SOUTHEND UNITED manager Steve Tilson is expecting a better performance from his team after the embarrassment of the midweek defeat by lowly Crewe Alexandra.
Saturday will see the first Essex derby to be played out in Colchester following their move from the old Layer Road ground.
I am hoping that the Shrimpers have had a mid week wakeup call and the midfield have been putting in extra training on passing to each other, plus maybe this time Tilly explaining to Simon Francis on exactly where he wants him to play!
Oh and while I am on my soapbox, No more short corners – under any circumstances! Why does it take 20 odd attempts at it this season to still not understand that it simply doesn’t work?
Vital Quotes:
Obviously it’s a big game and when we played them earlier in the season we drew 3-3 and should have won, but we’re on our patch this time and we’re looking forward to it.
“It doesn’t matter how we win as long as we win our derby game to get the bragging rights – U’s captain Dean Hammond speaking to BBC Essex
Southend’s boss Steve Tilson told BBC Essex – “The lads are going to be up for it and it will be a totally different game to Crewe.
“I’m sure Colchester will come out and being at home will look for all three points, so there’ll be a lot more space for us to play than on Tuesday.”
“It’s a big game for us and it’s a good game after Crewe and something we can get our teeth into,” he added.
Southend’s experienced central defender Peter Clarke is expecting his team to be ready for this crunch clash, talking to BBC Essex – ‘If you can’t get yourself up and prepared for these sort of games, then I think you’re actually in the wrong business.’
‘It’s an important league game, but it’s got the added spice of being a local derby and obviously we want to go there, show our worth and get a win.
‘You’ve got to play with your head as well as your heart in these games and hopefully we can do that and get the three points that we need to ease away from the bottom group of teams.”
Colchester Team News:
Paul Reid is suspended for Colchester, so expect to see Matt Heath, Chris Coyne or John White deputise.
The U’s will have been buoyed by the news that Steven Gillespie has returned to the squad, however they will be without the likes of John White and Jonnie Jackson as they are still out with shoulder and chest injuries respectively.
Player to watch: Mark Yeates
The tidy forward hasn’t found the net in his last 3 league outings and I would fully expect him to be pumped up and try his best to grab a derby day goal.
The Blues Team News:
The Blues will be able to field an unchanged squad, there was an injury scare for Francis Laurent during the Reserve team outing, but all is okay with his ankle now.
James Walker has returned to training, however won’t feature in this game.
The only absentee will be the well liked Alex Revell (Ankle) – Alex won’t be featuring again this season, let`s hope for a good recovery and a great pre-season for the ever smiling forward.
Player to watch: Alan McCormack
Macca will really be smarting from the performance against Crewe and I am fully expecting him to rise to this challenge, been quite some since we have had a match winning game from Alan.
He no doubt will have been working hard this week on his link up play with Dougie and Theo so don’t be surprised if he isn’t there or there abouts when the Man of the Match is decided.
The tidy forward hasn’t found the net in his last 3 league outings and I would fully expect him to be pumped up and try his best to grab a derby day goal.
Match Facts & Stats
Colchester are themselves on a poor run after losing their last two games to Tranmere and Walsall.
Southend’s mid season run has faltered after their much talked about display at home in the week, prior to that they had shown some form that saw them pull away from the relegation teams.
Ref Watch:
Ref – K K Wright
Match Prediction:
Whilst the Southend manager is expecting to witness an expansive game I am not as convinced, certainly with both teams losing recently we might well see a cagier affair as neither will want to give up the ‘bragging rights’ too easily.
Match Prediction
Colchester 1:1 Southend
Next Fixtures:
Colchester will face Stockport County on the same evening, Tuesday 24th Feb. They will be at home but I can’t help in thinking that there won’t be quite as big a crowd for that game!
Southend play another home midweek game, this time in the re-arranged fixture against Scunthorpe United.
