The Shrimpers faithful don't want to be scared at Roots Hall this weekend!
v SHRIMPERS
Not the fixture you wanted after three successive defeats but it's the merry Millers, presently in fourth place, we're getting so we better get used to it, and if Luggy can get his men playing like they ended the match against Bury last weekend, not the way they started, Halloween weekend may not be so horrifying after all.
Centre-back Bilel Moshni is available after completing his three-match suspension and I have him back in the side, Graham Coughlan dropping out.
Doncaster loanee striker Waide Fairhurst only has a couple of games left on his deal, unless he gets FA Cup clearance, but as he is struggling with a back injury he might miss both of them anyway!
Midfielder Adam Bouzid has returned to France to rest following surgery to his skull. He suffered from a clash of heads with a reserve Farmer last week and could be out for two months.
Winger Sofienne Zaaboub returned in midweek in the Essex Senior Cup victory over Brighton after a groin injury and looked lively, the bench for him to fight with Ryan Hall who comes on after another indifferent Louie Soares display. (Hope I'm wrong folks!)
To be honest I would like to just stop the rot, and their dangerous duo Adam Le Fondre and Nicky Law, and grab a point, but looking at the table the Shrimpers have to aim for all three.
Possible Southend United: Morris, Gilbert, Barker, Mohsni, Clohessy, Simpson, Grant, Timlin, Soares, Sturrock, Corr.
Subs: Evans, Herd, Phillips, Hall, Zaaboub, Crawford, Fairhurst (or Paterson).
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
Millers skipper Ryan Cresswell is a major doubt after the centre-half suffered a back injury in the warm-up to last Saturday and has yet to return to training.
Luke Ashworth became a very late replacement, though Nick Fenton played for the reserves in midweek after a recent calf injury and may make the side.
Fellow defender Exodus Geohaghon plays the final game of his three-month loan spell from Peterborough.
On-loan Arsenal midfielder Mark Randall is set for his debut in midfield after joining the South Yorkshire side, while striker Ryan Taylor continues to make his case to Millers boss Ronnie Moore, a man we know well from several battles with his former club Tranmere Rovers, for a starting place.
However, Rotherham physio Denis Circuit has spoken to MillersPlayer about more long term concerns.
'(Midfielder) Dale Tonge is having an X-ray on his injured ankle to check on the healing process. Then we will have a meeting with the consultant and hopefully he'll be in a position to start some light running next week.
'We are working with (midfielder) Grant Darley on his fitness and we go back on the November 5th and hopefully he`ll be able to start training and have contact. At the moment he`s about two weeks away.
'(Defender) Nick Fenton is running and not feeling any discomfort and we are going to step his work up on Monday. We don't want to rush him back and we'll take it steady because it doesn`t make sense to try and cut any corners.' 1 Chesterfield 13 6 1 0 22 11 2 3 1 7 6 8 4 1 29 17 28 +12 2 Port Vale 13 3 2 1 6 3 4 2 1 11 4 7 4 2 17 7 25 +10 3 Bury 13 3 3 1 12 8 4 1 1 13 9 7 4 2 25 17 25 +8 4 Rotherham United 13 3 3 1 16 13 3 2 1 9 5 6 5 2 25 18 23 +7 5 Shrewsbury Town 13 4 2 0 11 4 2 1 4 10 10 6 3 4 21 14 21 +7 6 Wycombe Wanderers 13 2 2 2 10 8 3 4 0 10 6 5 6 2 20 14 21 +6 7 Crewe Alexandra 13 3 3 1 18 7 1 4 1 12 11 4 7 2 30 18 19 +12
Player to watch:
Striker Glenville Adam J. le Fondre is one hot property, but better known to us as Adam Le Fondre.
