Sturrock: 'Both teams looked like they'd used most of their energy on Tuesday night'
Blues boss Paul Sturrock was first worried about the injury to influential midfielder Anthony Grant who received a nasty kick in the face during the second half of the 1-1 draw with fellow play-off contenders Torquay Saturday afternoon.
After that he commented on the state of the Plainmoor pitch which was suffering from the heavy rain fallen on it over the previous week, but at least it wasn't called off!
Sturrock told BBC Essex: "Anthony Grant is a bit concussed. I think the boot in the face was the problem and the doctor decided he was too badly injured to carry on. When the game started I thought both sides looked two tired teams and I think the first half proved that. The pitch did not help this and both teams looked like they'd used most of their energy on Tuesday night."
Let's hope there's enough in the tank for next Tuesday against Barnet, and the following Saturday against Northampton.
Both matches at Roots Hall where positive results could see the Shrimpers actually in the play-off zone, not just sitting outside in tenth place.
The S24 report:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/
torquay_united_1_southend_united_1_648335/index.shtml
Waddock: 'We had to show another side to our game, which was to go and have a fight'
Meanwhile, Gulls boss Paul Buckle obviously felt the Shrimpers are all route one, which seems a little unfair on the midfield, and also not taking into account the sturge of a pitch both sides had to cope with.
Oh, hang on he did, but only for his own side!
Waddock told www.torquayunited.com: "We couldn't get our passing game going today. it was vitually impossible, so we had to show another side to our game, which was to go and have a fight. We tried to win the battle and then get some quality in the attacking third. We're disappointed we haven't won the game because we had the best chances, especially at the end."
And that was Mr. Buckle being nice, here's the sting in the tail.
He continued: "We had to defend a lot of high balls because that is what Southend do and you have to be strong and reolute, which we were. There was one part of the game where we were undone and they got down the side to score. Other than that, they didn't really trouble us. Ten points from four games is a very good return and we're still unbeaten."
As is four points from the two games with you're lot Paul.
Blimey, a touch disingenuous to a fine Shrimpers away performance in tough circumstances, but there you go.
The facts of the game (from the BBC)
Possession: Torquay 44% Southend 56%
Attempts on target: Torquay 7 Southend 7.
Attempts off target: Torquay 5 Southend 4.
Corners: Torquay 5 Southend 4.
Fouls: Torquay 14 Southend 5.
Oh yea Paul, you really had to fight all right!
An official Gull report:
www.torquayunited.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10445~53036,00.html