v
SHRIMPERS
This is a very important game.
The teams with the best two goal differences in the division, the Shrimpers a couple of goals ahead, a real six-pointer that couldn't be more difficult to call.
I see Blues boss, and former head honcho at the County Ground, Paul Sturrock, to start with the same front four as he has been with the two wideboys having to do some chasing back.
Too early for Anto Flood I think, but great to see that 5-0 win against a West Ham team Saturday morning, first Shrimper goals for Jack Sampson and Elliot Benyon, along with Michael Timlin, Kane Ferdinand and Liam Dickinson.
No Luke Prosser to mark Matt Ritchie this time please Luggs, but working on the possibility that JP Kalala and Mark Phillips will be out injured, though they should both start if not, I see Kane Ferdinand over Anthony Grant as the more defensive option to guard a defensive unit that will include new signing, and welcome back, Pat Baldwin, a very welcome signing and he played the whole match against the Hammers, especially if he scores an 89th minute goal against Swindon again, but a winner this time mate!
Then again, if it's goalless by that stage there will not be many fingernails left in the three stands of the home faithful!
With home advantage and the Wiltshire Robins coming off the back of a tough cup-tie at Championship Leicester, there must be some come down frorm losing in front of a near 20,000 gate, and the fact we have to beat them at some time, please, I go for a 2-1 Shrimpers win.
Of course, I couldn't care less when we score, just as long as we do, in what I believe will be an open game with both teams going for the three points.
Which would, if the Essex boys are the side to grab the win, take them back to the top of the table.
Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Baldwin, Barker, Gilbert, Ferdinand, Timlin, Hall, Dickinson, Benyon, Martin
Subs: Mohsni, Grant, Sampson, Sturrock, Harris.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!
OPPOSITION
Be good to see the Southend-supporting Paul Benson back at Roots Hall, believe he didn't get off the bench for Charlton the last time he was here, he's more likely to start this time and has already grabbed an FA Cup third round winning goal against a Premiership side, Wigan, on his debut!
Former Shrimper midfielder Alan McCormack returned to his new central defensive position in a 4-4-2 formation after a two-match suspension, and will be in the squad to face his old club.
Though new loan signing from Arsenal, the defender Daniel Boateng, an unused sub on Saturday, might be used from the start this time.
Swindon have had a bid accepted by SPL club Inverness Caledonian Thistle, phew, for midfielder Lee Cox, but no official confirmation yet that he's put pen to paper.
Forward Billy Bodin may not be included as the Welsh Under-21 international is set to leave the County Ground before the transfer window closes at midnight on Tuesday, the guess would be a return to Torquay United where he's been back on loan recently.
In fact, Town boss Paolo Di Canio stuck pretty closely to his first choice starting eleven, the former Shrimper the only change from the team that beat Macclesfield 1-0 in League Two the week before for Aden Flint, who was injured.
Luke Rooney, recently signed from Gillingham, came on in that game as a 52nd minute substitute and looked lively according to reports, but was cup-tied for Leicester so may be promoted here to give a forward a rest just three days later, though it's doubtful that would be the dangerous Matt Ritchie.
Midfielder Simon Ferry may be a doubt after Di Canio thought Leicester defender Paul Konchesky should have been sent off for a heavy tackle which left Simon Ferry needing lengthy treatment to an injured knee.
The former Celtic boy was eventually replaced with nine minutesd left and he tempremental Italian said: "It was clear it was a red card. It was a bad tackle. The referee made a mistake. The foot on the leg was very high."
Swindon Town (against Leicester City away in the FA Cup Fourth Round): Wes Foderingham; Paul Caddis, Joe Devera, Alan McCormack, Alessandro Cibocchi; Matt Ritchie, Simon Ferry (Louis Thompson 81), Oliver Risser, Raffa De Vita (Lander Gabilonda 54); Paul Benson, Alan Connell (Ronan Murray 60).
Subs not used: Phil Smith, Jon Smith, Lukas Magera, Daniel Boateng.
Last awayday in League Two
Rotherham United 1 Swindon Town 2; (played on Saturday, January 14th): Report: www.swindontownfc.co.uk
Player to watch
Matt Ritchie
The main creator of Swindon's offensive options, assists and goals, much more than just Hall-lite, and can issue similar punishment if it's his night.
