Southend United v Hereford United

Last updated : 12 September 2008 By Shrimpers24

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Southend_United_FC.png v Hereford United

THE BLUES

I wrote last week of a very fine line between the start of this season and our 13 match unbeaten run last, reinforced by the defeat at Carlisle where, by all accounts, we played as well as last April, but lost instead of picking up the three points. Raven staying on the pitch this time probably helped but a push in the box that would lead to several penalties a game if always blown for was given and a clear chance was taken while in the last game a couple were missed.

Confidence has a lot to do with it and Mr. Singh didn't help that when he sent off the Moose when goaless against Brighton. Three games and 15 minutes later we've scored 5 and let in 13! Thanks, mate.

TLG, along with a few hundred others, have gone on enough about the lack of activity during the close season, for whatever reason, but the clocks will be turning back in few weeks, while rumours of Premiership midfielders on loan have been proved just that, for now.

We just have to get on with it and hopefully that line will cross into the positive side with a good performance and, most importantly, three points.

Tilly, as expected, remains confident: "Hopefully we will start to get the rub of the green against Hereford, we are only five games in and after ten matches the league starts to pan itself out. It is a game we have got to be looking to win though and we will be doing our utmost to make sure that happens."

The back five will stay as it is, we don't have much choice there.

The starting midfield should be interesting. Macca is still three weeks from playing, we don't want to rush that, but other than the tough tackling Dubliner Tilly has a full hand to choose from.

And Tilly is nothing if not loyal but as we saw with Ex-Captain Kev last October he can be tough when he has to and I feel in this vital area, the main reason we are in this present situation, he has to liven things up.

In central midfield I would start with Sawyer and Christophe, the former has done enough to go straight back in and the Frenchman showed enough at Carlisle to get another chance, his pass to Dougie was sublime. Grant has not been consistent enough while the Moose is maybe too defensive for a fixture at home to a team we need to create chances against.

Wide again I would make changes. Betsy has been kept in through thick and a lot more thin so maybe it's time to get the strength of Scannell on from the start, his two goals from the reserves continues what he was doing before his injury, I hope we see him at some stage. Hal-Kanu on the other wing should stay, the boy has class. Unlucky on Walker who should, at least, be on the subs bench with any two from another complete set of forwards to join him.

The good Lord and Dougie need another game together to see just what we've got here but Dougie's debut goal against Carlisle was a cracker and we could see a real partnership forming that will soon see us rising up the table, as long as that back five and the midfield strut their defensive stuff.

Just keep your hands to yourself this week Clarkey.

THE OPPOSITION

Hereford were not everyone's favourites last season as they seemed to be loaning a new player from the division above every week. Still it got them promotion and as the step up is proving tough for them they have returned to loan signings once again to try and halt an early slide down the table..

Veteran manager Graham Turner, in his 14th season in charge at the Bulls, will have his options cut for the Blues game with no less than five players probably out with injuries.

Andy Williams is a doubt with an ankle problem, although Kris Taylor should be in contention. Added to that Robbie Threlfall, Moses Ashikodi, and Jack Macleod will all be missing.

Threlfall has returned to Liverpool and could be missing from Edgar Street until December. He is said to require surgery on a broken bone in his foot which happened during yesterday's reserve match at Shrewsbury which was drawn 0-0.

Ashikodi is on crutches because of a foot injury also sustained at Shrewsbury yesterday.

"Robbie looks as though he has broken a bone in his foot and he will require surgery," Turner told BBC Hereford and Worcester. "He's gone straight back to Liverpool and it's doubtful whether he'll be fit again before December.

Moses Ashikodi came off with a foot injury so he's obviously doubtful for the weekend. How serious that is we don't know until the injury settles down. Jack Macleod came off with an ankle injury so it is looking unlikely he will be fit and from the Swindon match we have got Andy Williams missing training. Again it was an ankle injury, quite a bad tackle by the goal-line for which the player was booked. We are hoping he will be fit. There is a chance he will be but there is a certain amount of doubt."

Captain Karl Broadhurst took part in the Shrewsbury game but Saturday's game may be one too soon for him.
While recent loan signing from Plymouth, former Everton starlet Nick Chadwick, may not feature as Turner says he needs more match practice.

"With the problems that we have got they will be considered but at this stage it's unlikely that they will be in the starting line-up," he said.

However, with the shortage of striking options at Hereford it would be surprising if Chadwick did not his debut at the Hall.

A report on last Friday evening's match against Swindon, where Billy Paytner seems to have been busy for Swindon, and the Hereford team that finished the game.

Hereford United moved out of the bottom four,
(for 24 hours),
after Bradley Hudson-Odoi's third goal in five matches secured a 1-1 draw with Swindon Town.

Jerel Ifil's spectacular strike in first-half injury time had given Swindon the advantage at Edgar Street.

Matters were evenly poised through much of the first half, although Anthony McNamee was giving Hereford debutant Richard Jackson a torrid time with some direct running.

The visitors wasted a great chance to take the lead on 25 minutes when Billy Paynter's pass sent Simon Cox away, but the striker dragged his shot across goal and wide.

