Sturrock: 'We are going to be a touch light for Cheltenham'
It was getting like a poor episode of Casualty, (Emergency Ward 10 Luggy,
showing your age there!), as Blues players marched in and out of the physio's treatment room with various aches and pains, some worse than others, but all pushing the financially strained Shrimpers squad to the limit.
Now, as Luggy looked forward to seven days r&r to get as many of his side fit for the next League Two game next Tuesday evening, the rearranged match with Cheltenham Town, two of his side picked up their fifth yellow card to pick-up one match suspensions, while left back Peter Gilbert was shown a staright red and may miss the next three for violent conduct, though he is thinking about making an appeal.
Being the Shrimpers manager certainly picks up it's fair share of stress, and Luggy will have no choice but to try and pick up another defensive option on loan with only Luke Prosser and Graham Coughlan left standing as first choice centre-halves, and neither of them are 100%!
Is Sean Morrison getting any games at Swindon Town? Or even Johnny Herd may get a match this time around!
Sturrock told www.southendunited.co.uk: "Gilly said it was a one footed tackle and the reaction of the crowd turned it into a red. I would like to have another look at it before I decide whether to appeal or not but it does leave us short. Bilel is also out along with Anthony Grant so we are going to be a touch light for Cheltenham. We have two days before the loan deadline so we might have to do something."
And it's not only the back four where we have problems, both central strikers Barry Corr and son of Luggy Blair have been carrying injuries leaving them to start on the subs bench more often than not recently.
Sturrock explained: "Barry has to work hard all the time to ensure that he is up to the challenge but sometimes we have to use them both to get the result. We have seven days now after a frantic schedule and it gives us the opportunity to have a bit of rest and recovery."
At least Barry comes on and scores the odd equaliser, it's the defence that might be a more serious problem next week against the strong Robins strike force!