Date: Tuesday 12 August 2008
Competition: Carling Cup first round
Venue: Roots Hall
Kick-off: 7.45pm

Admission for visiting supporters
Cheltenham Town supporters will be seated in the North Stand behind one goal. Tickets will be available on the day of the game at the turnstiles priced £10 (adults) and £5 (concessions).

Directions to the ground
Leave the M25 at Junction 29 then take the A127 towards Southend. Continue along A127 into the town of Southend and the ground will be on the right-hand side. Postcode for Sat Nav is SS2 6NQ.

Team news
Southend are unlikely to make many changes from the side that defeated Peterborough United 1-0 at home on Saturday. On loan left-back Dan Harding has been given permission by his club, Ipswich Town, for him to play in the Carling Cup.

Cheltenham Town have added youngsters Josh Emery and Theo Lewis to the squad that travelled to Northampton Town on Saturday. Midfielder Scott Brown has also recvovered from an ankle injury and should be involved.

Competition rules
For the first time this season clubs will name seven substitutes in the Carling Cup. The match could go to extra-time and penalties if there is no result either way after 90 or 120 minutes.

Match officials
Andy Woolmer from Kent will be the match referee. Mr Woolmer has been on the Football League's national list of referees for four seasons, appearing in at least one Robins match during each of these previous campaigns. Last term it was at Brighton for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie.

Match Officials - Southend Utd v Cheltenham Town
Andy Woolmer - Referee
Ian Bentley - Assistant Referee
Marvin Thompson - Assistant Referee
Ray Lee - Fourth Official

Head-to-head (last five fixtures at Roots Hall)
November 17, 2007 (FL1) Read the match report
Southend 2 (Gower 50, Hammell 56), Cheltenham 2 (Gillespie 14, Sinclair 25)

August 14, 2007 (LC1) Read the match report
Southend 4 (Bradbury 11, 108 P, 117, Barrett 104), Cheltenham 1 (Finnigan 70)

August 7, 2004 (FL2) Read the match report
Southend 0, Cheltenham 2 (Melligan 18, Odejayi 29)

August 9, 2003 (FL2) Read the match report
Southend 2 (Gower 33, 90 P), Cheltenham 0

September 28, 2001 (FL2) Read the match report
Southend 0, Cheltenham 1 (Alsop 26)

Overall record at Roots Hall (all competitions)
Southend wins: 5, Cheltenham wins: 6, draws: 4.

Betting
Cheltenham Town are 10/3 to win at Southend over 90 minutes with the draw posted at 5/2.
Paul Connor is 17/2 to score the first goal and a Cheltenham 1-0 win with Alex Russell scoring the goal is 125/1.
A full range of match-day betting is available with Bet 365. To view, follow the link, click on the Soccer tab on the left, go to Carling Cup and click the button on the right-hand side of the Southend v Cheltenham fixture to view a range of different betting options.