Southend v Torquay preview
Last Updated: March 15, 2013 12:25pm
Marc Laird: Back for Shrimpers
Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Southend and Torquay at Roots Hall.
Marc Laird is back in contention for Southend.
The midfielder has been training all week after recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to be on the bench as the Shrimpers look to bounce back from the shock defeat to AFC Wimbledon in midweek.
Laird told the club's official website: "I feel fit and ready to play again so would love to be involved again, but it's up to the manager what he decides to do.
"I've trained all week and not had any reaction to the injury."
Defender Luke Prosser begins a two-match suspension after he picked up his 10th yellow card of the campaign in the 3-1 defeat to the Dons, while Danny Mayor has returned to Sheffield Wednesday after his loan spell expired.
Paul Sturrock remains without the injured Gavin Tomlin (thigh), Mark Phillips (broken toe) and Chris Barker (Achilles).
Torquay will be without two first-team regulars.
Striker Elliot Benyon is unable to feature under the terms of his loan deal from Southend while defender Aaron Downes serves the first of a two-game ban for his red card at Dagenham on Tuesday.
Reading loanee Angus MacDonald replaced the Australian after his early dismissal and the centre-back is set to get the nod from the start against the Shrimpers.
Gulls boss Alan Knill signed Sheffield United winger Jordan Chapell on loan until the end of the season on Wednesday and the former Burton loanee looks likely to be involved.
Midfielder Craig Easton looks set to miss out again with a problem in his calves. The Scot is making progress but remains some way from a first-team return.
Torquay make the trip two points above the relegation zone after Rene Howe's last-gasp penalty earned them a point against the Daggers on Tuesday.
Matches
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npower League 2
Table
npower League 2
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillingham | 46 | 83 |
| 2 | Rotherham United | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Port Vale | 46 | 78 |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 76 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 73 |
| 7 | Bradford City | 46 | 69 |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 46 | 64 |
| 11 | Southend United | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 60 |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 60 |
| 16 | Morecambe | 46 | 58 |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Torquay United | 46 | 53 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 52 |
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 51 |
| 23 | Barnet | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 48 |
