Source: FOOTYMAD
The S24 Preview: Southend United v Exeter City
It's time to get in the mood for the mother of all relegation six-pointers at Roots Hall on Saturday, March 13th; kick-off 15.00. v SHRIMPERS As manager Steve Tilson gets used to standing alone in the dugout, best of luck Briushy, he'll be worried about the fitness of midfielder Anthony Grant who was reported as being 'very tired' when he came off after an hour of the reserve game against Norwich on Tuesday. Granty hasn't played for the first team since limping off against Swindon at the end of January with an ankle injury, but with Macca and Christophe both suspended he has little choice but to start with the former Chelsea trainee.Tilly told www.southendunited.co.uk: "In an ideal world we would have given Granty longer. But we're not in an ideal world at the moment so it's a case of needs must. He came through both reserve games OK and fingers crossed he'll get through Saturday's important match also."After the dire defeat at Hartlepool loanee centre-back M'Voto must be sent to the subs bench allowing some width on the left with Scott Malone. Francis Laurent was once again out of the game for long periods and Scott Spencer was lively again when coming on as a late sub, as he always is.However, though not quite hitting it off in the north east, Scott, that's a lot of Scots, Vernon and Matt Paterson are the two I'd give another go to get the goals to get us out of this mess, with the unpredictable Frenchman to try and find the form that terrorised defences for a few matches sometime last Autumn. We are that desperate, and he may do something amazing, get a set piece in or around the box, Simon Francis will score soon!Damien Scannell has continued to be our most consistent performer and long may it continue.It would be fair to describe Saturday as a 'must win' match, but if we draw or lose of course we could still avoid relegation, win six out of the last eleven Tills, but even with all of Webby's experience in the background a fair few supporters might start believing the game is up.A few pints in the Spread and it will be, as ever, COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!! Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, Baldwin, Barrett, Malone, Moussa, Grant, Laurent, Vernon, Paterson, Scannell.Subs: Bentley, Sankofa, Herd, M'Voto, Spencer, Crawford.OPPOSITIONLeft back George Friend returns at left back for the Grecians after making six appearnces on loan with Southend earlier this season.Defender Rob Edwards has been training for the last two days and will be hoping to make a return at the weekend.Midfielder Joe Burnell might also join him after recovering from injury.However, fellow man in the middle Frenchman Bertie Cozic will not travel after picking up a dead leg in a midweek reserve game with Reading.Striker Craig McAllister has joined Rotherham on a month's loan.Tilly is aware of the threat forward Marcus Harber will pose to his defence though he has yet to score in his first two appearances. The Blues boss told the official site: "Upfront they have pace with the boy Harber on loan from West Brom who is 6ft 3in and very quick."19Oldham Athletic 33556141644913239915273936-1220Tranmere Rovers 348282227241092910618315636-2521Exeter City 3458422172312133371116355032-1522Southend United 345652021321316318818365232-1623Wycombe Wanderers 354591625269203661118366129-25Last time out - Exeter City 1 Oldham Athletic 1 It was a tale of two penalties at St James's Park on Saturday as Exeter City's survival hopes suffered a blow against relegation rivals Oldham Athletic. Let's start with the two that were given — the first saw Reuben Hazell haul Marcus Haber to the floor on the hour mark and the second came when the hapless defender was harshly adjudged to have tripped Neil Saunders in the box with just a minute left on the clock.Ryan Harley tucked away the first spot kick with aplomb, sending keeper Dean Brill the wrong way to give his side the lead. It was City's first goal in 371 minutes of football.Sean Gregan levelled matters for the visitors after profiting from a Paul Jones flap and a wicked deflection.But it wasn't long before referee Simon Hooper took centre stage once again.Marcus Stewart was clearly sent tumbling by left-back Joe Jacobson and it appeared everyone in the crowd viewed it as a cast-iron penalty — including Oldham manager Dave Penney — apart from the man-in-the-middle.It wasn't long before there was more penalty drama and Hooper had little hesitation in pointing to the spot when Hazell tangled with Saunders. Whatever was said amid the melee that followed is not clear. But it appears that City manager Paul Tisdale was keen for someone else to take the spot kick.Marcus Stewart appeared to put himself forward, but Harley was determined to take it — a decision that would prove costly.Harley elected to put the penalty in the same corner and Brill guessed right to deny City a winner.Missed penalties robbed City of a stab at the title last season and the trend continued on Saturday. Despite constantly rotating their penalty takers, the Grecians have now missed eight of their