Match Preview: Southend vs Saints

THE MATCH

Southend United vs Southampton
Wednesday 14th November, 7:45pm GMT
Roots Hall
Checkatrade Trophy

For Saints, a midweek trip to Southend United represents another opportunity to build on their recent purple patch, having gone four games unbeaten (W3, D1).

Their most recent outing, a 1-1 PL Cup draw with Newcastle United, had been proceeded by three successive wins in PL2, and leaves Radhi Jaïdi's side in good shape in all competitions ahead of Wednesday's Checkatrade Trophy showdown.

The Shrimpers, comparatively, haven't registered a win since mid-October, and lost out 1-0 to Barnsley in their last League One encounter - where they sit mid-table. 

Interestingly, all Group B teams are still in with a shout of progression. Locked on three points apiece after two games played, Saints would likely qualify with victory tomorrow night, while Cambridge and Colchester - facing each other in the corresponding fixture - will equally fancy their chances. Qualification is wide open.

FLASHBACK: Colchester 0-2 Saints (Barnes, Obafemi)

PREVIOUS FIVE

Southend United

Southend 1-1 Crawley (FA Cup)
Barnsley 1-0 Southend
Sunderland 3-0 Southend
Southend 3-0 Walsall
Southend 1-2 Coventry

Southampton

Saints 1-1 Newcastle United (Barnes)
Saints 1-0 West Brom (Barnes)
Sunderland 0-2 Saints (Slattery, Barnes)
Saints 3-2 Wolves (Obafemi, Barnes, O'Connor)
Cambridge 4-0 Saints

WHO TO WATCH

Tom Hopper is Southend's danger man. The forward has netted seven times in League One this term (as well as registering two assists), but is yet to make an appearance in any other competition.

The 24-year-old made the switch from Scunthorpe in the summer, and found the net on his debut - a 3-2 loss to Doncaster Rovers.

Simon Cox is also worth consideration, just one goal behind Hopper, on six for the season. The more experienced of the two, the 31-year-old has featured in all three cup competitions for Southend, including their opening 3-1 Checkatrade Trophy success over Cambridge in early September.