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Southend United v Ipswich Town - Friday, July 22nd; 19.45
EAST STAND OPEN ONLY - Pay on the gate or contact the Blues box office: Adults £10, Concessions £5 (Tickets bought tonight will allow the holder to attend both days of the Cars4All youth trophy this weekend, just remember to keep the stub.)
Blues boss Paul Sturrock while looking forward to tonight's sixth match in a busy pre-season schedule is under no illusions it's going to be the toughest test yet for his Shrimpers squad.
Sturrock told www.echo-news.co.uk: “This will be a hard game and definitely the hardest friendly we’ve had. But our players are still working hard in training and won’t be at their best just yet either. We don’t want them to be peaking for another couple of weeks just yet but we do want to see people starting to link together and form good partnerships.”
Midfielder Reggie Lambe will not be getting another trail against his former club but veteran winger Darren Currie may be seen, though the club made clear he will not be signing for the Shrimpers but is using the time with the team to keep fit.
Tractor Boys boss Paul Jewell told www.itfc.co.uk before the match: "I'm looking forward to the new season, just as the players and the supporters are, and if we can get the extra three or four players in that we need, then we will be competitive. Of course I'm optimistic about the season, but I've been in the game a long time and I'm also realistic. You don't get success overnight in football. It takes time. This club has finished well outside the top six in, what, five of the last six years? Last year we were still in a relegation battle until the final few games of the season. We're coming from a long way back when you look at how far we were adrift of the top six places last season. Look at the points we have to make up.”
(For the full interview go here: www.itfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10272~2398278,00.html)
Jewell is expected to give valuable game time to his new summer signings that include Lee Bowyer and Michael Chopra, while the home faithful should get a good idea at what side Luggy plans to open with against Hereford United on the opening Saturday of the League season on August 6th.
Ipswich Town side that played Cambridge United in their last friendly that finished 2-2: Lee-Barrett (Fülöp 66), Edwards, Cresswell (Kennedy 46), Healy (Drury 46), Delaney, Smith (Hyam 81), Carson (Ainsley 46), Bowyer (Leadbitter 66), Ellington (Scotland 46), Chopra, Martin (Priskin 66).
Shrimpers Pre-Season Schedule
Monday, July 11th - Dartford 0 Southend United 3
Tuesday, July 12th - Great Wakering Rovers 0 Southend United 5
Saturday, July 16th - Dundee 2 Southend United 0
Sunday, July 17th - Raith Rovers 0 Southend United 0
Wednesday, July 20th - Braintree Town 1 Southend United X1 1
Friday, July 22nd - IPSWICH TOWN (HOME), 19.45.
Monday, July 25th - Needham Market (Away), 19.45.
Thursday, July, 28th - NORWICH CITY (HOME), 19.45
Saturday, July 30th - Canvey Island (away), 15.00. (SUFC X1)