West Ham United vs. Southend United – Preview

Last updated : 24 August 2004 By Robert Craven

Adam Barrett looks set to miss out again
In four visits to east London to take on the Hammers, Blues have failed to register a single win – indeed, the only draw came in a League Cup clash in September 1979 – and the only success to date against the side some thirty miles down the A13 came at home in April 1993, when Brett Angell scored the only goal of an enthralling game that turned around the home side’s fortunes.


It is also now six years since the last time United prevailed past the first round stage of this competition in its various guises. Last season Swindon Town fought back from a Kevin Maher and Drewe Broughton-inspired 2-1 deficit through ex-Shrimper Tommy Mooney to record a 3-2 win at Roots Hall, but that was a vast improvement on the previous season’s 4-1 capitulation to Wimbledon at the same venue.


Two saw red in 2001/2 as Birmingham City ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at St. Andrews, having won through 5-0 on aggregate the season before, the Seasiders restoring some pride in a 0-0 draw away after that five-goal thumping in southeast Essex. Oxford United also recorded a comfortable 3-0 triumph over the Blues in August 1999, leaving Gillingham as the last side to succumb to Southend in this competition way back in August 1998, the Shrimpers winning each leg 1-0 over their Kentish counterparts.


Even then, round two threw up Premiership side Coventry City, and after battling hard to ensure only a one-goal deficit after the meeting at Highfield Road, United were crushed 4-0 in the return fixture. It is now nine matches since Southend last won a match in this competition, and that is something they will be hoping to change tonight. Indeed, in 103 matches in total in the League Cup, they have won a meagre 33, and 23 of those have come at home. It does not bode well.


However, there is nothing more inspiring than a local(-ish) derby to get the sinews running, and there is a huge prize scalp on offer in the form of Championship outfit West Ham. The Hammers have been plagued in the past by high-profile shocks in Cup competitions. As recently as 2002/3 they were humbled 1-0 by Oldham Athletic in this competition, and sides such as Northampton Town and Stockport County have inflicted defeats upon them – two of the three at Upton Park.


It also signifies a chance for the Shrimpers to put their lacklustre League Two position – 23rd in the table registering a history-equalling worst spot of 91st in the Football League – out of their minds for ninety minutes. Although manager Steve Tilson and head coach Paul Brush will be concentrating heavily on Friday night’s match with Bristol Rovers, they will also be seeking to record a morale-boosting victory.


Nothing conveys the importance of a Cup run more than last season’s efforts in the FA Cup and, more especially, the LDV Vans Trophy. Important wins against Rochdale, Swansea City, Cambridge United, Macclesfield Town and Kidderminster Harriers were all sandwiched by Cup triumphs against Canvey Island, Lincoln City and Colchester United. A win tonight could lift soul-searching team spirit.


Mark Bentley told the Southend Evening Echo in the aftermath of the 0-0 draw with Cambridge United, “Again we’ve had around seventy per cent of the play and we’ve created three or four chances, but we need to start putting the ball away because we’re not getting the luck right now”. The midfielder, whose Dagenham & Redbridge side shocked Leyton Orient in the first round of the LDV last season, continued to say, [My shot] was going in until it hit Wayne Gray’s shoulder on the goal-line. That sums up the way things are going for us right now, but I had some great chances and should have done better with a header I had as well – I know that”.


Pundits will often argue that you make your own luck, though, and a new strikeforce may be the order of the day after Gray (who scored Blues’ only goal of the competitive season a fortnight ago from the penalty spot at Lincoln) and Drewe Broughton again drew blanks at the weekend.


Tesfaye Bramble could make his return from suspension
Lawrie Dudfield has experience at a higher level with Leicester City, and Tesfaye Bramble also returns from his three-match suspension. Both are knocking heavily on Tilson’s door, itching for a chance to impress, and with this evening’s match not quite of the same importance as that in three day’s time, a combination of the duo could be included in the starting line-up.


Further back there are more contenders. James Corbett was general-like in the 1-1 reserve team draw against Brighton & Hove Albion six days ago, but could be awarded a position on the right flank after Carl Pettefer again failed to provide telling crosses for the front men at the weekend. The ex-Portsmouth player’s forte is support for the full-back, and unless he is employed on the left-hand side to protect the naïve Nicky Nicolau, his value to the side is wasted.


