Torquay United vs. Southend United – Preview

Lewis Hunt has joined United for another month.

However, Southend will be without two first team regulars as they travel westwards. Neil Jenkins is suspended after being sent off in the 4-0 reverse at Huish Park, whilst Drewe Broughton appears to have been reported for his dismissal in the reserve clash at Sixfields over a fortnight ago with a one-match suspension his punishment. There is a doubt that the striker would have made the matchday squad in any case, with Tesfaye Bramble, Jimmy Corbett and Leon Constantine all ahead of him in the shooting stakes.

The Shrimpers will be able to call upon Lewis Hunt, whose last match was always expected to be this fixture after his one-month loan deal from Division One Derby County expired on November 29^th. Hunt is staying in southeast Essex for the foreseeable future, after signing an extended one-month deal by the seaside, the calming influence on Leon Cort telling the Evening Echo in midweek, “I wouldn’t mind staying with Southend a bit longer. I’ve really enjoyed playing down here”.

With Hunt remaining in the side, Mark Warren looks set to miss out on his final chance to shine before he himself serves a one-match ban for his sending off at Canvey for a second bookable offence on striker Lee Boylan. Duncan Jupp missed out on valuable time on the pitch after Blues’ Twos clash with Northampton in the Pontin’s Holidays Combination was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Wednesday. As a result Dave McSweeney will start again on the right, with Jamie Stuart filling the left-back position.

The centre of midfield will once again contain Jay Smith, who has returned to his 2002/3 form in the past fortnight, and captain Kevin Maher, whilst Mark Gower will be used on one of the two flanks in Jenkins’ absence. Just which one remains a quiz as Steven Clark and Constantine fight it out for the other wide position. Should the former West Ham United winger be chosen, then he would play on the left with Gower on the right, but if ex-Millwall forward Constantine gets the nod then the one-time Tottenham Hotspur playmaker would revert to a left-sided role.

Up front Tilson and Brush are likely to persist in the unbeaten partnership of Bramble and Corbett, who have bagged four of the last seven Shrimpers goals. Corbett has brought another facet of the game to the front line, and does not deserve to be moved after becoming a positive influence on Bramble. Michael Husbands will be in reserve on the substitutes’ bench, although he, like many others, lacks match practice.

The hosts will be able to call upon striker David Graham after he recovered from a niggle sustained last week, and has fought off the attentions of a number of suitors wanting his services. Martin Gritton and David Woozley both returned to training this week, but are still unavailable as they return from long-term injuries, whilst Jason Fowler’s back and Jo Kuffour’s knee continue to keep them sidelined. Other than that the Gulls are at full-strength, and lie eighth in the table, only outside of the play-off positions on goal difference.

The Shrimpers hold the egde in previous meetings between the two sides, but have not won on Devon soil in the past four attempts, the last win being 1-0 in Division Three during 1999/2000. Last season Southend were defeated 3-1 at Plainmoor, although Leroy Rosenior was sent off from the touchline for contesting Blues’ sole strike. However, Southend got their revenge in the home clash running out 3-0 winners in Steve Wignall’s first game in charge.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Steve Tanner (South Gloucestershire)

Assistant Referees: Ian Harris (Cornwall), Mike Hawken (Cornwall)

This is Tanner’s second year on the Football League and Conference panel, and he has already taken charge of one Shrimpers match this season, as Blues defeated Bury 1-0. In that game he booked six players, only Jimmy Corbett and Kevin Maher being Southend talents. TLG’s Mark Wallis awarded him six out of ten. Last year he booked thirteen and sent off one in five Conference and F.A. Trophy matches, this year his record reads 61 bookings and five dismissals from just twelve – all in the Football League save for a LDV tie and F.A. Cup first round fixture.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Saturday 22^nd November 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Roots Hall

Southend United 4 (Tesfaye Bramble 34, 36, James Corbett 67 [pen], Leon Constantine 90) Rochdale 0 [attendance: 3,169]. Southend United line-up (4-4-2): Darryl Flahavan; Dave McSweeney, Leon Cort, Lewis Hunt, Jamie Stuart; Mark Gower (Drewe Broughton 88), Jay Smith, Kevin Maher, Neil Jenkins; Tesfaye Bramble (Leon Constantine 88), James Corbett. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Mark Warren, Che Wilson.

Saturday 22^nd November 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three @ Aggborough

Kidderminster Harriers 1 (Danny Williams 12) Torquay United 2 (Kevin Wills 7, 58) [attendance: 2,725]. Torquay United line-up (3-5-2): Arjun van Heusden; Rueben Hazell, Steve Woods, Craig Taylor; Lee Canoville (Tony Bedeau 64), Alex Russell, Kevin Hill, Matt Hockley, Brian McGlinchey; Kevin Wills, David Graham (Jimmy Benefield 88). Subs not used: Kevin Dearden, Narada Bernard, Joe Broad.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

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

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

L0-4 (away; Yeovil Town; League Division Three)

D1-1 (home; Canvey Island; F.A. Cup first round; Mark Gower)

W2-1 (away; Swansea City; LDV Vans Trophy second round; Tesfaye Bramble, James Corbett)

