Southend Utd

Leeds 2-0 Southend
Dennis Wise made a winning start as Leeds manager as they laboured to a victory over Southend at Elland Road. Gary Hooper and Luke Guttridge went close for Southend before on-loan Adam Johnson crossed for Ian Moore to thump the ball home from 14 yards out. Freddy Eastwood had one effort blocked and sent another wide as the visitors pressed, before Graham Stack pulled off a fine save to deny the striker. Leeds wrapped it up when Robbie Blake curled home a fine 20-yard free-kick. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leeds boss Dennis Wise: \"I was more pleased about the clean sheet than anything because we've been leaking goals in the last few weeks and there were some tired legs. \"The whole team needs a lot of work but we are taking it a bit at a time. \"They were two lovely goals and I was chuffed to bits with the way we performed and defended, that is the system that we want them to follow.\" Southend manager Steve Tilson: \"We should not have lost today. We performed well, especially in the second half when we were camped in their half for 40 of the 45 minutes. \"We must have had eight or nine corners in the second half and the performance deserved more than we got. \"You would have thought they were the away side considering the number of bodies they got behind the ball.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leeds: Stack, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Lewis, Moore (Richardson 61), Douglas, Derry, Johnson (Westlake 87), Healy (Blake 80), Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Warner, Foxe. Booked: Lewis, Douglas, Stack. Goals: Moore 40, Blake 88. Southend: Flahavan, Hunt, Sodje, Barrett, Hammell, Guttridge (Campbell-Ryce 78), Maher, Clarke, Gower, Hooper (Harrold 72), Eastwood. Subs Not Used: Collis, Prior, Moussa. Att: 19,528. Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).

Southend v Hull
Southend welcome back Simon Francis from a one-match ban for their bottom-of-the-table battle with Hull. Billy Paynter (hamstring) is out and Lee Bradbury (hip) is not expected to be fit, so Matt Harrold or Gary Hooper will partner Freddy Eastwood up front Hull boss Phil Parkinson's only fresh injury doubt is John Welsh, who pulled a hamstring against Sunderland. Nick Barmby could step in for Welsh, while Michael Bridges, Dean Marney and Mark Yeates will hope to win a recall.

Southend 2-3 Hull
Craig Fagan netted the winner as 10-man Hull moved above opponents Southend at the bottom of the Championship table. Matt Harrold stabbed home from close range to put Southend ahead but Jon Parkin's drive levelled the score. Freddy Eastwood fired his ninth goal of the season to restore the lead, only for Stuart Elliott to restore parity once more with a free-kick. Tigers' Ian Ashbee was sent off for a challenge on Harrold, but Hull won thanks to Fagan's 65th-minute header. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southend boss Steve Tilson on bringing in new players: \"All I can do is keep trying and in the meantime hope that we can fight our way out of trouble. \"We're conceding too many goals. That is something we have got to put right. \"One can't put all the blame on the back four. You defend as a unit. We've not been doing that very effectively.\" Hull assistant manager Colin Murphy: \"We know there is still a tremendous amount of work ahead of us to get clear of trouble. \"But this should do a great deal for our confidence. \"We showed tremendous character and discipline to get the win we deserved after being reduced to 10 men.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southend: Flahavan, Hunt, Sodje, Barrett, Hammell, Francis (Hooper 76), Clarke (Guttridge 77), Maher, Gower, Harrold, Eastwood. Subs Not Used: Prior, Collis, Campbell-Ryce. Booked: Clarke. Goals: Harrold 28, Eastwood 51. Hull: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Mills, Dawson, Fagan, Ashbee, Delaney, Marney, Elliott, Parkin. Subs Not Used: Duke, Forster, Barmby, Bridges, Yeates. Sent Off: Ashbee (57). Goals: Parkin 35, Elliott 56, Fagan 65. Att: 10,234 Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).

Wolverhampton v Southend
Defender Jody Craddock is expected to be recalled to the Wolves side after recovering from head and knee injuries. Striker Jay Bothroyd is likely to miss out again due to a shoulder injury. Southend's Billy Paynter (hamstring) will be out for six weeks while fellow striker Lee Bradbury (hip) has suffered a setback in his recovery. Matt Harrold or teenager Gary Hooper will partner Freddy Eastwood in attack. Che Wilson (calf) and Jay Smith (ankle) are unavailable.