last 13 spot kicks. And although the missed penalty was the defining moment of this tight contest, City's failure to build on their bright start must go to some way to explaining why they failed to collect all three points. These are the sort of games City need to be winning if they are to navigate their way out of the bottom four.On a positive note this was their best performance in recent weeks. But the same old problems surfaced with a lack of width, poor service up to the strikers and not enough physical presence in the middle of the park all contributing to two dropped points.City boss Tisdale urged his side to pile on the pressure in the opening stages and his side followed his orders by flying out of the traps.Harley fired the first warning shot, blasting over the crossbar after Steve Tully's cross was only partially cleared.Matt Taylor's header brushed off the head of Gregan and flew over the crossbar and Liam Sercombe let fly with a fierce drive that was narrowly off target. City enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early exchanges with George Friend heavily involved in his first game following his return on loan from Premier League side Wolves.Sercombe dragged a shot wide and Scott Golbourne forced Brill into a save at his near post.But the breakthrough didn't come and the visitors seized the initiative in the lead-up to half-time.Abbott tricked his way past Friend and crossed for Price to scuff a shot straight at Jones when he really should have scored.And the pair combined again, only for Taylor to produce a magnificent block to deny Price the chance to atone for his earlier miss.Harley tested Brill with a 25-yard shot at the start of the second half and the match burst into life on the hour mark when Haber was wrestled to the floor. Harley dispatched the spot kick for his seventh goal of the season.Abbott inadvertently got his body in the way of substitute Danny Whittaker's goalbound shot and Chris Taylor powered a free header into the arms of Jones.And with the home side desperately trying to protect their slender advantage, veteran defender Gregan forced a crack in their resistance.Jones failed to deal properly with Dale Stephens' corner and the ball fell invitingly at the feet of Gregan. The ex-Leeds defender's shot took a wicked deflection before nestling in the bottom corner for his first league goal since 2003.Then came a pivotal 60 seconds that could have ended with either side grabbing all three points.First Harley watched in horror as his penalty was saved and then Abbott planted a header over the crossbar with the City defence all at sea. Exeter City: Jones, Tully, Duffy, Taylor, Goldborne, Friend, Harley, Dunne (Saunders 84), Sercombe, Stansfield (Logan 82), Harber (Stewart 73).Att: 4,997Catch the highlights here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8539806.stm(Report from www.thisisexeter.co.uk) PREVIOUSLY At Southend Utd. (57)At Exeter City (59)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Southend Utd.2849.12Exeter City2644.07Exeter City1322.81Southend Utd.1423.73Draws1628.07Draws1932.20GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgSouthend Utd.961.68Exeter City911.54Exeter City450.79Southend Utd.691.17On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (116 matches)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.4236.21Exeter City00.00Exeter City3933.62Draws00.00Draws3530.17GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgSouthend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.1651.42Exeter City00.00Exeter City1361.17RecordsHighest Aggregate8Southend Utd. 4 - 4Exeter City1936/1937 Highest Southend Utd. score:6Southend Utd. 6 - 0Exeter City1955/1956 Highest Exeter City score:6Exeter City 6 - 1Southend Utd.1956/1957 SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition 2009/2010Sat 19 DecExeter City1 - 0Southend Utd.League One 2002/2003Sat 03 MayExeter City1 - 0Southend Utd.League Division Three Sat 28 SepSouthend Utd.1 - 0Exeter CityLeague Division Three 2001/2002Mon 01 AprSouthend Utd.3 - 1Exeter CityLeague Division Three Sat 03 NovExeter City2 - 1Southend Utd.League Division Three 2000/2001Sat 14 AprExeter City2 - 2Southend Utd.League Division Three Tue 24 OctSouthend Utd.1 - 1Exeter CityLeague Division Three 1999/2000Tue 07 MarSouthend Utd.1 - 2Exeter CityLeague Division Three Sat 06 NovExeter City0 - 1Southend Utd.League Division Three 1998/1999Sat 13 MarSouthend Utd.0 - 0Exeter CityLeague Division Three Tue 05 JanExeter City3 - 1Southend Utd.