The former Portsmouth winger is the Robins top scorer with nine goals from 35 games.
(Full player info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Ritchie)
Life at the top
1 | Cheltenham Town | 27 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 42 | 24 | 55 | +18 | ||||
2 | Southend United | 26 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 19 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 51 | 28 | 52 | +23 | ||||
3 | Crawley Town | 26 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 48 | 30 | 52 | +18 | ||||
4 | Shrewsbury Town | 27 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 41 | 25 | 51 | +16 | ||||
5 | Torquay United | 28 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 42 | 32 | 50 | +10 | ||||
6 | Swindon Town | 26 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 41 | 20 | 49 | +21 | ||||
7 | Accrington Stanley | 28 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 19 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 38 | 32 | 43 | +6 |
PREVIOUSLY
At Southend Utd. (57) | At Swindon Town (56) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
Southend Utd. | 30 | 52.63 | Swindon Town | 35 | 62.50 | |
Swindon Town | 14 | 24.56 | Southend Utd. | 9 | 16.07 | |
Draws | 13 | 22.81 | Draws | 12 | 21.43 | |
Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
Southend Utd. | 106 | 1.86 | Swindon Town | 118 | 2.11 | |
Swindon Town | 68 | 1.19 | Southend Utd. | 48 | 0.86 | |
On Neutral Ground (0) | Overall (113 matches) | |||||
Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 39 | 34.51 | |
Swindon Town | 0 | 0.00 | Swindon Town | 49 | 43.36 | |
Draws | 0 | 0.00 | Draws | 25 | 22.12 | |
Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 154 | 1.36 | |
Swindon Town | 0 | 0.00 | Swindon Town | 186 | 1.65 |
Records | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highest Aggregate | 10 | Southend Utd. | 8 - 2 | Swindon Town | 1950/1951 |
Highest Southend Utd. score: | 8 | Southend Utd. | 8 - 2 | Swindon Town | 1950/1951 |
Highest Swindon Town score: | 6 | Swindon Town | 6 - 1 | Southend Utd. | 2002/2003 |
Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011/2012 | Tue 06 Dec | Southend Utd. | 1 - 2 | Swindon Town | (Associate Members) |
Sat 10 Sep | Swindon Town | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Two | |
2009/2010 | Sat 30 Jan | Southend Utd. | 2 - 2 | Swindon Town | League One |
Sat 29 Aug | Swindon Town | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | League One | |
2008/2009 | Tue 17 Mar | Swindon Town | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League One |
Sat 18 Oct | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Swindon Town | League One | |
2007/2008 | Mon 24 Mar | Swindon Town | 0 - 1 | Southend Utd. | League One |
Sat 08 Dec | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Swindon Town | League One | |
2005/2006 | Fri 27 Jan | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Swindon Town | League One |
Sat 10 Sep | Swindon Town | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | League One | |
2004/2005 | Tue 25 Jan | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Swindon Town | (Associate Members) |
2003/2004 | Tue 12 Aug | Southend Utd. | 2 - 3 | Swindon Town | League Cup |
2002/2003 | Tue 22 Oct | Swindon Town | 6 - 1 | Southend Utd. | (Associate Members) |
2000/2001 | Tue 13 Feb | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Swindon Town | (Associate Members) |
after extra time, 90 minutes 1-1, Southend United won on the golden goal rule | |||||
1996/1997 | Sat 05 Apr | Swindon Town | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Division One |
Sat 31 Aug | Southend Utd. | 1 - 3 | Swindon Town | League Division One | |
1994/1995 | Sat 03 Dec | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Swindon Town | League Division One |
Sat 22 Oct | Swindon Town | 2 - 2 | Southend Utd. | League Division One | |
1992/1993 | Wed 10 Mar | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Swindon Town | League Division One |
Sat 14 Nov | Swindon Town | 3 - 2 | Southend Utd. | League Division One | |
1991/1992 | Sat 21 Mar | Swindon Town | 3 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Second Division |
Sat 09 Nov | Southend Utd. | 3 - 2 | Swindon Town | Second Division | |
1985/1986 | Sun 12 Jan | Swindon Town | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division |
Fri 30 Aug | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Swindon Town | Fourth Division | |
1984/1985 | Sat 06 Apr | Swindon Town | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division |
Wed 26 Dec | Southend Utd. | 3 - 2 | Swindon Town | Fourth Division | |
1981/1982 | Tue 09 Feb | Swindon Town | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
Mon 21 Sep | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division | |
1979/1980 | Fri 29 Feb | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division |
Sat 20 Oct | Swindon Town | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
1978/1979 | Fri 16 Mar | Southend Utd. | 5 - 3 | Swindon Town | Third Division |
Sat 04 Nov | Swindon Town | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
