Ling: 'The expectation is totally on them'
Gulls boss Martin Ling is trying the old reverse phsycology tactic to try and get his team up for what is a very tough match for them.
He of all people, being a former Shrimper and been to Roots Hall many times as manager of Leyton Orient, usually winning, should know the home faithful don't take anything for granted, especially not with our recent past!
Ling told BBC Radio Devon: "We seem to be playing teams who are up in the top region and doing well, but that's just how it's fallen this season. The expectation is totally on them, we're going there as a team that's out of form, they're a team in form. Their supporters would expect us to roll over and just be an easy three points for them and sometimes I think that's a dangerous situation to be in and we hope to use that to our advantage."
So there you have it, anything less than 5-0 will be considered a failure. Sorry, only joking, 4-0, no pressure lads!
Think about it, with the veteran Blues boss Paul Sturrock speaking to his troops before and during the match, along with Graham Coughlan who has made over 400 Football league appearances, I would think the players that represent Southend United Saturday afternoon will be properly prepared in not expecting anything to fall into their laps, victory will only be achieved by hard work and concentrating right up to the final whistle.
Though with his team having not won for seven games, while the Shrimpers are unbeaten over the same number, winning six, you can't blame Ling for trying!
Anyway, Ling insists there is no crisis at Plainmoor telling www.thisisdevon.co.uk: "It's starting to be a bit of a toothache. But I still feel the answers are in the squad which is in the building. After seven games and 12 points, I said at the time 'are we as good as we're supposed to be?' From the next six games we've got three points, yet the players are the same personnel as before. People said defensively we were poor on Saturday, and we were. In fact, the game didn't look half as bad on second look on the video as on first look. But when you get beat 5-2 at home and haven't won for seven games, you are looking to shuffle the pack. There may be changes."
We will see.
Let's be honest; an own goal, sorry that was last week, a flukey winner off Bombers' ankle in the 89th minute will be fine, it's all about the win to continue putting pressure on the creepies at the top, nobody wants them starting to run away with it, and deep down, even the most fervent Torquay fan would agree with that!
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!!
So what do you think the attendence will be on Saturday against Martin Ling's Torquay United?: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk