Paterson: 'It's not doom and gloom. We've got a good squad, a good boss & I'm sure we'll kick on'

Paterson: 'We've got 11 cup finals to look forward to'

Part of the deal that took top scorer Lee Barnard to Southampton, striker Matt Paterson is still finding his feet at Roots Hall while finding himself in the middle of a relegation battle.

Paterson told www.skysports.com: "We have got a good bunch of lads, who are all fighting for each other, and we have just been really unlucky in the last few games. Once we get into a rhythm and get that first win I'm sure we'll be fine. There are still 11 games to go, so we have got 11 cup finals to look forward to. We need to work as hard as we can for each other and try to get ourselves out of the situation we are in."

Pleased he's finally got off the mark for his new club, did Matt see the present problems on the horizon when he swapped being a Saint for a Shrimper?

Paterson continued: "Not at all, they were doing well, as soon as I got here I noticed the quality within the squad. I have got a good striker playing alongside me in Scott Vernon, so it's really good. I have got something in my own mind in terms of what I would like to achieve. But keeping the team up is my main target."

With Barney obviously now at St.Mary's, along with Rickie Lambert and David Connolly, Paterson knew future chances in the first team were limited.

The former Scotland under-19 player explained: "Obviously at Southampton they have got a very good strike force. I felt I just had to develop as a player and Southend could offer me games. The opportunity came around very fast and I just felt that I needed to be playing more games. I was very grateful for my opportunity there but sometimes you need to make a decision for yourself and hopefully develop somewhere else."

All the talk of wages not being paid and possible wind-up orders at Roots Hall, old hat to the young striker.

Matt concluded: "I obviously went through the situation at Southampton with the administration and that, but that's football. I am just trying to enjoy my football and see what happens. It's not doom and gloom. We have got a good bunch of lads, a good manager and I'm sure we will kick on. We just need to keep moving forward and hopefully keep the club in League One."