Exeter City host slipping Southend United

Relegation-threatened Southend United visit play-off hopefuls Exeter City this weekend in a huge match for both side’s campaigns.

The hosts sit just two points and one place below the top seven, but their inability to sustain a consistent run of good form in the final third of the season has seen them constantly falling short of the playoff pack. But with Forest Green Rovers and Newport County stuttering and seemingly stumbling out of the playoff spots, a result this weekend could see Matt Taylor’s Grecians back in with a shot for League Two promotion.

Things aren’t looking so rosy in South Essex, and a defeat at St James’ Park this weekend with results elsewhere going against them could put Phil Brown’s Southend United just one game away from confirmed relegation to the National League. Despite that, the Shrimpers certainly are not doomed just yet.

A victory in Devon would temporarily put the Blues within one point of Colchester United directly above them, who play in a later kick-off. A point maximum would certainly heap a lot of pressure onto the U’s, who are Southend’s opponents on Tuesday night, a fixture which has the potential to be probably the biggest Essex Derby of all time.

The hosts will be fired up for this battle, having lost to lowly-placed Barrow in the week, they will be desperate to right their wrongs against another side at the foot of the table. However, much like the fans at Southend, it may be a case of not knowing what to expect from the visitors. In a last-gasp attempt to save their league status, Southend replaced manager Mark Molesley with former boss Brown; he has hinted that a change of style is necessary and will be implementing that this weekend.

It was unfortunate for the new boss that he was greeted with an extensive injury list, with Simeon Akinola, John White, Jacob Mellis and Alan McCormack sidelined for his first match back at Roots Hall, along with long-term absentees Harry Lennon, Nathan Ralph and Lewis Gard. But, the treatment table has cleared up within the week, with Akinola, White and McCormack pushing for a place in the squad this weekend. Timothee Dieng pulled up with a hamstring strain last weekend and Brown confirmed he will be out for the trip South West.

As for Exeter, there were no fresh injury concerns from their midweek defeat to Barrow. Joel Randall, who scored against Southend in the reverse fixture early in the season, remains out along with defender Sam Stubbs. Randell Williams and Johnny Maxted will likely be in the squad once again as they have recently recovered from their respective injuries. The hosts certainly have some options for their squad this weekend.

The two sides met at Roots Hall back in October, as Southend picked up their second point of the season, absolutely devastated that they didn’t take all three. The hosts took an early lead through Brandon Goodship’s smart finish before Randall levelled the game five minutes before half-time.

Molesley’s side then retook the lead on the 65th minute and Jason Demetriou stroked home a calm penalty, and it looked to be the Blues’ first win of the season. But in the 95th minute, Alex Fisher scored a wonder goal from 25 yards out, curling the ball over Mark Oxley and into the top corner to salvage a draw for Exeter. The match was one of just four times that Southend have scored more than one goal in a game this season.

This weekend’s encounter is likely to see a contrast of styles, and the change in the dugout at Southend adds a large factor of unpredictability. Southend simply must get a result to try and escape their treacherous position, but against the league’s highest scorers, that’s no easy task. Both sides have their own pressures to deal with and it should make for an interesting match of football.