Torquay United

W2-1 (away; Kidderminster Harriers; League Division Three; Kevin Wills 2)

W3-1 (home; Cheltenham Town; League Division Three; David Graham 2, Alex Russell)

L1-2 (home; Burton Albion; F.A. Cup first round; Jimmy Benefield)

L0-1 (away; Doncaster Rovers; League Division Three)

L0-4 (away; Boston United; League Division Three)

Southend United away form

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

L0-4 (League Division Three; Yeovil Town)

W2-1 (LDV Vans Trophy second round; Swansea City; Tesfaye Bramble, James Corbett)

W2-1 (League Division Three; Macclesfield Town; Leon Constantine, Jay Smith [pen])

W2-1 (League Division Three; Kidderminster Harriers; Mark Warren, Tesfaye Bramble)

Torquay United home form

W3-1 (League Division Three; Cheltenham Town; David Graham 2, Alex Russell)

L1-2 (F.A. Cup first round; Burton Albion; Jimmy Benefield)

W1-0 (League Division Three; Mansfield Town; Matt Hockley)

D1-1 (League Division Three; Hull City; David Graham)

W3-1 (League Division Three; Bury; David Graham, Jo Kuffour, Alex Russell)

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [away])

Played: 19 [9]

Won: 5 [2]

Drawn: 3 [2]

Lost: 11 [5]

Scored: 18 [7]

Conceded: 30 [16]

Goal Difference: -12 [-9]

Points: 18 [8]

Position: 21^st [18^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Canvey Island (away) 3-2 in replay (first match [home] ended 1-1)

Second Round: vs. Lincoln City (home) on Saturday 6^th December 2003

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: vs. Luton Town on Tuesday 9^th December 2003

Torquay United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 19 [9]

Won: 9 [6]

Drawn: 4 [2]

Lost: 6 [1]

Scored: 24 [16]

Conceded: 22 [10]

Goal Difference: +2 [+6]

Points: 31 [20]

Position: 8^th [8^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: lost to Burton Albion (home) 1-2

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Crystal Palace (home) 1-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: lost to Peterborough United (away) 2-3 after silver goal extra time

THE HISTORY

Last Match

Last Five Meetings

19th April 2003 – Southend United 3 (Mark Rawle 2, 40, Neil Jenkins 88) Torquay United 0 – League Division Three

21st December 2002 – Torquay United 3 (Kuffour 21, Dunning 65, Bedeau 78) Southend United 1 (Bramble 60) – Third Division

26th January 2002 – Southend United 1 (Whelan 49) Torquay United 1 (Eifion Williams 81) – Third Division

5th October 2001 – Torquay United 2 (Richardson 51, Graham 62) Southend United 1 (Hutchings 55) – Third Division

30th December 2000 – Southend United 1 (Roget 4) Torquay United 1 (Eifion Williams 60) – Third Division

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

2002/3 – A1-3 (League)

2001/2 – H1-1 A1-2 (League)

2000/1 – H1-1 A1-1 (League), H2-1 A1-1 (F.A. Cup)

1999/2000 – H0-1 A0-2 (League) A1-0 (F.A. Cup)

1998/9 – H0-0 A0-2 (League)

1989/90 – H1-0 A0-3 (League)

1986/7 – H4-0 A1-2 (League)

1985/6 – H1-2 A2-2 (League)

1984/5 – H1-0 A2-2 (League)

1980/1 – H3-1 A3-0 (League)

1977/8 – H4-0 A1-0 (League), A2-1 (F.A. Cup)

1976/7 – H0-0 A0-3 (League)

1961/2 – H2-1 A2-2 (League)

1960/1 – H3-2 A1-2 (League)

1957/8 – H0-0 A2-2 (League), H2-1 A1-1 (F.A. Cup)

1956/7 – H2-0 A3-3 (League)

1955/6 – H2-3 A2-2 (League)

1954/5 – H1-2 A1-4 (League)

1953/4 – H1-0 A1-1 (League)

1952/3 – H3-1 A2-4 (League)

1951/2 – H2-2 A3-1 (League)

1950/1 – H3-0 A2-2 (League)

1949/50 – H2-0 A4-2 (League)

1948/9 – H1-1 A3-0 (League)

1947/8 – H1-0 A1-4 (League)

1946/7 – H0-2 A1-0 (League)

1938/9 – H1-1 A0-2 (League)

1937/8 – H5-1 A3-3 (League)

1936/7 – H0-0 A4-1 (League)

1935/6 – H2-0 A1-1 (League)

1934/5 – H2-3 A0-2 (League)

1933/4 – H3-1 A0-3 (League)

1932/3 – H2-1 A1-8 (League)

1931/2 – H4-2 A1-2 (League) A3-1 (F.A. Cup)

1930/1 – H6-3 A1-3 (League) A0-1 (F.A. Cup)

1929/30 – H1-1 A1-1 (League)

1928/9 – H3-0 A1-2 (League)

1927/8 – H1-0 A3-3 (League)

Summary

Overall (84 matches)

Southend United 34

Torquay United 25

Draws 25

In the League (76 matches)

Southend United 30

Torquay United 23

Draws 23

At Torquay United (44 matches)

Southend United 10

Torquay United 19

Draws 15

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com