Yeovil Town vs. Southend United – Preview

Webb joined Yeovil as an advisor in February 2000, but resigned from that position a week later, stating that he thought the Glovers were on the right track anyway and that he could not help out anymore. However, in March of the same year he returned, this time as manager, and Steve Thompson was demoted to his assistant.

The Blues’ boss is largely credited with making the Huish Park side a full-time outfit, and one of the first players to do so was Ben Smith, who he later signed for the Shrimpers, as did Gareth Risbridger. The ex-Brentford and Torquay boss also secured the services of Barrington Belgrave for both clubs, with the second move to Roots Hall costing £40,000 and becoming the final transfer of the ex-Chelsea talent’s third stint in chrage. Despite the rather acrimonious circumstances in which Webb left Town, he is likely to receive a decent welcome for the work he did in making the club full-time and set up for the professional game.

Under the management of new boss Gary Johnson, Yeovil were finally promoted to the League last season as Champions of the Nationwide Conference. Despite the loss of midfield playmaker Michael McIndoe to promoted rivals Doncaster Rovers in the summer, they still find themselves sitting in sixth place in Division Three at this early stage, just two wins off of the pace set by Hull City. The Glovers have won five of their last seven matches, losing 2-1 to Bury at Gigg Lane and narrowly missing out in the LDV Vans Trophy second round after being defeated by the Shrimpers’ North Essex rivals Colchester United 4-2 on penalty kicks. They have lost just three matches at Huish Park.

Southend’s 2-1 victory at the same stage of that competition at Swansea City’s Vetch Field was the fifth consecutive away match without defeat, following draws with Scunthorpe United and Darlington and 2-1 wins at Kidderminster Harriers and Macclesfield Town. It was also Webb’s first game back in, albeit temporary, control of the club, and he was ably assisted by Steve Tilson in team selection and tactics, as he was as United drew 1-1 with local rivals Canvey Island in the first round of the F.A. Cup last Sunday.

As the two men once again combine to attempt to defeat the Glovers, they will be boosted by some good injury news at last. Duncan Jupp managed to come through the first half of the 2-2 Pontin’s Holidays Cup match at Northampton Town on Wednesday with no apparent reaction, and as a result he should find himself back in the starting line-up at right-back. Steven Clark also managed some time on the field with his pelvic structure problems and showed signs of his old form when he jojned on loan from West Ham United, and he may also come back into the reckoning.

Defensively Blues now appear to have much greater numbers. Lewis Hunt, who was withdrawn from the Gulls fixture on the request of his club Derby County for fear of him becoming cup-tied, should return to the centre of defence, where he will partner Leon Cort unless Jupp is deemed unfit. Mark Warren would return alongside Cort should that be the case, with the loan defender moving to full-back. Dave McSweeney looks likely to play at left-back, with Darryl Flahavan in goal. Carl Emberson heaped the pressure on the Southampton-born man with a fine performance at Sixfields.

The middle of the park has become the Shrimpers problem, with Jamie Fullarton and Leke Odunsi still facing eight and two weeks on the sidelines respectively. As a result it is expected that Mark Gower will be pushed into his favoured role as midfield playmaker alongside the only other fit candidate for a central position, Jay Smith. Neil Jenkins will be used on the left flank unless he too is put in a midfield position of a 4-5-1 fortmation. Should that be the case, then James Corbett would switch to the left and Leon Constantine employed on the right.

The one-time Millwall forward would otherwise start up front following an assured performance at Northampton, with Tesfaye Bramble, who has scored in three of the last six outings away from home, continuing in a striking role. Both Drewe Broughton, who scored twice before being dismissed, and Michael Husbands, who set up one of the goals for him with his electric pace, are also pushing heavily for a role in the side after the reserve fixture. Michael Kightly is likely to replace the squad on stand-by.

Yeovil’s problems concern who not to play rather than who is not available. Nick Crittenden was included last week in the Glovers’ 4-1 demolition of Wrexham in the televised F.A. Cup first round clash, but Lee Elam only missed out due to his being cup-tied. The reserves’ 5-0 win over Oxford, which put them top of the Pontin’s Holidays Combination Wales & West Division, has further put pressure on Gary Johnson to select the right side.

The two sides have met on five occasions, four of which were in the F.A. Cup. First time out the two sides drew 0-0 in front of over 15,000 at Roots Hall, but the replay was won by the then Southern League outfit. Five years later the Glovers won again 1-0 at Huish Park to send Blues out at the first round stage. Finally, in 1982, Southend managed to defeat Town, running out 3-0 victors at Roots Hall. Two years ago the two teams met in a pre-season friendly at Huish Park – Belgrave appeared for the home side and Risbridger was a sub for the Shrimpers, and Leon Johnson, Tony Richards and Mark Rawle netted in a 3-0 win. A repeat performance will be tougher tomorrow, but a welcome sight nonetheless as Blues look to steer clear of the relegation zone.

If you are unable to make the trip to the West Country, why not pop down to Boots & Laces instead? The Under-19s are without a match for another fortnight, but the Seasiders’ Under-17s are in action, tacking on Gillingham as they look to continue the chase on the Division’s leaders from fourth place. News as we have it at The Little Gazette.

