TLG Stat-Pack – The Shrimpers vs. The Swans

Last updated : 15 October 2004 By Robert Craven

Mark Warren was the hero of the Vetch Field eight
No-one of the 80-or-so-strong Shrimpers contingent will forget that occasion just before Christmas 2003 when, with Dave McSweeney sent off after just 23 minutes, and Jay Smith and Mark Gower following him in the final five, substitute Mark Warren somehow managed to grab an unlikely third goal for Southend and put the match beyond the hosts, despite a numerical disadvantage of three. Although the Welshman made it anxious with an even later reply, Blues held on.


That would have been all the more remarkable had the Shrimpers not gained just their third victory in their history at the Vetch Field only a month-and-a-half earlier, under the technical supervision of David Webb, but in all reality with Steve Tilson in his first match in charge. Tesfaye Bramble and Jimmy Corbett, unbeaten as a strike partnership, started that run with the goal before a late Daniel Nardiello consolation.


Recent form at the Hall is patchy, with Lawrie Dudfield the only goalscorer in the last meeting in March in his final game on loan from Northampton – he soon put pen to paper permanently. That was Tilson and Brush’s first game in control after putting pen to paper on two-year deals to become the management dup on a full-time basis, and was the last home clash before the LDV Vans Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium, ironically in Cardiff.


In a strange full-circle, Swansea at home was Rob Newman’s last defeat in the Roots Hall hotseat – he later won 1-0 against Leyton Orient but his fate was already sealed by then. That day, James Thomas – who scored on three consecutive occasions against the Seasiders – and Kevin Nugent, later sent off for shoving his elbow in Damon Searle’s face, were the goalscorers in one of the poorest displays in Southend’s recent history. Wins (4-2, 2-1, 2-0, 4-1) precede that, meaning the Swans have won just one of their last six meetings in southeast Essex, and that can only be good for Southend’s morale in this top-of-the-table crunch.


Last Meeting

Southend United

1-1
(Attendance: 4,763)

Swansea City

Lawrie Dudfield 66

Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall on Saturday 13/03/04

Kevin Nugent 62

Darryl Flahavan

Duncan Jupp

Che Wilson

Leon Cort

Lewis Hunt --

Kevin Maher --

Mark Bentley

Carl Pettefer

Leon Constantine

Lawrie Dudfield

Drewe Broughton

6

6

6(82)

7

7

7

6

7

6

8

6

Brian Murphy --

Shaun Byrne

Lenny Johnrose

Ezomo Iriekpen

Alan Tate

Robert Martinez

Leon Britton

Jonathan Coates

Stuart Roberts

Kevin Nugent

Paul Connor

6

6

7

6

6

5

7

6(69)

7(69)

7(78)

5

Carl Emberson

Jamie Stuart

Mark Warren

Tesfaye Bramble

Neil Jenkins

-

-

-

-(82)

-

Roger Freestone

Michael Howard

Stuart Jones

Andy Robinson

Bradley Maylett

7(78)

-

-

7(69)

6(69)


Match Report

By Mark Wallis

Lawrie Dudfield signalled his permanent arrival at Roots Hall with the equaliser
SOUTHEND United put up a decent display against Swansea City at Roots Hall on Saturday afternoon, but the Shrimpers could only take a single point out of the match with the Welsh side claiming a rather undeserved draw...


Steve Tilson took charge of Southend as full time manager for the very first time on this sunny mid-March afternoon, whilst striker Lawrie Dudfield, who ultimately found the net for the fifth time in eight appearances, made his first United appearance since joining permanently from Northampton Town for a undisclosed fee. Dudfield will now remain at Roots hall until at least the summer of 2005.


Tilson made just one change, an enforced one, from the side who picked up a 1-1 draw at the Memorial Stadium against Bristol Rovers a week earlier, with goalscorer Mark Gower missing with a niggling injury; his place taken by Drewe Broughton who joined Dudfield on the frontline whilst top-scorer Leon Constantine once again dropped back onto the right flank with Carl Pettefer switching sides to the left.


Southend undoubtedly started this crucial Division Three encounter as the better side and after only three minutes Broughton headed a Kevin Maher corner just wide of young goalkeeper Brian Murphy's upright.


Further early chances soon followed, a long ball up the touchline by Duncan Jupp set pacy Dudfield free but the 23-year-old's angled shot drifted agonisingly wide of the far post. Constantine also swung a shot wide of the post whilst, at the other end, Jonathan Coates zipped a fierce volley over the top of Darryl Flahavan's crossbar from 20 yards.


As half time approached a free kick from skipper Maher deflected just off target before an assist from the captain saw tall striker Broughton nod just off target at the far post.


Southend couldn't quite command the same dominance after the interval, and despite Maher dipping an effort just wide two minutes after the re-start, the visitor's grabbed a shock lead, very much against the run of play, on 62 minutes. A huge ball up field by Roberto Martinez caught Southend sleeping at the back and Kevin Nugent sneaked in, unmarked, at the far post to stab an effort over the top of Flahavan.


The goal however shook Southend up somewhat and their immediate reply was for Dudfield to head a Constantine cross off target before the leveller soon arrived only four minutes later. A long throw-in from the right flank by Mark Bentley was flicked on by the head of Broughton for Dudfield to head home from ten yards.


Dudfield then turned and fired an effort just wide of the post on 74 minutes before, a couple of minutes later the Swans were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Murphy was sent-off for deliberate handball after taking the ball off of the head of Dudfield. As a result Nugent was sacrificed to make way for veteran substitute stopper Roger Freestone.


Flahavan then did well to make an reaction stop at the feet of Alan Tate before Paul Connor's free kick took a huge deflection off of the Southend wall before bouncing wide.


Finally, it was the home side who created the final chance of the afternoon, substitute Tesfaye Bramble heading a Maher free kick over Freestone's crossbar.


Last Five Meetings


13th March 2004 – Southend United 1 (Lawrie Dudfield 66) Swansea City 1 (Kevin Nugent 62) – League Division Three

13th December 2003 - Swansea City 2 (James Thomas 14, 90+3) Southend United 3 (Leon Constantine 17, Mark Gower 45, Mark Warren 90+1) – League Division Three

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

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

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


The Complete Head-to-Head Record

2003/4 – H1-1 A3-2 (League), 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 (FA 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 (FA 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 (FA Cup)

1920/1 – H1-2 A0-2 (League)

Summary


Overall

Matches: 52

Southend United wins: 16

Swansea City wins: 24

Draws: 10

Southend United goals: 60

Swansea City goals: 74

Biggest Southend United win: 4-0 (Roots Hall; League Division Four; 18/09/69)

Biggest Swansea City win: 5-0 (Vetch Field; League Division Three; 29/01/66)


In The League

Matches: 48

Southend United wins: 14

Swansea City wins: 22

Draws: 10

Southend United goals: 55

Swansea City goals: 70

Biggest Southend United win: 4-0 (Roots Hall; League Division Four; 18/09/69)

Biggest Swansea City win: 5-0 (Vetch Field; League Division Three; 29/01/66)


At The Kursaal, Grainger Road and Roots Hall

Matches: 26

Southend United wins: 12

Swansea City wins: 10

Draws: 4

Southend United goals: 35

Swansea City goals: 29

Biggest Southend United win: 4-0 (Roots Hall; League Division Four; 18/09/69)

Biggest Swansea City win: 4-0 (The Kursaal; Division Three (South); 21/02/25)


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com