Wolverhampton 3-1 Southend
Leon Clarke scored two and Jody Craddock netted one as Wolves added to struggling Southend's misery. Southend hit the bar early on with Steve Hammell's free-kick, but Clarke scored on 10 minutes after Daryl Flahavan spilled Lewis Gobern's cross. Craddock scored a volley two minutes later, then Clarke headed the third with just 23 minutes on the clock. Matt Harrold headed a second-half consolation for Southend and Freddy Eastwood hit the woodwork late on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wolves boss Mick McCarthy on his recent criticism of Leon Clarke: \"If that is Leon saying 'stuff you gaffer' then long may it continue. \"I am not trying to be an amateur psychologist and what I said last week was fair criticism . \"Leon has got the ability but now he has to find the consistency.\" Southend boss Steve Tilson: \"It was a strange first half and I cannot believe we went in 3-0 down at half-time. \"Wolves could not get out of their half for the first 10 or 12 minutes when we were playing some decent stuff and creating some good chances. \"But we also hit the woodwork twice and it was not to be.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wolverhampton: Murray, Edwards, Breen, Craddock, Clapham, Gobern (Potter 78), Henry, Olofinjana, Ricketts (Little 66), Clarke (Bothroyd 64), Cort. Subs Not Used: Ikeme, Johnson. Booked: Olofinjana. Goals: Clarke 10, Craddock 12, Clarke 22. Southend: Flahavan, Hunt, Sodje, Prior, Hammell, Francis (Campbell-Ryce 60), Clarke, Maher, Gower, Harrold, Eastwood. Subs Not Used: Wilson, Guttridge, Lawson, Hooper. Booked: Clarke, Maher. Goals: Harrold 57. Att: 17,904. Ref: S Tanner (Somerset).

Southend v Man Utd
Southend are without striker Matt Harrold, who is cup-tied having played for Yeovil at Southampton earlier in this season's competition. Manager Steve Tilson is also sweating on the fitness of central defender Adam Barrett who has a stomach injury. Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo will figure for Manchester United, with only Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar missing the trip. Ryan Shawcross, David Jones, David Gray and Kieran Lee will all be involved. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Man Utd (from): Kuszczak, Heaton, Gray, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Silvestre, Heinze, Lee, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Jones, Richardson, Ronaldo, Smith, Saha, Rooney, Shawcross.

Southend dump Man Utd out of cup DUMP DUMP DUMP
Southend pulled off a massive shock to dump holders Manchester United out of the Carling Cup at Roots Hall. The Championship strugglers progressed to the quarter-finals thanks to a stunning first-half 30-yard free-kick from top scorer Freddy Eastwood. United winger Cristiano Chunky Boy was denied by two magnificent saves from Darryl Flahavan as United attacked. David Jones' drive crashed against the post and Wayne Shrek saw Flahavan expertly tip over his cross-shot. After Monday's celebrations for United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's 20 years in charge at Old Trafford, the Scot was brought crashing back down to earth. 11,532 had crammed into Roots Hall to see a potential upset and Ferguson picked a strong side in an attempt to prevent the Premiership leaders from slipping up. Chunky Boy and Shrek were included and the England striker went close twice from the edge of the area as he started in lively fashion. Both chances forced comfortable saves from Flahavan, the second after a magical piece of skill bemused two defenders and created a yard of space. But Southend were not being over-ran and just before the half-hour mark they took the lead in sensational circumstances. Jones fouled Jamal Campbell-Ryce 30 yards out and Eastwood stepped up to curl a wonderful free-kick around the wall and into the top corner past Tomasz Kuszczak. The screamer sparked wild scenes of jubilation, but United nearly levelled immediately as Jones' fierce left-foot drive slammed against the inside of the post. United poured forward and Chunky Boy hit a cracker from 30 yards that Flahavan somehow tipped one-handed over the crossbar, a magnificent save from the 27-year-old. He needed to be alert straight after the break as well as Chunky Boy tried his luck from 25 yards, this time Flahavan parrying away a shot straight down his throat. It was becoming something of a duel and Chunky Boy was denied again on the hour mark, a 25-yard free-kick forcing another remarkable save as the ball screamed towards the top corner. Soon after it was Shrek's turn, his cross-shot from the right hurriedly turned over by Flahavan as it looped goalwards. Gabriel Heinze then got in on the act, the Argentine's sweet left-foot drive flying inches wide of Flahavan's left-hand post with the keeper - for once - beaten. Eastwood remained a menace as Southend threatened on the break, but his wonder goal proved enough to send Southend into the last eight and end United's hold on the trophy.