Hereford were restricted to long-range efforts from the returning Andy Williams and Hudson-Odoi, but had just put together their best spell of the half when Swindon took the lead.

From the Robins' third corner of the period, Michael Timlin let fly with a fierce drive which beat Darren Randolph and came back off the bar.

Ifil drilled back the rebound which flashed into the net off the woodwork.

Hereford looked more purposeful at the start of the second period and Hudson-Odoi fired an early chance into the side-netting.

But Swindon regained their stride and a 20-yard shot by Paynter forced a brilliant diving save from Randolph.

The Bulls keeper foiled Paynter again with another fine stop shortly afterwards before Hereford hit back on 68 minutes.

United were awarded a free-kick 20 yards out and, after Kris Taylor's firm drive had come back off the woodwork, Hudson-Odoi pounced to score for the third time in Hereford's three home matches.

Clint Easton sent a searing drive flashing inches wide as Swindon sought to regain the lead and another excellent Randolph save foiled the hard-working Paynter seven minutes from time.

But in the end, honours were shared as they had been on the Robins' last visit to Edgar Street two seasons ago.

Hereford:
Randolph, Jackson, Beckwith, Rose, Taylor, Williams (Done 85), O'Leary, Smith, Diagouraga, Hudson-Odoi, Guinan. Subs Not Used: Samson, Easton, Ashikodi, Oji. Booked: Muamba, Andrew Taylor, Cattermole. Goal: Hudson-Odoi 68. Att: 4,061

THE MATCHES

Played 19: Won 9 Drawn 3 Lost 7.

Welcome to the 21st century Southend v Hereford, it's been a long, long time since we played them last, 18 and a half years to be precise.

Some famous goal scorers in those last two meetings when we completed a double over the Bulls. A Crown brace and Super Roy got the goals in the 3-0 away win, while it was Benjy and Martin in the return at Roots Hall.

At Southend Utd. (9)At Hereford Utd. (10)
ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%
Southend Utd.555.56Hereford Utd.550.00
Hereford Utd.222.22Southend Utd.440.00
Draws222.22Draws110.00
GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pg
Southend Utd.121.33Hereford Utd.141.40
Hereford Utd.60.67Southend Utd.121.20
On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (19 matches)
ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%
Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.947.37
Hereford Utd.00.00Hereford Utd.736.84
Draws00.00Draws315.79
GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pg
Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.241.26
Hereford Utd.00.00Hereford Utd.201.05
Records
Highest Aggregate5Hereford Utd. 2 - 3Southend Utd.1956/1957
Highest Southend Utd. score:3Hereford Utd. 0 - 3Southend Utd.1989/1990
Highest Hereford Utd. score:3Hereford Utd. 3 - 0Southend Utd.1984/1985

1989/1990Tue 20 MarSouthend Utd.2 - 0Hereford Utd.Fourth Division
Sat 14 OctHereford Utd.0 - 3Southend Utd.Fourth Division
1986/1987Sat 07 FebHereford Utd.0 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division
Tue 16 SepSouthend Utd.2 - 0Hereford Utd.Fourth Division
1985/1986Fri 18 AprSouthend Utd.3 - 1Hereford Utd.Fourth Division
Wed 19 MarHereford Utd.2 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division
1984/1985Mon 08 AprSouthend Utd.0 - 0Hereford Utd.Fourth Division
Tue 01 JanHereford Utd.3 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division
1981/1982Sat 21 NovHereford Utd.3 - 1Southend Utd.F.A. Cup
1980/1981Fri 06 FebSouthend Utd.2 - 0Hereford Utd.Fourth Division
Sat 22 NovSouthend Utd.0 - 1Hereford Utd.F.A. Cup
Sat 13 SepHereford Utd.0 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division
1975/1976Sat 21 FebHereford Utd.2 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division
Mon 26 JanSouthend Utd.1 - 3Hereford Utd.Third Division
1974/1975Sat 05 AprHereford Utd.1 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division
Fri 25 OctSouthend Utd.0 - 0Hereford Utd.Third Division
1973/1974Sat 16 MarHereford Utd.1 - 2Southend Utd.Third Division
Fri 19 OctSouthend Utd.2 - 1Hereford Utd.Third Division
1956/1957Sat 08 DecHereford Utd.2 - 3Southend Utd.F.A. Cup

THE REF

Graham Horwood from Bedfordshire is the man in the middle for Saturday.

This is his third visit to Roots Hall in recent history and we've won the last two, against Rochdale in the cup and Luton in the league.

Mr Horwood is no stranger to the Bulls as well. He refereed the home game against Rochdale last August and yellow carded four players while also sending off a Rochdale player in that game.

In five games this season he has produced 11 yellows and no reds.

THE WEATHER

Saturday's predominant weather is forecast to be sunny intervals.

