It’s not the best situation to find yourself in. Boro’ face their second cup match in the space of four days – and, with it, the distinct likelihood that we’ll be out of another cup competition. Thankfully, however, tonight’s tie is only the Checkatrade Doo-dah and few will shed tears if the burden of taking part is lifted. Southend United are our guests at what will almost certainly be a very quiet Lamex Stadium. Mind you, the Essex side will bring a real proper adult team and that. That’s because they’re bound by the same rules as we are.
Saturday’s defeat to Port Vale was a galling one. It was only deserved in so far as we somehow failed to hit the back of the net. But for the width of an upright and a mistimed rebound, Matt Godden could have been the modern-day Charlie Griffin – and earning us that replay. And, with Hartlepool at home in the next round, Vale are now surely looking at a place in the Third Round. But that’s by the by. We’re over with the FA Cup for this term and ain’t nothing changing that. Now, it’s time to get rid of the Checkatrade from our commitments.
Stevenage v Southend United: If We Must…
Boro’ might be bottom of Southern Group G – but we can still make it through! It will, however, need Brighton’s kids to beat Leyton Orient on pelanties. And it’ll also need us to see a four-goal swing in our favour against Orient. Judging by the fact we need Orient to lose on pelanties, that means we’ll have to do all the legwork with that goal swinging. Sure, we put four past Morecambe last term (twice) and Hartlepool (on the way up to six) this term – but what about sides who didn’t finish below us in the League Two table?
Yes, the last time we put four past someone of note was against Southend United in February 2015.
A repeat showing, however, isn’t among the current free super tips that are available for this week’s football. That win, as it goes, is also the one time in seven meetings that we’ve won. It also accounts for half our goal tally versus the Shrimpers too. Sadly, our head-to-head record is a bit dire. We’ve even met our guests in this very tournament. Well, when it was Conference sides, not Academies. Anyway, it’s not worth recalling; Jean-Michel Sigere the scorer in a 4-1 home defeat. Hmmm. This number four. Keeps popping up, don’t it…
No FIFA 17 verdict for this one.
BoroGuide’s Southend United club profile – it picks less than five first team players, so nurrr…