Southend v Preston
Southend striker Gary Hooper bruised his foot in the Carling Cup win against Manchester United and will be replaced by Matt Harrold, who was cup-tied. Full-back Lewis Hunt is out with an ankle problem, but defender Efe Sodje will play despite a broken finger. Danny Dichio is available after a ban to battle for one of two striking spots in the Preston team with David Nugent, Brett Ormerod and Patrick Agyemang. Neil Mellor, Adam Nowland and Youl Mawene remain on the treatment table.

Southend 0-0 Preston
Preston's push for promotion suffered a setback at Roots Hall as they were held to a stalemate by strugglers Southend. It was Freddy Eastwood, fresh from his Carling Cup winner against Manchester United, that came closest to a winner. The in-form striker struck the bar with a tremendous strike from 20 yards as rock-bottom Southend threatened a win. However, Preston also had chances in an entertaining match, David Nugent's lob and Graham Alexander's drive coming closest, but neither side could score. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Prior, Sodje, Hammell, Campbell-Ryce (Cole 79), Clarke, Guttridge, Gower, Eastwood, Harrold. Subs Not Used: Wilson, Lawson, Smith, Moussa. Booked: Campbell-Ryce, Prior, Sodje. Preston: Nash, Alexander, St. Ledger, Chilvers, Hill, Sedgwick,McKenna, Pugh, Whaley (Lewis Neal 76), Dichio (Agyemang 61), Nugent (Ormerod 83). Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Wilson. Booked: McKenna, Dichio, Pugh. Att: 9,263 Ref: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).

Bradbury eager to make comeback
Southend striker Lee Bradbury hopes to push for a first-team place soon after shaking off a nagging hip injury. The 31-year-old scored twice on his return for the reserves against Norwich on Monday, and told the club website: \"It's been a disappointing season. \"I was only supposed to be injured for three weeks, but there were a few complications and it's ended up being three months, which is frustrating. \"Now I want to play my part in helping us get back up the table.\"

Southend move Birmingham fixture
Southend have had to move their home Championship game with Birmingham for the second time this season. The Shrimpers will now face City at Roots Hall on 23 December. The switch, made under Football League guidelines, came about as Southend are playing Tottenham in the Carling Cup quarter-finals on 20 December. Southend reached the last eight with a memorable 1-0 victory over holders Manchester United, with the winner scored by Freddy Eastwood.

Southend v Southampton
Southend are still without Kevin Maher and Adam Barrett. Marr is suspended while Barrett has an addominal problem. Efe Sodje is receiving treatment on a sore leg and Che Wilson is not quite ready to return from a knee injury. Southampton have Inigo Idiakez back after a month out with a thigh injury. David Prutton is pushing for his first start this term after ankle surgery. Bradley Wright-Phillips is pushing Kenwyne Jones to partner top scorer Grzegorz Rasiak in attack.

Tilson extends Southend contract
Southend manager Steve Tilson has signed a year's extension to his contract at Roots Hall, keeping him at the club until 2011. Assistant manager Paul Brush has also signed on for a further 12 months. Shrimpers chairman Ron Martin has taken the step to confirm his commitment to the current management team despite the club being bottom of the Championship. Tilson, 40, has guided his side to back-to-back promotions since taking charge in November 2003. The four teams directly above Southend - Hull, Leeds, Barnsley and QPR - have all parted company with their managers this season. Tilson told ssb: \"We've been having talks since May so It's good to get it sorted out. \"It's based on what we've achieved and it's good to have the support of the chairman. Southend chairman Ron Martin added: \"Steve and Paul are an integral part of where we want to take this club. \"They have also given me a list of players they'd like in the transfer window and I would envisage signing two or three.\"

