Uncle Leo
This cook is an anti-semite
Southend have now gone over two months without a league win, but with Ipswich Town next on the fixture list, the Shrimpers have a great chance of ending their dismal run. After a good streak of four wins in five games, Ipswich have lost their last three, conceding nine goals in the process.
Of course, Southend recently endured a similar run, shipping three goals against each of Cardiff, Derby and Coventry, before the confidence-boosting 0-0 at Turf Moor against Burnley.
This is the first competitive encounter between the two sides since the ill-fated 96/97 season, when both games were drawn. The season before that, Mike Marsh delighted the Roots Hall faithful with a long-range screamer to secure a 2-1 home win.
Since then, the fortunes of the two clubs have diverged greatly. Whilst Ipswich have finished fifth in the Premiership and enjoyed two UEFA Cup campaigns, Southend have toyed with relegation from the Football League. However, the two sides are back on an even keel now (almost – Town currently lie four points clear of the Shrimpers) and Saturday’s clash promises to be a very close one.
Despite losing 3-2 to Preston in their last game, Ipswich by all accounts performed pretty well. They were 2-0 up at half-time, but some sloppy defending let Preston back in to it and they ended up losing the game 3-2. Before that, they were thumped 5-1 at Portman Road by a West Brom side finally starting to justify their pre-season odds.
So, much like Southend, defence is clearly something of a problem, despite the influence of veteran Jason De Vos and the presence of Welsh international goalie Lewis Price between the sticks.
It will be interesting to see if Steve Tilson sticks with the team that drew at Burnley on Tuesday. The experiment of playing Simon Francis on the wing appears to have worked well and Lewis Hunt is a good alternative at right back. Gary Hooper continues to knock on the first-team door after scoring for the reserves in midweek, but it seems likely that Luke Guttridge will keep his place for the moment.
In terms of games over the years, there’s nothing to choose between these sides – nine wins apiece and ten draws. The same goes for this weekend, with Ladbrokes offering both teams at 6/4. A close game is sure to ensue, but it’s one that Southend, probably in front of the biggest Roots Hall crowd this season, simply have to win.
Of course, Southend recently endured a similar run, shipping three goals against each of Cardiff, Derby and Coventry, before the confidence-boosting 0-0 at Turf Moor against Burnley.
This is the first competitive encounter between the two sides since the ill-fated 96/97 season, when both games were drawn. The season before that, Mike Marsh delighted the Roots Hall faithful with a long-range screamer to secure a 2-1 home win.
Since then, the fortunes of the two clubs have diverged greatly. Whilst Ipswich have finished fifth in the Premiership and enjoyed two UEFA Cup campaigns, Southend have toyed with relegation from the Football League. However, the two sides are back on an even keel now (almost – Town currently lie four points clear of the Shrimpers) and Saturday’s clash promises to be a very close one.
Despite losing 3-2 to Preston in their last game, Ipswich by all accounts performed pretty well. They were 2-0 up at half-time, but some sloppy defending let Preston back in to it and they ended up losing the game 3-2. Before that, they were thumped 5-1 at Portman Road by a West Brom side finally starting to justify their pre-season odds.
So, much like Southend, defence is clearly something of a problem, despite the influence of veteran Jason De Vos and the presence of Welsh international goalie Lewis Price between the sticks.
It will be interesting to see if Steve Tilson sticks with the team that drew at Burnley on Tuesday. The experiment of playing Simon Francis on the wing appears to have worked well and Lewis Hunt is a good alternative at right back. Gary Hooper continues to knock on the first-team door after scoring for the reserves in midweek, but it seems likely that Luke Guttridge will keep his place for the moment.
In terms of games over the years, there’s nothing to choose between these sides – nine wins apiece and ten draws. The same goes for this weekend, with Ladbrokes offering both teams at 6/4. A close game is sure to ensue, but it’s one that Southend, probably in front of the biggest Roots Hall crowd this season, simply have to win.