19c; Sunny Intervals

THE HISTORY

Hereford United Football Club was founded in 1924 with the merger of two local clubs St Martins and RAOC (Rotherwas), with the intention of sustaining a higher class of football in the city of Hereford. Hereford joined the Birmingham Combination and lost its first match 2-3 to Atherstone United. The club's second ever match was an FA Cup Preliminary Round tie against future rivals Kidderminster Harriers which they lost 2-7.

Hereford progressed to the Birmingham & District League in 1928 where the club was to spend 11 seasons, during which they managed a best position of 4th. By the late 1930s the number of clubs in the league had decreased and Hereford successfully applied to join the Southern League. At the same time the club became a limited company but only played a few games in their new league before the outbreak of the Second World War.

When football resumed United finished 1st in their first full season in the league only to be demoted to 2nd behind Chelmsford City, who were awarded points for unplayed matches. In 27 seasons in the Southern League, Hereford finished as runners-up three times, and also lifted the Southern League Cup three times. When the league was regionalised for one season in 1958-59, Hereford also won their regional division to add to their third League Cup win.

In 1966 Hereford signed John Charles, the former Leeds United, Juventus and Welsh international, boosting the support of the club. He became manager a year later and set about building a team to challenge at the top of the Southern League and gain election to the Football League. With the club becoming one of the best-supported non-league outfits in the country Charles used his standing within the game to canvass votes from member clubs for election to the Football League.

The 1971-72 season was a watershed as it saw the club finish second in the Southern League and gain national prominence due to its exploits in the FA Cup. Charles had departed the club in October 1971 and his successor Colin Addison inherited a side that went on to defeat top-flight Newcastle United in the FA Cup and inflict John Motson on us for decades to come. Ronnie Radford and Ricky George's famous goals earned the club a Fourth Round tie against West Ham United where they were defeated in a replay at Upton Park. The success of this Cup run played a part in the club's successful election to the Fourth Division at the expense of Barrow although Hereford were, at the time, more supported than most of the clubs in that division.

The club embarked on a meteoric rise to the Second Division after finishing runners-up in their debut season in the Fourth Division and winning the Third Division title in 1976. Dixie McNeil was the leading goalscorer in the top four divisions of English football in the same season, but Hereford would only spend one season in the second tier before quickly dropping back into the Fourth Division. The club's highest peak was in October 1976 when they were in 6th position before they played Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest, losing 3-4 at the City Ground.

After this period of success the club spent 19 years in the bottom division, suffering financial problems in the early 1980s which resurfaced in the mid 1990s. The club enjoyed brief glimpses of their past success in the Cup competitions, holding Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in the League Cup of 1985 and narrowly losing 1-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup of 1990. The first silverware for 14 years was achieved when the club lifted the Welsh Cup in the same season. In the league the club usually finished in the bottom half as it went through a succession of managers, finishing 17th in 5 consecutive seasons.

Graham Turner was appointed manager for the beginning of the 1995-96 season and managed to lead the team to 6th place and the play-offs, despite the club being in 17th position two months previously. This resurgence was in part thanks to the goals of Steve White who emulated Dixie McNeil by being the leading goalscorer in the top four divisions. Hereford lost to Darlington in the play-offs and, with financial problems worsening, the club lost key players for the following 1996-97 season. After a terrible run of form the club were ultimately relegated after a relegation-decider at Edgar Street with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Having initially offered his resignation Graham Turner went on to purchase the majority shareholding in the club in 1998 from the previous regime of Peter Hill and Robin Fry who left the club with debts of £1 million owed to a developing company which also controlled the leases on the stadium. The club's first five seasons in the Conference saw little success on the pitch, with the club being forced to sell many of its key players and the future of Edgar Street in serious doubt. The 2001-02 FA Cup saw the club receive a financial bonus when the BBC televised the First Round match against Wrexham live. Turner stated that the money was critical to the club's survival and therefore Gavin Williams's goal against Dover Athletic in the previous round is seen as the goal that saved the club.

Having reached a 40 year low of 17th in the Conference, the summer of 2002 proved a turning point as almost the entire squad was changed. The majority of new signings having been released from Football League clubs as a result of the ITV Digital collapse. This all-new squad evolved the club into genuine title contenders which, after a record-breaking season in the 2003-04 season, finished as runners up in the Conference only to fail in the play-offs. 2004-05 saw an identical outcome but the 2005-06 season saw Hereford finally secure promotion after defeating Halifax Town in the play-off final.

The club returned to the Football League with a vastly improved financial situation. Under Turner the club was now strictly living within its financial means, having turned a sizeable profit in the latter Conference seasons whilst spending just £20,000 on transfers. In addition the team was playing attractive football which had earned them the mantle of "the best footballing side in the Conference".

In 2006-07 Hereford achieved victories over five of the top eight finishing clubs, but a poor run of form in the last part of the season dropped the club into 16th position. In the following season the club were never out of the top five from November onwards and consistently placed in the automatic promotion places. Despite being pushed all the way by Stockport County, Hereford secured third place and promotion with a match to spare by defeating Brentford 3-0 at Griffin Park, with just a little help from one Gary Hooper who scored 11 goals in 19 games while on loan with them.

(Many thanks to the usual suspects for their help with this article.)