It’s Finally Back! – Southend United v Colchester United

February 5, 2016 by Alec

It’s Finally Back! – Southend United v Colchester United

The Essex Derby makes it’s long awaited return to Roots Hall this Saturday for the first time since Boxing Day 2009. The last two derbies have been played at Colchester.

Last time out for Colchester, they slumped to a 4-1 defeat at home against Tottenham in the FA Cup 4th Round. Whilst for Southend, we beat Shrewsbury Town 2-1 on Tuesday night, with goals from Will Atkinson & West Ham loanee Stephen Hendrie. It was well worth the long trip to Shropshire.

The two sides, have met 75 times in total. The first meeting was back in 1950, when Blues won 4-2 at Roots Hall. The most recent meeting came earlier this season on Boxing Day, when Blues came away from Colchester with a 2-0 win and all three points. Hopefully it’s the same this weekend!

Southend currently sit in an impressive 7th place, level on points with Millwall but just outside the playoffs on goal difference. Colchester are currently bottom of the league and are 7 points off safety.

Overall Meetings

Colchester Wins: 27
Southend Wins: 31
Draws: 17

Who are Colchester United?

Full Name: Colchester United Football Club
Founded: 1937
Nickname: The U’s
Manager: Kevin Keen
2014-15 Season: League One, 19th – Survived relegation on the last day of the season.

Most Recent Line-Ups

Southend (v Shrewsbury): Bentley, O’Neill, Barrett, Bolger, Thompson, Hendrie (GOAL 79’), Atkinson (GOAL 24’), Leonard, Payne (McQueen 68’), Hunt (Timlin 50’ – Sent off 65’), Mooney (Loza 67’)
Colchester (v Tottenham): Kean, Brindley, Wynter (Kent 6’), Eastman (Briggs 21’), Vincent-Young, Gilbey, Garvan, Massey, Moncur, Ambrose (Sordell 61’), Porter

Last Time We Met – 26th December 2015

Southend: Bentley, White, Barrett, Thompson, Coker, Worrall, Atkinson, Leonard, Payne (Pigott 82’), Hunt (McLaughlin 78’), Mooney (Rea 86’)
Colchester: Parish, Wynter, Eastman, Elokobi, Briggs, Gilbey, Edwards (Bonne 72’), Ambrose (Wright 72’), Moncur, Harriott (Massey 86’), Porter

Colchester’s Last 6 Results

Tottenham Hotspur (H) – L 1-4
Scunthorpe United (A) – L 3-0
Fleetwood Town (H) – D 1-1
Sheffield United (H) – L 1-2
Charlton Athletic (H) – W 2-1
Oldham Athletic (A) – D 1-1

What Could Happen?

A win for Blues on Saturday would take them up to 6th, above Millwall and into the playoffs. This is highly dependant on Millwall failing to win against Walsall.
On the other hand, a win for Colchester would take them from bottom of the league up to 22nd. They would still be in the relegation zone. Although, this would again depend on Crewe & Oldham both failing to win.

Latest Blues News

Blues will definitely be without midfielder Michael Timlin following his red card against Shrewsbury on Tuesday night. Although midfielder Gary Deegan is due to return after serving his one match suspension following his sending off against Coventry. Midfielders Myles Weston & Anthony Wordsworth remain sidelined. New loan signing from Norwich City, Jamar Loza could once again feature following his second debut for the club against Shrewsbury. The striker set up the winning goal against Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Phil Brown starts with more or less the same side which beat Shrewsbury, Gary Deegan being the obvious difference as Timlin is suspended.

January Transfers

*The team in brackets represents the team that player has signed for or has signed from*

Southend
INS: Tyrone Barnett (Shrewsbury Town – LOAN), Stephen Hendrie (West Ham – LOAN), Sam McQueen (Southampton – LOAN), Glen Kamara (Arsenal – LOAN), Jamar Loza (Norwich City – LOAN)
OUTS: Luke Prosser (Northampton Town – LOAN), Jack Bridge (Chelmsford City – LOAN), Jason Williams (Chelmsford City – LOAN)

Colchester

INS: Jake Kean (Norwich – LOAN), Nicky Shorey (Portsmouth)
OUTS: None

The Opposition Thoughts

For each preview, I attempt to get the views of an opposition supporter, this week we have three Colchester fans...

Chris

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Colchester?
My name is Chris my 1st game was in 1958 but my main support started in 1969.

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
Disappointing is the only way to describe it, poor decisions as regards an experienced manager has cost us dearly, and is likely to end in relegation.

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
George Moncur has probably been our best player this season. He has scored 10 goals from midfield and been at the heart of much of our attacking threat no wonder championship clubs are said to be circling for his signature.

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
Very little in the league to get excited about so I think I will plump for the 2-1 win over Charlton in the cup, because the income generated from the match against Spurs will help to bring in new players.

5. What are your views on Southend United?
Southend have done much better than I expected, I thought both clubs would finish lower mid table this season but at present Southend appear to be nearer a play off position!

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Burton Albion are the surprise team in my opinion I didn’t expect them to be top of the table or anywhere near the playoffs in fact.

7. Links - What do you think of former Colchester and current Southend full backs (defenders) John White and Ben Coker?
John White is Mr reliable being able to play in a variety of positions, it was a sad day when we allowed him to leave; more should have been done to keep him at Colchester. Ben Coker started off well but then faded badly; he always looked more of a midfielder than a defender whilst at Colchester but seems to have made his mark at Southend.

8. Where do you expect both Colchester and Southend to finish this season?
I think Southend will finish about mid table and sadly we will be relegated unless we have a dramatic upturn in fortunes which appears unlikely.