Luton 0-0 Southend
Southend striker Freddy Eastwood hit the woodwork twice in the second half as Steve Tilson's side missed a chance to climb off the bottom of the table. Just after the interval Eastwood cut in from the left before unleashing a shot that crashed against the Luton bar. In stoppage time Eastwood looked certain to score after he rounded keeper Dean Kiely, but he struck the base of the post with his shot. Southend keeper Darryl Flahavan made a series of saves to keep Luton at bay. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luton manager Mike Newell: \"It's frustrating when you don't win your home games. \"It is difficult to play the bottom side - they're capable of winning games and it could have turned out that way. \"I don't think confidence was lacking, but that was as poor as we've played this season. We gave the ball away and it was hard to get near their goal.\" Southend manager Steve Tilson: \"It's a good point. We played some good stuff - on balance it's a fair result. \"At the death I thought we'd won. \"When you're at the bottom you don't get that luck, but two unbeaten games gives us a platorm to build on with so many games coming up.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luton: Kiely, Foley, Edwards, Robinson, Heikkinen, Morgan (Feeney 65), Emanuel, Brkovic, Barnett, Bell, Vine (Coyne 81). Subs Not Used: Beresford, Langley, Boyd. Southend: Flahavan, Hunt, Prior, Sodje, Gower, Maher, Campbell-Ryce (Hooper 80), Hammell, McCormack, Eastwood, Bradbury (Harrold 80). Subs Not Used: Welch, Francis, Clarke. Att: 7,468. Ref: N Miller (Co Durham).

Tottenham 1-0 Southend
Spurs scraped past Southend into the Carling Cup semi-finals thanks to Jermain Defoe's extra-time winner. Darryl Flahavan was superb in the Southend goal, saving first-half shots from Steed Malbranque and Danny Murphy. Mido also hit the bar for Spurs with a powerful volley in the first half with Flahavan only able to look on. In normal time Mido was denied by another superb Flahavan save, but the Southend keeper could nothing about Defoe's 115th-minute close-range goal. The impressive Mido played an important part in the goal, providing the pass for Defoe, who had had a quiet game up to that point, but finished with aplomb. Southend had reached the last eight of the competition after their thrilling win over Manchester United, courtesy of a stunning Freddy Eastwood free-kick. Eastwood's reputation ensured he was given plenty of attention by the Spurs defence and he found it difficult to influence the game. It was a defender - Efetobore Sodje - who had Southend's best chance, the Nigerian going close with a second-half header. Former Spurs player Mark Gower made a lively start for the visitors, sending in a dangerous cross from the left in the fourth minute. Gower also forced Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson into a save at his near post at the other end. Robinson's counterpart Flahavan was busier saving efforts from Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Steed Malbranque. But midway through the first half Flahavan had a lucky escape as Spurs hit the bar through Mido. After good work by Murphy and Defoe, the Egyptian striker powered a volley against the bar. Murphy and Defoe had chances themselves with the former Liverpool midfielder going close with a flicked header, while Flahavan had to save a headed effort from the Spurs and England striker. Early in the second half Flahavan was forced into another save as he dealt with a curling shot from Malbranque and a Murphy effort. Defoe also glimpsed goal when Sodje misjudged a ball over the top but the England striker lobbed wide. Sodje went close for Southend with a header, while in the last minute of stoppage time Mido came desperately close to winning the game for Spurs, only for his header to be superbly saved by Flahavan. But with five minutes remainging, Defoe slid in to connect with Mido's pass. It was a cruel conclusion for Southend and particularly for Flahavan, who had done so much to frustrate the Premier League team. The draw for the semi-finals will be held on Saturday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tottenham: Robinson, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Tainio (Davids 56), Stalteri, Davenport, Malbranque, Huddlestone, Murphy (Berbatov 76), Defoe, Mido. Subs Not Used: Cerny, Lee, Gardner. Booked: Stalteri. Goals: Defoe 115. Southend: Flahavan, Hunt, Prior (Clarke 24), Sodje, McCormack (Francis 118), Campbell-Ryce (Hooper 114), Maher, Hammell, Gower, Eastwood, Bradbury. Subs Not Used: Welch, Paynter. Booked: McCormack, Hammell. After Extra Time. Att: 35,811. Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

View Full Version: Southend Utd