Gillingham | League Division Two |
| Sat 13 Dec | Gillingham | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | League Division Two | |
| 1989/1990 | Fri 09 Mar | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Gillingham | Fourth Division |
| Tue 07 Nov | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Gillingham | (Associate Members) | |
| Tue 26 Sep | Gillingham | 5 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division | |
| 1988/1989 | Sat 25 Feb | Gillingham | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Sat 15 Oct | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division | |
| 1987/1988 | Fri 01 Jan | Southend Utd. | 1 - 3 | Gillingham | Third Division |
| Sat 29 Aug | Gillingham | 8 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1985/1986 | Tue 03 Sep | Gillingham | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Cup |
| Gillingham won 3-1 on aggregate | |||||
| Tue 20 Aug | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Gillingham | League Cup | |
| 1983/1984 | Fri 20 Apr | Southend Utd. | 3 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division |
| Mon 26 Dec | Gillingham | 5 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1982/1983 | Fri 01 Apr | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division |
| Mon 27 Dec | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1981/1982 | Tue 16 Mar | Gillingham | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Mon 02 Nov | Southend Utd. | 3 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division | |
| 1979/1980 | Tue 13 Nov | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Mon 29 Oct | Southend Utd. | 0 - 3 | Gillingham | Third Division | |
| 1978/1979 | Sat 14 Apr | Southend Utd. | 0 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division |
| Tue 26 Dec | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1975/1976 | Tue 13 Apr | Gillingham | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Mon 01 Mar | Southend Utd. | 2 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division | |
| 1974/1975 | Sat 08 Feb | Gillingham | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Fri 01 Nov | Southend Utd. | 2 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division | |
| 1971/1972 | Wed 03 May | Southend Utd. | 2 - 2 | Gillingham | Fourth Division |
| Sat 29 Apr | Gillingham | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division | |
| 1969/1970 | Wed 19 Nov | Gillingham | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | F.A. Cup |
| Sat 15 Nov | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Gillingham | F.A. Cup | |
| 1966/1967 | Wed 31 Aug | Gillingham | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Cup |
| Wed 24 Aug | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Gillingham | League Cup | |
| 1965/1966 | Mon 11 Apr | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Fri 08 Apr | Southend Utd. | 5 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division | |
| 1964/1965 | Mon 05 Oct | Southend Utd. | 3 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division |
| Wed 30 Sep | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1960/1961 | Sat 26 Nov | Gillingham | 3 - 2 | Southend Utd. | F.A. Cup |
| 1957/1958 | Mon 07 Apr | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Fri 04 Apr | Gillingham | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1956/1957 | Mon 22 Apr | Southend Utd. | 5 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Fri 19 Apr | Gillingham | 0 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1955/1956 | Tue 27 Dec | Gillingham | 2 - 3 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Mon 26 Dec | Southend Utd. | 2 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1954/1955 | Sat 23 Apr | Gillingham | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 04 Dec | Southend Utd. | 3 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1953/1954 | Sat 02 Jan | Gillingham | 3 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 29 Aug | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1952/1953 | Sat 18 Apr | Southend Utd. | 3 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 29 Nov | Gillingham | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1951/1952 | Sat 29 Dec | Southend Utd. | 3 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 01 Sep | Gillingham | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1950/1951 | Mon 26 Mar | Southend Utd. | 4 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Fri 23 Mar | Gillingham | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1937/1938 | Sat 16 Apr | Gillingham | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 04 Dec | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1936/1937 | Sat 09 Jan | Southend Utd. | 0 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 12 Sep | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1935/1936 | Mon 13 Apr | Southend Utd. | 4 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Fri 10 Apr | Gillingham | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1934/1935 | Sat 30 Mar | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 17 Nov | Gillingham | 2 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1933/1934 | Wed 06 Sep | Southend Utd. | 1 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Wed 30 Aug | Gillingham | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1932/1933 | Sat 04 Feb | Gillingham | 3 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 24 Sep | Southend Utd. | 2 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1931/1932 | Sat 02 Jan | Gillingham | 4 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 29 Aug | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1930/1931 | Sat 07 Feb | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 04 Oct | Southend Utd. | 3 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1929/1930 | Mon 21 Apr | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Fri 18 Apr | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1928/1929 | Mon 01 Apr | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Fri 29 Mar | Gillingham | 0 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1927/1928 | Sat 17 Mar | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 10 Dec | Gillingham | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | F.A. Cup | |
| Sat 05 Nov | Southend Utd. | 1 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1926/1927 | Sat 19 Mar | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 30 Oct | Gillingham | 2 - 3 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1925/1926 | Sat 24 Apr | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Wed 20 Jan | Gillingham | 3 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| Sat 12 Dec | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Gillingham | F.A. Cup | |
| 1924/1925 | Fri 26 Dec | Southend Utd. | 4 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Thu 25 Dec | Gillingham | 3 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1923/1924 | Sat 05 Apr | Gillingham | 3 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 29 Mar | Southend Utd. | 3 - 2 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1922/1923 | Sat 07 Apr | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 31 Mar | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) | |
| 1921/1922 | Sat 29 Oct | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 22 Oct | Gillingham | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1920/1921 | Mon 28 Mar | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Gillingham | Third Division |
| Fri 25 Mar | Gillingham | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
REF
The man in the middle is James Linington (Isle of White).
A former Plymouth Argyle youth, maybe he knows Luggy! And he gives an interview here: http://refworld.com/referee/179/1/james-linington
His assistants are Ellit Kaye and John Magill (Both from Essex!); The fourth official is Rob Whitton (Er, Essex, must be the northern bit!)
FIXTURES
League Two
Tuesday, March 8th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Accrington Stanley v Stockport, Aldershot v Torquay, Barnet v Wycombe, Bradford v Rotherham, Burton Albion v Lincoln City, Bury v Morecambe, Chesterfield v Northampton, Macclesfield v Crewe, Shrewsbury v Port Vale, Southend v Gillingham, Stevenage v Hereford.
Saturday, March 12th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Cheltenham v Aldershot, Crewe v Chesterfield, Gillingham v Accrington Stanley, Hereford v Barnet, Lincoln City v Southend, Morecambe v Bradford, Northampton v Macclesfield, Port Vale v Oxford Utd, Rotherham v Bury, Stockport v Burton Albion, Torquay v Shrewsbury, Wycombe v Stevenage.
BET
Southend (to win) - 6/4, Draw - 12/5, Gillingham (to win) - 15/8.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/
HISTORY
Gillingham are the only Kent-based club in the Football League and play their home matches at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium.
The club was founded in 1893 and joined the Football League in 1920. They were voted out of the league in favour of Ipswich Town at the end of the 1937-38 season, but returned to it 12 years later after it was expanded from 88 to 92 clubs.
Twice in the late 1980s they came close to winning promotion to the second tier of English football, but a decline then set in and in 1993 they narrowly avoided relegation to the Football Conference.
Between 2000 and 2005, Gillingham were in the second tier of the English football league system for the only time in their history, achieving a club record highest league finish of eleventh place in 2002-03.
In the 2008-09 season, the club was promoted to Football League One after victory over Shrewsbury Town in the League Two play-off final.
However, the Gills were relegated back to League Two the very next season on the last weekend, with former Blue Mark Stimson leaving the club by mutual consent two days after the end of the season.
Within two weeks, Andy Hessenthaler returned for a second spell as manager.
(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Gillingham_F.C.)