9. If you are attending the game, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?
Not coming to this game but I have been to Roots Hall many times before.

10. Score Prediction for the game?
We are in a terrible state at present what with Saturday’s injuries to central defenders Alex Wynter and Tom Eastman to weaken an already poor defence. We could well lose Moncur and Gilbey in the transfer window, if that happens we could be lambs to the slaughter because I don’t see us signing anyone that decent before Saturday. Sadly my prediction is a 3-1 win for Southend.

Steve

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Colchester?
THRILLSEEKER (aka Steve) - 1977

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
VERY DISAPPOINTING. PRE-SEASON I THOUGHT (on paper) WE HAD OUR BEST SQUAD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT ALAS YOU DON'T WIN ON PAPER. TONY HUMES TAKES A LOT OF THE BLAME FOR BEING CLUELESS

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
WHAT SORT OF QUESTION IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE. THERE HAS BEEN NO ONE TRULY OUTSTANDING CONSISTENT PERFORMER. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY GOOD INDIVIDUAL DISPLAYS FROM THE LIKES OF GEORGE MONCUR, GAVIN MASSEY, OWEN GARVAN AND ALEX GILBEY

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
CUFC 1 BURTON 5 - I THINK THIS WAS WHEN THE PENNY DROPPED THAT HUMES WAS OUT OF HIS DEPTH. OTHER THAN THAT WEALDSTONE AWAY WHEN WE AVOIDED AN FA CUP SHOCK AND WON 6-3

5. What are your views on Southend United?
YOU ARE DOING SURPRISINGLY WELL. I DON'T HAVE A DISLIKE OF SOUTHEND AS MUCH AS OTHERS. TO ME YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER TEAM. MY REAL DISLIKE IS IPSWICH

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
YES - BURTON & WALSALL FOR DOING SO WELL AND BARNSLEY FOR DOING SO BAD ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOW LOOKING GOOD. PRE-SEASON I TIPPED THEM FOR A TOP 5 SPOT. THEY MAY STILL MAKE IT

7. Links - What do you think of former Colchester and current Southend full backs (defenders) John White and Ben Coker?
JOHN WHITE - WE MISS HIM. THE PRIMARY JOB OF A DEFENDER IS TO DEFEND AND WITH JW (John White) YOU WOULD ALWAYS GET A RATING OF 6.5/7 OUT OF 10 EVERY GAME. HE WAS ALSO VERY VERSATLE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ASSET TO OUT CURRENT BACK 4. YES HIS ATTACKING PROWESS ISN'T THAT GOOD BUT THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE ATTACKERS
NEVER A FAN OF BEN COKER AND SURPRISED HOW WELL HE HAS DONE

8. Where do you expect both Colchester and Southend to finish this season?
CUFC - REALISTICALLY 22nd BUT I CAN DREAM OF 20th (20th is just above the relegation zone)
SOUTHEND - 8th OR 9th

9. If you are attending the game, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?
BEEN TO ROOTS HALL MANY TIMES

10. Score Prediction for the game
SOUTHEND 4 CUFC 2

Keiran

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Colchester?
My name is Kieran and I’m 21 years old. I’ve been supporting Colchester since I was about 7 years of age. It was my late mum who took me to my first game but I wasn’t very into football back then but as I attended more games I got more into it and now I’m Colchester United till I die.

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
I’d say its been an absolute nightmare for our fans so far this season but when we went on an unbeaten run in September we all had high hopes and as months went by we have been poor and struggling to get a win under our belts which lead to the sacking of Tony Humes. Now Kevin Keen is the new manager, the performances have looked better since he’s been in charge but we have struggled to find the back of the net and the poor defence which has been the main problem for the U’s this season.

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
I’d have to say George Moncur since he has been the playmaker on the pitch and a real driving force for the spirit of the club and is one of my heroes at the club after scoring a late goal against Preston that pulled off the great escape and kept us in League One last season.

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
Beating Championship side Charlton 2-1 in the 3rd round of the FA Cup was a brilliant result. We beat the odds and we looked in complete control! One of the best performances of the season and it was great to play Tottenham in the 4th round just weeks later.

5. What are your views on Southend United?
Well I’m not the biggest fan of them to be honest as I’m a Colchester fan but from a football fan’s perspective I’d say Southend have a very good squad, good team spirit and since Phil Brown took charge of the Shrimpers he has brought in some good signings, good team spirit in the changing room and has really turned things round for them.

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
I’d say the biggest shock of the League One campaign this season has to be the momentum of Burton Albion. You’d think losing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and also the prospect of facing tougher teams in League One would stop them, but it simply hasn’t and they’re flying high

7. Links - What do you think of former Colchester and current Southend full backs (defenders) John White and Ben Coker?
Well I don’t hold a grudge against both of them, it was our club that let them go but I’ll never know why because John White is a strong defender and is the heart and soul of any team he plays for and Ben Coker has to be one of the best left backs in League One.

8. Where do you expect both Colchester and Southend to finish this season?
I'd say if Southend can maintain their winning form whilst also avoiding injury problems during the end of the season they could challenge for a play-off place and for my team, if they keep continuing on the losing run they are currently on at the moment and the other teams in the relegation zone start getting results we will be relegated to League Two this season.

9. If you are attending the game, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?
Yes, this will be my first ever visit to Roots Hall and my 45th ground of the 92 stadiums I’ve visited from England’s top four divisions. Saturday should be an enjoyable day and I am really looking forward to my first away Essex Derby.

10. Score Prediction for the game
’ll out it down to 3 possible results, if we are to lose against Southend I’d say 3-1, a draw, 2-2 and if Colchester were to win I’d say 2-1.