1975/1976 | Sat 06 Mar | Swindon Town | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
Fri 31 Oct | Southend Utd. | 3 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division | |
1974/1975 | Fri 11 Apr | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division |
Sat 05 Oct | Swindon Town | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
1968/1969 | Sat 04 Jan | Swindon Town | 0 - 2 | Southend Utd. | F.A. Cup |
1965/1966 | Sat 19 Mar | Swindon Town | 4 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
Fri 24 Sep | Southend Utd. | 4 - 2 | Swindon Town | Third Division | |
1963/1964 | Wed 16 Oct | Swindon Town | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Cup |
1962/1963 | Sat 06 Apr | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Swindon Town | Third Division |
Sat 17 Nov | Swindon Town | 4 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
1961/1962 | Sat 28 Apr | Southend Utd. | 0 - 2 | Swindon Town | Third Division |
Sat 09 Dec | Swindon Town | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
1960/1961 | Sat 11 Feb | Swindon Town | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
Sat 24 Sep | Southend Utd. | 0 - 2 | Swindon Town | Third Division | |
1959/1960 | Sat 19 Mar | Southend Utd. | 1 - 3 | Swindon Town | Third Division |
Sat 28 Nov | Swindon Town | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
1958/1959 | Sat 18 Apr | Southend Utd. | 0 - 2 | Swindon Town | Third Division |
Sat 29 Nov | Swindon Town | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
1957/1958 | Wed 02 Oct | Swindon Town | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Wed 25 Sep | Southend Utd. | 2 - 3 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1956/1957 | Sat 16 Feb | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 06 Oct | Swindon Town | 3 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1955/1956 | Mon 02 Apr | Swindon Town | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Fri 30 Mar | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1954/1955 | Wed 20 Apr | Swindon Town | 0 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 04 Sep | Southend Utd. | 4 - 1 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1953/1954 | Sat 30 Jan | Southend Utd. | 3 - 1 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 09 Jan | Swindon Town | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1952/1953 | Tue 02 Sep | Southend Utd. | 3 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Wed 27 Aug | Swindon Town | 1 - 3 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1951/1952 | Sat 26 Apr | Swindon Town | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 08 Dec | Southend Utd. | 2 - 2 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1950/1951 | Sat 24 Feb | Southend Utd. | 8 - 2 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Wed 29 Nov | Southend Utd. | 0 - 3 | Swindon Town | F.A. Cup | |
Sat 07 Oct | Swindon Town | 4 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1949/1950 | Sat 25 Mar | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 05 Nov | Swindon Town | 2 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1948/1949 | Sat 01 Jan | Southend Utd. | 3 - 4 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 28 Aug | Swindon Town | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1947/1948 | Sat 28 Feb | Swindon Town | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 11 Oct | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1946/1947 | Sat 10 May | Swindon Town | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 12 Oct | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1938/1939 | Sat 18 Feb | Swindon Town | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 15 Oct | Southend Utd. | 2 - 3 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1937/1938 | Sat 30 Apr | Swindon Town | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 18 Dec | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1936/1937 | Sat 30 Jan | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 26 Sep | Swindon Town | 4 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1935/1936 | Wed 29 Apr | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 07 Mar | Swindon Town | 1 - 3 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1934/1935 | Sat 23 Feb | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 13 Oct | Swindon Town | 5 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1933/1934 | Sat 03 Mar | Southend Utd. | 4 - 1 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 21 Oct | Swindon Town | 1 - 4 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1932/1933 | Sat 08 Apr | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Wed 01 Mar | Swindon Town | 2 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1931/1932 | Sat 27 Feb | Swindon Town | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 17 Oct | Southend Utd. | 3 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1930/1931 | Sat 21 Feb | Swindon Town | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 18 Oct | Southend Utd. | 5 - 3 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1929/1930 | Sat 15 Mar | Southend Utd. | 3 - 1 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 