His personal history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_le_Fondre
The Guardian rate him!: www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2010/sep/20/adam-le-fondre-rotherham-barnet
Last time away: Saturday, October 16th, 2010.Accrington Stanley 2-3 Millers
by Deano
| The Millers left it late as they clinched a niggly affair in stoppage time at the Crown Ground. |
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Cresswell returned to the side after a three game lay off following his grandad's death in place of Nick Fenton, but it was the home side who started brightly and opened the scoring on 9 minutes.PREVIOUSLY The now familiar red and white was adopted around 1928 after playing in amber and black. but there was no improvement in the club's fortunes: in 1931 they again had to apply for re-election. Immediately after the Second World War things looked up. Local businessman Tony Stewart then took over as Chairman for the 2008/09 season and took the club out of administration which resulted in a 17-point deduction and been forced to leave Millmoor for the Don Valley Stadium, their home of over 100 years, after disputes with the landlords.At Southend Utd. (10) At Rotherham U. (11) Results Total % Results Total % Southend Utd. 5 50.00 Rotherham U. 5 45.45 Rotherham U. 3 30.00 Southend Utd. 2 18.18 Draws 2 20.00 Draws 4 36.36 Goals Total Av.pg Goals Total Av.pg Southend Utd. 15 1.50 Rotherham U. 15 1.36 Rotherham U. 11 1.10 Southend Utd. 12 1.09 On Neutral Ground (0) Overall (21 matches) Results Total % Results Total % Southend Utd. 0 0.00 Southend Utd. 7 33.33 Rotherham U. 0 0.00 Rotherham U. 8 38.10 Draws 0 0.00 Draws 6 28.57 Goals Total Av.pg Goals Total Av.pg Southend Utd. 0 0.00 Southend Utd. 27 1.29 Rotherham U. 0 0.00 Rotherham U. 26 1.24 Records Highest Aggregate 6 Rotherham U. 2 - 4 Southend Utd. 2005/2006 Highest Southend Utd. score: 4 Rotherham U. 2 - 4 Southend Utd. 2005/2006 Highest Rotherham U. score: 3 Rotherham U. 3 - 2 Southend Utd. 1965/1966 Season Date Home Score Away Competition 2005/2006 Fri 10 Feb Southend Utd. 2 - 0 Rotherham U. League One Sat 24 Sep Rotherham U. 2 - 4 Southend Utd. League One 1999/2000 Sat 08 Apr Rotherham U. 0 - 0 Southend Utd. League Division Three Mon 03 Jan Southend Utd. 1 - 2 Rotherham U. League Division Three 1998/1999 Sat 06 Feb Rotherham U. 2 - 2 Southend Utd. League Division Three Sat 05 Sep Southend Utd. 3 - 0 Rotherham U. League Division Three 1990/1991 Fri 01 Mar Southend Utd. 2 - 1 Rotherham U. Third Division Sat 01 Dec Rotherham U. 0 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division 1987/1988 Sat 05 Mar Rotherham U. 1 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division Fri 16 Oct Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Rotherham U. Third Division 1983/1984 Tue 10 Apr Rotherham U. 0 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division Sat 27 Aug Southend Utd. 2 - 2 Rotherham U. Third Division 1979/1980 Sat 12 Jan Rotherham U. 2 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division Sat 01 Sep Southend Utd. 0 - 2 Rotherham U. Third Division 1978/1979 Tue 06 Feb Rotherham U. 2 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division Fri 15 Sep Southend Utd. 2 - 1 Rotherham U. Third Division 1975/1976 Sat 10 Jan Rotherham U. 2 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division Sat 30 Aug Southend Utd. 1 - 2 Rotherham U. Third Division 1972/1973 Sat 14 Apr Rotherham U. 1 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division Mon 19 Mar Southend Utd. 1 - 0 Rotherham U. Third Division 1965/1966 Sat 22 Jan Rotherham U. 3 - 2 Southend Utd. F.A. Cup
REF
The man in the middle is Phil Crossley from Bromley in Kent.
He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/131/1
His assistants are Michael George from Norfolk and Nigel Lugg from Surrey.
The fourth official is Ole Saliy from the Ukraine but more recently Middlesex!
FIXTURES
League Two
Saturday, October 30th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Accrington Stanley v Cheltenham Town, Aldershot v Bury, Bradford City v Oxford Utd, Macclesfield v Burton Albion, Northampton v Gillingham, Port Vale v Crewe, Shrewsbury v Barnet, Southend v Rotherham, Stevenage v Chesterfield, Stockport v Hereford, Torquay v Morecambe, Wycombe v Lincoln City.