(Associate Members) Sat 07 NovExeter City2 - 1Southend Utd.League Division Three 1990/1991Sat 27 AprExeter City1 - 2Southend Utd.Third Division Tue 23 OctSouthend Utd.2 - 1Exeter CityThird Division 1989/1990Wed 25 AprExeter City2 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division Sat 30 DecSouthend Utd.1 - 2Exeter CityFourth Division 1986/1987Fri 27 FebSouthend Utd.2 - 1Exeter CityFourth Division Wed 01 OctExeter City0 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division 1985/1986Fri 31 JanSouthend Utd.2 - 0Exeter CityFourth Division Sat 07 SepExeter City0 - 2Southend Utd.Fourth Division 1984/1985Fri 01 FebExeter City2 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 28 SepSouthend Utd.1 - 0Exeter CityFourth Division 1983/1984Fri 23 MarExeter City3 - 3Southend Utd.Third Division Sat 15 OctSouthend Utd.0 - 3Exeter CityThird Division 1982/1983Mon 02 MayExeter City4 - 3Southend Utd.Third Division Mon 03 JanSouthend Utd.1 - 1Exeter CityThird Division 1981/1982Sat 08 MayExeter City1 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division Fri 01 JanSouthend Utd.2 - 1Exeter CityThird Division 1979/1980Mon 05 NovSouthend Utd.4 - 0Exeter CityThird Division Wed 24 OctExeter City4 - 2Southend Utd.Third Division 1978/1979Fri 06 AprSouthend Utd.0 - 1Exeter CityThird Division Sat 02 DecExeter City0 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division 1976/1977Sat 02 AprExeter City3 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division Mon 22 NovSouthend Utd.2 - 1Exeter CityF.A. Cup after extra time, 90 minutes ?-?Sat 20 NovExeter City1 - 1Southend Utd.F.A. Cup Sat 23 OctSouthend Utd.2 - 0Exeter CityFourth Division 1971/1972Sat 04 MarExeter City0 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 12 NovSouthend Utd.3 - 0Exeter CityFourth Division 1970/1971Wed 28 AprSouthend Utd.0 - 0Exeter CityFourth Division Wed 02 SepExeter City2 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division 1969/1970Sat 28 FebExeter City3 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division Sat 18 OctSouthend Utd.1 - 1Exeter CityFourth Division 1968/1969Sat 14 DecExeter City1 - 2Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 11 OctSouthend Utd.6 - 1Exeter CityFourth Division 1967/1968Sat 02 MarExeter City0 - 2Southend Utd.Fourth Division Sat 14 OctSouthend Utd.1 - 0Exeter CityFourth Division 1966/1967Sat 31 DecSouthend Utd.0 - 0Exeter CityFourth Division Sat 27 AugExeter City0 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division 1965/1966Sat 15 JanExeter City1 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division Sat 23 OctSouthend Utd.4 - 2Exeter CityThird Division 1964/1965Sat 20 FebExeter City1 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division Sat 10 OctSouthend Utd.0 - 0Exeter CityThird Division 1957/1958Sat 21 DecSouthend Utd.2 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 24 AugExeter City0 - 5Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1956/1957Sat 19 JanSouthend Utd.2 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 15 SepExeter City6 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1955/1956Sat 14 JanSouthend Utd.6 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 10 SepExeter City0 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1954/1955Wed 29 SepExeter City2 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Tue 21 SepSouthend Utd.0 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1953/1954Sat 06 MarExeter City1 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Sat 17 OctSouthend Utd.0 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1952/1953Sat 28 MarExeter City0 - 2Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Sat 08 NovSouthend Utd.1 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1951/1952Sat 05 AprSouthend Utd.0 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 17 NovExeter City2 - 2Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1950/1951Sat 05 MaySouthend Utd.5 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) Wed 18 AprExeter City1 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1949/1950Tue 27 DecSouthend Utd.1 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) Mon 26 DecExeter City1 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1948/1949Tue 31 AugSouthend Utd.0 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) Wed 25 AugExeter City0 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1947/1948Sat 07 FebSouthend Utd.2 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 20 SepExeter City0 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1946/1947Sat 12 AprExeter City1 - 5Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Sat 07 DecSouthend Utd.2 - 2Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1938/1939Wed 12 AprSouthend Utd.0 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) Tue 27 DecExeter City3 - 3Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1937/1938Sat 23 AprSouthend Utd.1 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) Wed 30 MarExeter City1 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1936/1937Sat 06 MarSouthend Utd.4 - 4Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 31 OctExeter City2 - 2Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1935/1936Sat 28 MarSouthend Utd.4 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 23 NovExeter City1 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1934/1935Sat 05 JanExeter City4 - 3Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Sat 01 SepSouthend Utd.1 - 2Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1933/1934Tue 26 DecSouthend Utd.3 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) Mon 25 DecExeter City2 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1932/1933Sat 06 MaySouthend Utd.1 - 2Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 24 DecExeter City3 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Wed 30 NovExeter City0 - 1Southend Utd.F.A. Cup Sat 26 NovSouthend Utd.1 - 1Exeter CityF.A. Cup 1931/1932Sat 26 DecExeter City3 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Fri 25 DecSouthend Utd.0 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1930/1931Wed 18 MarSouthend Utd.5 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 11 OctExeter City1 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1929/1930Thu 26 DecExeter City3 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Wed 25 DecSouthend Utd.1 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1928/1929Wed 05 SepExeter City1 - 2Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Mon 27 AugSouthend Utd.1 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1927/1928Wed 15 FebSouthend Utd.1 - 2Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 17 SepExeter City3 - 2Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1926/1927Sat 22 JanExeter City2 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Sat 04 SepSouthend Utd.1 - 2Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1925/1926Sat 20 MarExeter City0 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Sat 07 NovSouthend Utd.3 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1924/1925Sat 14 FebSouthend Utd.3 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 11 OctExeter City0 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1923/1924Sat 23 FebExeter City2 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division (South) Sat 22 DecSouthend Utd.0 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) 1922/1923Sat 16 DecSouthend Utd.5 - 0Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 09 DecExeter City2 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1921/1922Sat 01 OctSouthend Utd.0 - 1Exeter CityThird Division (South) Sat 24 SepExeter City4 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division (South) 1920/1921Sat 01 JanSouthend Utd.0 - 0Exeter CityThird Division Wed 20 OctExeter City0 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division REFThe man in the middle is Darren Sheldrake from Surrey. He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/2320/1/darren-sheldrake FIXTURESSaturday, March 13th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Brentford v MK Dons, Brighton v Swindon, Bristol Rovers v Tranmere, Carlisle v Colchester, Huddersfield v Norwich, Leyton Orient v Walsall, Millwall v Charlton, Oldham v Wycombe, Southampton v Leeds United, Southend v Exeter, Stockport v Gillingham, Yeovil v Hartlepool. Tuesday, March 16th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Brighton v Brentford, Carlisle v Yeovil, Southampton v Swindon, Stockport v Oldham.Wednesday, March 17th: Exeter v Bristol Rovers, 19:45. Friday, March 19th: Tranmere v Hartlepool, 19:45. BETTo Win:Southend - 6/50, Draw - 12/5, Exeter City - 12/5.For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-oneHISTORY Exeter City FC was formed from two predecessor clubs: Exeter United and St Sidwell's United. Exeter United was a football club from Exeter, Devon, that played between 1890 and 1904. In 1904, Exeter United lost 3-1 to local rivals St Sidwell's United and after the match, it was agreed that the two clubs should become one. The new team took the name 'Exeter City' and continued to play at Exeter United's ground, St James Park, where Exeter City still play today. The club is nicknamed The Grecians. This name has a disputed history, with many theories being proposed for its origin. No-one is sure of the definitive answer to why but one source suggests that the club voted for the name in 1908 because of its association with St Sidwells parish. People living in the parish of St Sidwells in Exeter have been known as "Greeks" or "Grecians" for many centuries. This is possibly due to the parish's location outside the city walls. In Homer's epic poem Iliad the Greek forces laid siege to the walls of Troy. The association possibly arose because of rivalries between city boys and St Sidwellians during the annual beating the bounds. It has also been suggested that there was a group of children in St Sidwells who were referred to as the 'Greasy Un's' and another possible, but unlikely source for the name was from clock that hung outside a jeweller's shop in Sidwell Street, close to the ground, which had the word 'Grecians' engraved or painted on the face.A further possible source for the name is that it is a corruption of Caerwysg, the Welsh word for Exeter (similar to the Cornish word Karesk). Citizens would have been called Caer Iscuns which became Grecians.On 10 September 1904, Exeter City played its first ever competitive match: - a 2-1 victory at St James over 110th Battery of the Royal Artillery, in the East Devon League. The attendance was 600, and the winning goal scored by Sid Thomas, who was to serve the club in various capacities for 70 years. City topped the East Devon League with 11 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat in its 1st season, and transferred to