09 Nov | Swindon Town | 5 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1928/1929 | Sat 27 Apr | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 15 Dec | Swindon Town | 3 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1927/1928 | Sat 28 Apr | Swindon Town | 0 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Wed 14 Mar | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1926/1927 | Sat 15 Jan | Southend Utd. | 2 - 2 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 28 Aug | Swindon Town | 5 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1925/1926 | Sat 13 Mar | Southend Utd. | 3 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Sat 31 Oct | Swindon Town | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1924/1925 | Sat 21 Mar | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) |
Wed 24 Sep | Swindon Town | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
1923/1924 | Wed 02 Apr | Swindon Town | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 09 Feb | Southend Utd. | 0 - 2 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1922/1923 | Sat 05 May | Swindon Town | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Sat 28 Apr | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1921/1922 | Mon 17 Apr | Swindon Town | 6 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
Fri 14 Apr | Southend Utd. | 1 - 2 | Swindon Town | Third Division (South) | |
1920/1921 | Sat 18 Sep | Swindon Town | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
Sat 11 Sep | Southend Utd. | 1 - 3 | Swindon Town | Third Division |
REF
The man in the middle is Oliver Langford from West Midlands.
22 games; 59 Yellows, 5 Reds: www.soccerbase.com
He pissed off head farmer John Ward at Plymouth last season, which must be a good thing: www.thisisdevon.co.uk
His assistants are Elliot Kaye and Wade Norcott; the fourth official is John Magill.
FIXTURES
League Two
The Swindon Town team for the 1909–10 season
Swindon Town Football Club was founded by Reverend William Pitt of Liddington in 1879. The team turned professional in 1894 and joined the Southern League which was founded in the same year.
The club's home ground is the County Ground, which has an all-seated capacity of 15,728.
Since turning professional in 1894, the club has enjoyed periods of proud success, most notably, during the period 1968-1970 when they won the 1969 League Cup (defeating Arsenal at Wembley Stadium) securing promotion to the Second Division.
League Cup success earned the club its first invitations to European competitions, but they were not eligible to participate because they played in the then Third Division.
So as compensation they were entered into the 1969 Anglo-Italian League Cup and the 1970 Anglo-Italian Cup, with Swindon winning both.
These wins were led by the club's talismanic winger Don Rogers. He has had the South Stand named after him from the 2007/08 season.
Swindon Town won promotion to the Premier League during the 1992-93 season, the only time the club has played in the top level of English football.
The Robins was the second team to win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, beating Leicester City in a cracker 4-3, with Glenn Hoddle as manager.
The 2009–10 season started positively with the club maintaining a play-off position going into the new year with the team at one point in second place with automatic promotion in their own hands.
However, a slight slip in form towards the end of the season seen Swindon finish 5th but still ended the season with a semi-final play-off place against Charlton Athletic. Swindon won the tie on penalties and went on to play in the Football League One play-offs final against Millwall at Wembley for a place in the Football League Championship.
Sadly for the Robins, they lost 1–0 in what was their first defeat in 4 appearances at Wembley. After losing the final Swindon lost their top scorer and former Shrimper Billy Paynter who joined Leeds United on a free transfer.
During the close season of 2010 many Bookmakers had Swindon as one of the favourites for promotion to the npower Championship. But after an unconsistent season, in which Danny Wilson resigned, on 25 April 2011 Swindon were relegated to League 2 after losing 3–1 to Sheffield Wednesday FC. It was seen that losing Paynter without a replacement was the main cause.
Swindon were midway in the season looking to push for a top six place, after a 4–2 win against Charlton Athletic, but did not follow this up and continued to struggle for the rest of the season.
Paul Hart was sacked, replaced for the last two games of the season by former player and current reserve and youth team coach Paul Bodin.
In the summer of 2011 the club took a gamble and secured the services of the charamatic Italian striker and former Hamster Paolo Di Canio as team boss, whether it will pay off or not, and after only two defeats in 23 games that's taken them to just four points behind the present league leaders and taken them into the play-off positions the signs are looking pretty good, we will find out in May how much.
(For a more comprehensive look at the club: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swindon_Town_F.C.)