Is the tide turning at Southend?

Freddy's goals might just save the Shrimpers

Is the tide turning at Southend as the Shrimpers battle to stay in the Championship?

Apart from a famous 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Carling Cup, it has been tough going for the Essex boys on their return to the second tier of English football this season...

By Ian Clarkson 01-02-07 (from givemefootball.com)

Having guided them to the League One title last year, Steve Tilson's men looked dead and buried at the foot of the Championship table - but a run off 11 points from their last six games has given them a ray of hope.

The 'piece de resistance' was Tuesday's 3-1 at Birmingham with Freddy Eastwood snaring his 13th goal of the campaign but Tilson isn't resting on his laurels because the Shrimpers still share bottomg spot with fellow strugglers Leeds.

The Roots Hall outfit have splashed out £200,000 on Motherwell striker Richie Foran in a transfer deadline day move from the Scottish Premier League club to link up with former teammate Steve Hammell.

Foran, who has scored 14 goals this season, has signed a two-and-half year contract. The former Carlisle United hit man will be hoping to form a lethal partnership with Eastwood and the portents are far brighter than at the tail end of 2006 when Birmingham handed them a 4-0 beating at Roots Hall.

The revenge was particularly sweet at St Andrew's on Tuesdy as Tilson celebrated winning their second away game of the campaign. He said: "It was a fantastic result and performance by us. We showed a lot of spirit and desire to get something out of the game.

"To come here and get something was a big ask for us. A point would have been pleasing; to get all three gives us a platform to build on for the rest of the season. We are on an upward spiral and have got to keep this run going as long as possible.

"I said to the players we were up against a squad that has cost a lot of money and if we can get a result at Birmingham, there is no reason why we can't get them somewhere else if we show the same grit and determination."

In fact, such is Tilson's growing influence in the game that he was even touted as a potential successor to Peter Taylor for the vacant England Under 21 managerial role. Tilson, who was asked by Taylor to help with preparations for the qualifier against Moldova last August, emerged as a possible candidate along with Stuart Pearce but was keen to play down any links.

"It's a great job, but I'm enjoying what I'm doing at the moment and my aim is to keep Southend in the Championship and move into a new stadium," he said unequivocally. It's great to be linked with the position and I enjoyed helping Pete out and working with some top players. We'll see what happens, you know what speculation's like."