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Full record of Spurs v Southend

FA CUP

1920-21  Rd 3(A)  W 4-1 
(Banks, Seed, Cantrell, Bliss)
1935-36  Rd 3(H)  D 4-4
(Sargent 2, Morrison 2)
(Replay) Rd 3(A)  W 2-1 
(Sargent, W. Evans)

Lge CUP

1989-90  Rd 2(H)  W 1-0
(Fenwick)
         Rd 2(A)  L 2-3
(P. Allen, Nayim)
Spurs won on away goals

Mention Southend and what do you think of? The Kursaal Fairground (long since closed in its original status), The Wall of Death, the longest pier in the World (currently being re-furbished), Jellied Eels, Cockles..................

How about a certain two full-backs, Justin Edinburgh and Dean Austin?! Justin Edinburgh was a substitute in the game that Southend fans will be recalling this week. In the second leg of the only previous League Cup meeting between these two clubs, on 4th October, 1989, Justin Edinburgh was a substitute, when "The Shrimpers" scored a famous 3-2 victory. It was not enough to take Southend through the Second Round though, as Spurs squeezed through only on away goals. Southend were a lowly Division Four side then, and Spurs discovered last year at Grimsby, what such teams can achieve in a hot Cup atmosphere.

Southend have, after all, already made their greatest progress in any major Cup Competition this season. Their finest victory was of course the scalp of a strong Manchester United side in front of a packed Roots Hall in the last round. Freddy Eastwood scored a 27th minute winner, and has scored 10 goals in all competitions this season. Eastwood was one of the heroes of Southend's League Two Play Off victory at the end of the 2004-5 season, and then last season was joint top scorer in League One, when Southend gained another promotion by topping that league.

"The Shrimpers", (also known as "The Blues") are struggling in the Championship though, holding up the table, and have only won one game since that glorious night against Manchester United. That was a 2-1 win against Southampton, and last week, they managed a 0-0 draw at Luton.

This is Southend's Cup Final, and they will have the support of over 5,000 of their fans, who will be taking over the best part of the South Stand at White Hart lane, thanks to Spurs' benevolence. It's a pity Spurs can't be bothered to press for a full allocation of away tickets for the FA Cup game at Cardiff in January, where we will take only 2000 fans.

Who else will Southend include in their squad? For a start there are two ex-Spurs players in Mark Gower and Kevin Maher. Gower made a couple of substitute appearances early in Spurs 1998-99 Worthington Cup-winning campaign, whilst Maher was a former Spurs junior. Both players were sent off in Southend's recent defeat at Colchester, but will be available for this game.

Look out too for 34 year old Nigerian International defender Efe Sodje, who I recall played for Stevenage before he joined Macclesfield Town in 1997, and who has since played for Luton, Colchester(on loan), Crewe, Huddersfield and Yeovil. Sodje will be easily recognisable by his headwear, and played for his Country in the 2002 World Cup, against England and Argentina.

Southend also have Michael Ricketts (once nearly signed by Spurs, before he went to Middlesbrough from Bolton and faded rapidly), but he hasn't played since September. Spencer Prior is another well-known face, having played for Norwich, Leicester, Derby, Man City and Cardiff since starting his career at Southend, where he returned in 2004.

Going back to those full backs, Edinburgh and Austin, one of them played a quite notorious part in Spurs history. Justin Edinburgh was sent off at Wembley against Leicester in 1999, and Robbie Savage has earnt the constant hatred of Spurs fans ever since, for his play-acting that got Justin a red card. Austin had already left Spurs for Crystal Palace by that time, and announced his retirement from the game in 2003. Justin Edinburgh took up coaching after retiring from playing, and has managed BIllericay and Fisher Athletic. He has most recently appeared in a Football Reality coaching programme "Football saved my life", which also features Razor Ruddock.

Whilst the two clubs have rarely met, there have been many examples of players signing for both these sides. These include Eddie Clayton, Peter Taylor (who also managed Southend in the 90s), Andy Turner and Stephen Kelly, who had a successful loan spell in the 2002-3 season.

League form is no guide for this occasion, bearing in mind Southend's success against Manchester United. They'll have a crowd behind them, half the size of their usual home support, and Spurs can expect a tough game. Martin Jol has the difficult task of holding back key players for Saturday's Premiership game, but also needing to field a side strong enough to repel the guaranteed battle this Wednesday.

Jol might start with one or two "rookies". Jamie O'Hara was on the bench at Manchester City on Sunday, and perhaps he will see some action here. O'Hara faced Southend in League One last season, whilst on loan at Chesterfield. Southend won that game 4-3, with an Eastwood hat-trick!

The recent complete absences of Edgar Davids and Danny Murphy have been a mystery, and perhaps they will start this week. Tom Huddlestone may have to be rested for Saturday! The strike partnership will be a dilemma for Jol, with only three top choice players available. Maybe Mido and a youngster will start, with Berbatov and Defoe in reserve?

The bottom line of course is that Spurs must not under-estimate our opponents. I am sure this will be an exciting game, but expect Spurs to win by a two goal margin.

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