the Plymouth & District League for next 3 seasons. City's historic first match in the Football League took place on Saturday 28 August 1920, when Brentford was the visiting team to St James Park. Exeter won 3-0.In 1931, City reached the sixth round of the FA Cup, losing a replay 4-2 to Sunderland in front of its largest ever home gate. Fifty years later, City reached the sixth round again, but lost 2-0 to eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur. Earlier Exeter had beaten Newcastle United 4-0 having beaten Leicester City in the previous round.City's only major trophy was the Fourth Division Championship which it won in 1990. In that season, City won 20 league games at St James Park, and remained undefeated in 31 home matches, including dramatic draws against Norwich City in the FA Cup and Sunderland in the League Cup 4th round, both of which featured late equalisers for the visitors.The end of the 1970s and the very early 1980s were regarded as City's most successful spell in the Third Division, including a finish of 8th in 1979-80 and an FA Cup run the following season. Star players included Tony Kellow, John Delve and David Pullar.Following that promotion, City rarely shone at the higher level. The departure of manager Terry Cooper and key players such as Shaun Taylor, Richard Dryden, Clive Whitehead, Brian McDermott and Steve Neville left new boss Alan Ball to pick up the pieces. There were some successes under the former World Cup winner - including winning both games against local rivals Plymouth in the clubs' first derbies for a decade - but Ball left for Southampton and the returning Cooper was unable to stop Exeter avoiding relegation.Back in the bottom division, City struggled for several seasons, with chairman Ivor Doble taking the club into administration and starting a chain of events which resulted in the sale of the club's ground for what was considered by many to be a very low sum.In 2003, City finished 23rd in Division Three and was relegated to the Conference National - Exeter was the first club to suffer automatic relegation without finishing bottom of the league. Exeter won its last game but was still relegated as Swansea City's victory over Hull City(!) left the Grecians one point short of safety.Following relegation to the Conference, the club was taken over by the Exeter City Supporters Trust. In May 2007 two of the Directors who had been in charge during season 2002-2003 were convicted of fraudulent trading at the club, John Russell receiving a prison sentence and Mike Lewis a community service sentence.Several million pounds in debt and with no big investor in sight, the Trust kept the club going through fund-raising activities amongst rank and file supporters. Complex legal arguments with both the Inland Revenue and the football authorities meant that City's first season of non-league football was plagued by off the field uncertainty.In 2004, a Creditors Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) was put in place to reduce the club's debts. Through the club's "Red or Dead" scheme, hundreds of fans pledged at least £500 each to fund the CVA repayments, but the FA Cup proved to be the income boost the Grecians had needed, as City was drawn Manchester United away in the third round of the FA Cup. Exeter drew 0-0 at Old Trafford in January 2005, gaining £653,511 as City's share of receipts from the near 70,000 attendance. Further income from a televised replay - won 2-0 by United - coupled with ongoing fund-raising and unpaid work from the club's supporters helped the club to repay its debts, and the CVA was cleared in December 2005.2004 also saw the club's centenary. In May 2004 a friendly fixture was arranged against a Brazilian masters team at St James Park, a celebration of City's South American tour of 1914. The Brazilian team, containing such notable players as Careca and Dunga, won 1-0.City's first team finished the 2006-07 season in fifth place, qualifying for the play-offs. After beating Oxford United on penalties in the semi-final City met Morecambe at Wembley in the final, where it lost 2-1 despite taking an early lead. The Grecians reached the play-off final in the following season, this time Exeter looked to be heading out of the play-offs after losing the first leg of the semi final at home to local rivals Torquay United 2-1 but came back to win the second leg 4-1 with 3 goals in the last 20 minutes. In the final Exeter met Cambridge United in front of a Conference play-off record crowd of 42,511, winning 1-0 with a goal from Rob Edwards, earning promotion to League Two.The club followed on from its success in the Conference by finishing as runners up to Brentford in League Two with a goal from Richard Logan helping Exeter to win promotion to League One with a 1-0 win away to Rotherham United on the last day of the season.The club remains owned and run by its fans, through the Exeter City Supporters Trust, and especially due to that we at S24 wish them the best for the future, after Saturday of course.For a more comprehensive history of Exeter City, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter_City_F.C.