TEAM DETAILS

Likely Squads

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire)

Assistant Referees: Gary Chapman (Gloucestershire), Brendan Malone (Wiltshire)

The Thatcham-born official last took charge of a Shrimpers match back in January, and it was a happy occasion as Blues ran out 2-1 winners over Oxford United in one of the most one-sided fixtures of the season. He booked just two players – Kevin Maher for a foul and the U’s Matt Robinson for dissent. Much less favourable was the 1-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth in the League earlier that season at Roots Hall – TLG’s Mark Wallis described his penalty decision which effectively handed the Cherries the win thus: “an incredible incodent brought Bournemouth's winner on 71 minutes. As the ball rolled towards the corner flag the linesman on the East Stand touchline suddenly put his flag across his chest and signalled for a penalty. Even referee Armstrong was bafflred by the decision but having spoken to the linesman somehow stood by the spot kick decision. After a few minutes in which both the Southend and Bournemouth players tried to work out just what was going on both parties eventually realised that a penalty had been awarded to the away side.” So far the referee has booked 35 and sent off two players in thirteen games in this, his fourth season as a Football League ref.

TEAM FORM

Last Matches

Sunday 9^th November 2003 – F.A. Cup first round @ Roots Hall

Southend United 1 (Mark Gower 2) Canvey Island 1 (Ben Chenery 7) [attendance: 9,234]. Southend United line-up (4-5-1): Darryl Flahavan; Dave McSweeney, Leon Cort, Mark Warren, Neil Jenkins; James Corbett, Che Wilson, Kevin Maher (Michael Husbands 80), Jay Smith, Mark Gower; Tesfaye Bramble. Subs not used: Carl Emberson, Drewe Broughton, Michael Kightly, Leon Constantine.

Saturday 8^th November 2003 – F.A. Cup first round @ Huish Park

Yeovil Town 4 (Kevin Gall 39, Gavin Williams 46, Colin Pluck 59, Jake Edwards 68) Wrexham 1 (Chris Armstrong 88) [attendance: 5,049]. Yeovil Town line-up (4-4-2): Chris Weale; Paul Terry, Adam Lockwood, Terry Skiverton, Colin Pluck; Gavin Williams, Darren Way, Lee Johnson, Nick Crittenden (Abdelhalim El Kholti 75); Kevin Gall (Adam Stansfield 79), Jake Edwards (Kirk Jackson 72). Subs not used: Steven Collis, Hugo Rodrigues.

Last Five Matches

Southend United

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)

L0-1 (home; Northampton Town; League Division Three)

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

L0-2 (home; Boston United; League Division Three)

Yeovil Town

W4-1 (home; Wrexham; F.A. Cup first round; Kevin Gall, Gavin Williams, Colin Pluck, Jake Edwards)

D2-2 [L2-4 on pens] (home; Colchester United; LDV Vans Trophy second round; Jake Edwards, Kevin Gall)

L1-2 (away; Bury; League Division Three; Jake Edwards)

W4-1 (away; Cambridge United; League Division Three; Jake Edwards 2, Kevin Gall, Darren Way)

W2-1 (home; Huddersfield Town; League Division Three; Terry Skiverton, Lee Johnson)

Southend United away form

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)

D0-0 (League Division Three; Darlington)

D1-1 (League Division Three; Scunthorpe United; Leon Constantine)

Yeovil Town home form

W4-1 (F.A. Cup first round; Wrexham; Kevin Gall, Gavin Williams, Colin Pluck, Jake Edwards)

D2-2 [L2-4 on pens] (LDV Vans Trophy second round; Colchester United; Jake Edwards, Kevin Gall)

W2-1 (League Division Three; Huddersfield Town; Terry Skiverton, Lee Johnson)

W1-0 (League Division Three; Darlington; Gavin Williams [pen])

W2-0 (LDV Vans Trophy first round; AFC Bournemouth; Jake Edwards, Gavin Williams [pen])

2003/4 SEASON

Southend United

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [away])

Played: 17 [8]

Won: 4 [2]

Drawn: 3 [2]

Lost: 10 [4]

Scored: 14 [7]

Conceded: 26 [12]

Goal Difference: -12 [-5]

Points: 15 [8]

Position: 22^nd [16^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: drew with Canvey Island (home) 1-1

First Round replay: vs. Canvey Island (away) on Wednesday 19^th November 2003

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Swindon Town (home) 2-3

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: beat Bristol Rovers (home) 2-1 after extra time

Second Round: beat Swansea City (away) 2-1

Southern Section Quarter Final: vs. Luton Town (home) on Tuesday 9^th December 2003

Yeovil Town

Nationwide League Division Three (overall [home])

Played: 17 [8]

Won: 10 [6]

Drawn: 0 [0]

Lost: 7 [2]

Scored: 25 [13]

Conceded: 19 [5]

Goal Difference: +6 [+8]

Points: 30 [18]

Position: 6^th [7^th]

F.A. Cup

First Round: beat Wrexham (home) 4-1

Carling Cup

First Round: lost to Luton Town (away) 1-4

LDV Vans Trophy

First Round: beat AFC Bournemouth (home) 2-0

Second Round: lost to Colchester United (home) 2-4 on penalties after 2-2 draw

THE HISTORY

Last Match

The Complete Head-to-Head Record

5^th August 2001 – Yeovil Town 0 Southend United 3 (Leon Johnson 45, Tony Richards 59, Mark Rawle 65) – Friendly

11^th December 1982 – Southend United 3 (Ronnie Poutney 2, Steve Phillips) – F.A. Cup second round

16^th November 1963 – Yeovil Town 1 (Foley) Southend United 0 – F.A. Cup first round

20^th November 1958 – Yeovil Town 1 (Dennis) Southend United 0 – F.A. Cup first round replay

15^th November 1958 – Southend United 0 Yeovil Town 0 – F.A. Cup first round

Summary

Overall

Southend United 2

Yeovil Town 2

Draws 1

In Competitive Football

Southend United 1

Yeovil Town 2

Draws 1

At Yeovil Town

Southend United 0

Yeovil Town 2

Draws 0

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com