BET
Southend (to win) - 13/8, Draw - 5/2, Rotherham (to win) - 9/5.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/
HISTORY
The clubs roots go back to 1870 when the club was formed as Thornhill Football Club (later Thornhill United).
For many years the leading team in the area was Rotherham Town F.C., who spent three seasons in the Football League while Thornhill United were still playing in the Sheffield & Hallamshire League.
By the turn of the century, however, Rotherham Town had resigned from the Football League and gone out of business; a new club of the same name later joined the Midland League.
Meanwhile, Thornhill's fortunes were on the rise to the extent that in 1905 they laid claim to being the pre-eminent club in the town and changed their name to Rotherham County For a period both clubs competed in the Midland League, finishing first and second in 1911-12.
Over time it became clear that to have two professional clubs in the town was not sustainable. Talks had begun in February 1925 and in early May the two clubs merged to form Rotherham United. Days later the reformed club was formally re-elected under its new name.
After adopting Arsenal-style white sleeved shirts, United finished as runners-up three time in succession between 1947 and 1949 and then were champions of Division Three (North) in 1951.
Rotherham reached their highest ever league position of third in the Football League Second Division in 1955, when only goal average denied them a place in the top flight after they finished level on points with champions Birmingham City and runners-up Luton Town.
In 1997, just after relegation to Division Three, one of the clubs greatest ever players Ronnie Moore took charge of Rotherham United and became the clubs greatest and most successful manager.
His first season ended in a mid-table finish and then his second in a play-off semi final defeat on penalties to Leyton Orient.
It was third time lucky in 1999-2000 as Rotherham finished as Division Three runners-up and gained promotion to Division Two. They were favourites to be relegated in 2000-01 season, but surprised many by finishing runners-up in Division Two and gaining a second successive promotion to Division One.
Rotherham managed to remained in Division One for four seasons, their most successful of which was the 2002-03 campaign. The Millers were in contention for a play-off place, but dropped off near the season's end to finish 15th, their lowest position all season.
During The 2004-05 season, the club struggled and spent most of the seaon bottom of the league and the club was bought by a consortium called millers 05 who caused many problems to the club including relegation, and Ronnie Moore resigned during the campaign.
Mick Harford took over as Millers manager but was sacked after a run of 17 games without a win, to be replaced by Alan Knill. Early in 2006 it was announced that the club faced an uncertain future unless a funding gap in the region of £140,000 per month could be plugged. An eleventh hour intervention by a consortium of local businessmen kept them in business.
The final match of the 2005-06 season, home to MK Dons, was a winner-take-all relegation showdown where a scoreless draw kept Rotherham up.
Rotherham United began their second successive year in League One with a 10-point deficit as a result of the CVA which saved the club from liquidation. the club pulled the points back but by the end of February, the Millers sat 13 points adrift of safety, making the threat of relegation almost inevitable.
This resulted in Knill being sacked on March 1, with Mark Robins becoming caretaker manager. Robins's position was made permanent on 6 April 2007, but he was not able to save Rotherham from relegation. The Millers spent the majority of the 2007-08 season in the automatic promotion places but in mid-March 2008 it was revealed that Rotherham had again entered administration and would be deducted 10 points.
The Millers had an impressive season under the new regime, quickly wiping out the point deficit and being in contention for a play-off place.
Manager Mark Robins departed to rivals Barnsely with John Breckin at the start of the 2009/10 season. To the fans delight club ledgend Ronnie Moore, who had been dismissed from Tranmere Rovers, was reappointed manager on Friday 25 September 2009. Jimmy Mullen was later confirmed as his assistant.
In January 2010 it was announced that the Guest And Chrimes site had been purchased and would be the new home of the club within two years with a new 12,000 seat stadium. Ronnie led the club to their first ever play off final and first trip to the new Wembley stadium. This game ended in a 3-2 loss to Dagenham & Redbridge in what was a thrilling final. Despite the loss it was a very memorable day in the clubs history.
(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Rotherham_United_F.C.