Coughlan: 'We are going to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday to try and win the game for ourselves'

Last updated : 06 May 2011 By westfield shrimper

Graham Coughlan.jpg
Graham Coughlan as the Shrews fans remember him

Released by the other half in the League Two automatic promotion battle this weekend, the popular former Shrewsbury skipper, he spent a couple of seasons there, and present Shrimpers player/coach Graham Coughlan, is being looked at by the Shropshire faithful to make sure his new side give 100% and take the points away from their Saturday opponents Wycombe Wanderers.

Howver, it's doubtful the veteran centre-half, whose 35 appearances are probably more than he expected at the start of the season as injuries hit the small Shrimpers squad, mainly to Mark Phillips and Bilel Mohsni, though his two red cards didn't help as well!

In fact, many believe he may give up playing altogether next campaign to concentrate on his coaching duties, of the reserves certainly, and as Blues boss Paul Sturrock's assistant manager possibily.

The table situation remains that if the Chairboys match the Shrews result they go up and it's the play-offs whatever Town do in their home game against mid-table Oxford United.

A similar league position for Southend as the U's, but Graham insists the side has plenty to play for in the final match of the season, and certainly harbours no grudge at his time turning out at the Greenhous Meadow.

Coughlan told www.shropshirestar.com: "I hope that Shrewsbury go up but I'm not really a sentimental person. We are going there (Wycombe) on Saturday to try and win the game for ourselves and whatever happens elsewhere will happen."

Fair enough Graham, but what else can you give the long suffering Shrews support who are looking for a return to third tier football for the first time in 14 years!

He continued: "I'm a firm believer in that how you end one season can impact how you start the next so it's important we end on a high on Saturday. As a management team, we have also set players individual targets throughout the season and some of those could be hit in this last game. The Shrewsbury fans were different class to me while I was there and they have no worries from us on Saturday. It's a vital game for us, just as it is for Wycombe."

So there you go; Chairboys fans, we're not going to roll over and hand you the points, Shrews fans, don't worry about us, you try and beat Oxford first!

Luggy agrees:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/
shrews_assured_by_sturrock_that_shrimpers_
will_give_their_all_at_wycombe_wanderers_675143/index.shtml


The S24 Preview:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/roll/ed61/
wycombe_wanderers_v_southend_united_675387/index.shtml