Rayleigh boy
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View GalleryA RUN-DOWN on Leeds United's opponents tonight
The Gaffer
Steve Tilson. Tilson steered the Shrimpers from League Two to the Championship in two seasons, but they have not recovered quickly from their relegation last season. Tilson was forced to part with striker Freddy Eastwood and is making do with a small and inexpensive squad at Roots Hall. But he has made the most of the chance given to him in 2004 and the board appear to have plenty of faith in their former reserve-team coach, who is three wins away from his 100th victory as manager of the Essex club.
The Danger
Southend's top scorer is Leon Clarke, which sums up the problems facing Tilson. Clarke scored eight goals in 16 games while on loan but has now returned to his parent club Sheffield Wednesday, and Southend are without a reliable outlet up front. The pressure on Leeds is therefore likely to come from midfield, where Mark Gower is once again enjoying a productive season. The former Tottenham trainee has found the net on seven occasions and scored against United when the Whites visited Roots Hall last term.
The Form
Southend are hanging on to the coat tails of the teams inside the play-off zone, but they are seven points behind sixth place and cannot afford to drift further away. Seven defeats away from home and five at Roots Hall have prevented the club from discovering any momentum and a sequence of one win from eight league matches has wrecked Southend's promising start. Their run to the FA Cup fourth round was ended on Friday night by a 1-0 defeat to Barnsley.
The Record
After waiting more than 80 years for their first competitive meeting, Southend and Leeds will square off tonight for the fifth time in 15 months. The Shrimpers won their first clash in a Carling Cup tie at Elland Road in 2006, but United have enjoyed better fortunes since. They took four points from two league clashes last season and Southend were hammered 4-1 when at Elland Road in August. A win this evening would be Leeds' first against the Shrimpers in Essex.
The Odds
United have been made 5-4 favourites by William Hill, with Southend slightly more generous at 7-4. The draw is priced at 11-5.
The Whistler
Keith Stroud. Stroud represents the latest in a long line of Select Group officials who have been allocated to fixtures involving Leeds, and he has already refereed their visits to Bristol Rovers and Walsall. His 23 appointments this term have produced 83 bookings and four red cards.
The Gaffer
Steve Tilson. Tilson steered the Shrimpers from League Two to the Championship in two seasons, but they have not recovered quickly from their relegation last season. Tilson was forced to part with striker Freddy Eastwood and is making do with a small and inexpensive squad at Roots Hall. But he has made the most of the chance given to him in 2004 and the board appear to have plenty of faith in their former reserve-team coach, who is three wins away from his 100th victory as manager of the Essex club.
The Danger
Southend's top scorer is Leon Clarke, which sums up the problems facing Tilson. Clarke scored eight goals in 16 games while on loan but has now returned to his parent club Sheffield Wednesday, and Southend are without a reliable outlet up front. The pressure on Leeds is therefore likely to come from midfield, where Mark Gower is once again enjoying a productive season. The former Tottenham trainee has found the net on seven occasions and scored against United when the Whites visited Roots Hall last term.
The Form
Southend are hanging on to the coat tails of the teams inside the play-off zone, but they are seven points behind sixth place and cannot afford to drift further away. Seven defeats away from home and five at Roots Hall have prevented the club from discovering any momentum and a sequence of one win from eight league matches has wrecked Southend's promising start. Their run to the FA Cup fourth round was ended on Friday night by a 1-0 defeat to Barnsley.
The Record
After waiting more than 80 years for their first competitive meeting, Southend and Leeds will square off tonight for the fifth time in 15 months. The Shrimpers won their first clash in a Carling Cup tie at Elland Road in 2006, but United have enjoyed better fortunes since. They took four points from two league clashes last season and Southend were hammered 4-1 when at Elland Road in August. A win this evening would be Leeds' first against the Shrimpers in Essex.
The Odds
United have been made 5-4 favourites by William Hill, with Southend slightly more generous at 7-4. The draw is priced at 11-5.
The Whistler
Keith Stroud. Stroud represents the latest in a long line of Select Group officials who have been allocated to fixtures involving Leeds, and he has already refereed their visits to Bristol Rovers and Walsall. His 23 appointments this term have produced 83 bookings and four red cards.