Mark Gower is likely to retain his place as the team’s playmaker after a vast improvement in his determination and talent on Saturday afternoon. Michael Husbands, another to have done well at second-string level, and Michael Kightly again look set to miss out following the ex-Tottenham Hotspur League Cup winner’s return to form.


In the centre, question marks remain over skipper Kevin Maher’s worth to the side. In a captaincy sense, many believe that Spencer Prior or Broughton would be better suited to the role, whilst the Ilford-born midfielder’s recent performances have been a place imitation of those that he gave last year. Lewis Hunt stands by to replace him, although it would take great nerve from Tilson to drop his captain. Mark Bentley’s energy and commitment ensue that he stays in the side.


At the back, the likelihood of the likes of pacemen Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora coming up against Prior and Andy Edwards fills Shrimpers’ supporters with trepidation. Both appear a little on the slow side at League Two level, but their incredible experience – which totals more than 1100 competitive matches between them – more than makes up for their ageing legs. Adam Barrett once again unfortunately misses out.


The full-backs, not posed with any type of threat from a penetration-lacking Cambridge side, had better games at the weekend, and should retain their places. Nicolau’s new-found ability to swing in a mean corner adds another string to his bow, and Che Wilson looks set to miss out once again with Duncan Jupp also a fixture in the side. Darryl Flahavan will fail to reclaim his goalkeeping jersey with Bart Griemink keeping his first clean sheet three days ago.


As for the Hammers, they are certainly not underestimating the challenge that Blues will pose. Midfielder Matthew Etherington told the club’s official website, www.whufc.com, “It will be a good game and I suppose they will bring quite a bit of away support [Southend United expect that to be just a couple of hundred shy of, if not completely, selling out their 3,900 allocation]; it will be a big night for them and we have to make sure we can put them away”.


However, Etherington is just one player struggling to make the starting line-up for West Ham as injury concerns mount up for the Londoners. Northern Ireland international Steve Lomas, former Scotland captain Christian Dailly and fellow international Don Hutchinson, capped Welshman Andy Melville and one-time England Under-21 front man Zamora are all definitely out, and another four could also miss out after Saturday’s 3-2 win over Crewe Alexandra.


Etherington aggravated a thigh strain in the warm-up at Gresty Road, whilst Anton Ferdinand has a shoulder problem, Hayden Mullins has hurt his back and Rufus Brevett is struggling to be fit with knocks to both his groin and his thigh. That would leave only goalkeeper Stephen Bywater, forward Harewood and captain Teddy Sheringham in the line-up that faced the Railwaymen, and with Jimmy Walker, Ukrainian international Sergei Rebrov and Adam Nowland all hoping to be given a run-out, it could effectively be a reserve side fielded, including young Australian Trent McClanahan.


Kick-off is at 7:45 this evening, and fans are encouraged to start arriving as early as possible to ensure that they are in their seats by the start. With a massive away following, and dissent in the Hammers ranks with dissatisfaction against chairman Terence Brown, who has charged home supporters more than away ones, anything is possible, and with our encouragement, the Shrimpers maybe, just maybe, could cause an upset tonight.


LIKELY SQUADS


West Ham United

Southend United

4-4-2

Jimmy Walker

Chris Cohen

Hayden Mullins

Trent McClanahan

Anton Ferdinand

Richard Garcia

Adam Nowland

Nigel Reo-Coker

Matthew Etherington

Sergei Rebrov

Marlon Harewood

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Stephen Bywater

Elliott Ward

Teddy Sheringham

Youssef Sofianne

Rufus Brevett

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Starting Line-Ups

GK

DR

DL

DC

DC

MR

MC

MC

ML

FC

FC

Substitutes

1

2

3

4

5

Also Available

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*

*

*

4-4-2

Bart Griemink

Duncan Jupp

Nicky Nicolau

Spencer Prior

Andy Edwards

Michael Husbands

Kevin Maher

Mark Bentley

Mark Gower

Drewe Broughton

Lawrie Dudfield

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Darryl Flahavan

Lewis Hunt

Adam Barrett

Carl Pettefer

Wayne Gray

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James Corbett

Che Wilson

Tesfaye Bramble

Michael Kightly


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com