Sturrock: 'It really does make a difference when the fans make a lot noise'
With a near ten thousand crowd against Morecambe due to the footy for a fiver promotion the following week saw that nearly halve to just over five thousand, and Blues boss Paul Sturrock knows how a large attendence getting behind the team when the going get's tough can change the course of a game.
Sturrock told www.echo-news.co.uk: "It's another difficult and important game for us tomorrow when we play host to Oxford United and it would be great if we could again get a good crowd inside the ground. The Morecambe attendance was fantastic and with the run we’re on it would be nice if maybe a few more of them would come back for the match this weekend. I fully appreciate that money is tight in this day and age and it’s getting closer to Christmas too. But it really does make a difference when we have the fans making a lot noise and getting right behind us so that’s exactly what we want against Oxford."
No arguing with that Luggs, but how about the U's, who are not in a bad run themselves, one defeat in 11, and that a narrow 1-0 loss at Gillingham.
A win in south-east Essex would take them to within three points of the league leaders.
Sturrock said: "They will be a very hard side to play against us and they come to Roots Hall on a really good run. I think they’ve won five of their last seven games and having a settled side has played a huge part in that. You can pretty much know what they’re team is going to be every week and that’s one of the reasons why they’re doing so well. We will certainly have to be on form to beat them but we’re on a good run of form ourselves."
Luggy also had a word with the radio regarding the importance of who scores first in a game of two very tough defences.
He spoke with BBC Essex: "The first one is the more important one. It's the two best defences in the league playing against each other. It's a very difficult game for us. They're on a fantastic run as well. They're full of confidence and have some exciting players. We'll need to be on top of our game."
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!!
League Two Top Seven
| 1 | Southend United | 16 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 14 | 35 | +17 | ||||
| 2 | Crawley Town | 16 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 22 | 35 | +11 | ||||
| 3 | Morecambe | 16 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 16 | 29 | +17 | ||||
| 4 | Oxford United | 16 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 25 | 14 | 29 | +11 | ||||
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 16 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 17 | 29 | +6 | ||||
| 6 | Shrewsbury Town | 16 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 17 | 28 | +4 | ||||
| 7 | Swindon Town | 16 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 15 | 26 | +10 | ||||
The S24 Preview: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Who is the best Shrimpers boss of the last 30 years?: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
50k hits & more, join us at S24: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Wilder: 'I won't be surprised if they last the pace'
Meanwhile, U's boss Chris Wilder knows that his side are in for their toughest battle if they are to continue their recent fine form.
Wilder told www.oufc.co.uk: "We are massively focused on the Southend game. We have one hell of a game coming up on Saturday against the league leaders who are in tip-top nick and that is going to be a massive game for us all. our preperation has been good and we will go to places like that looking for wins."
.
He also gave an interview to the local media.
Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford Wilder said: "We've got some big games coming up but it is a positive challenge for everybody. It's because of our start to the season that these games are big. We've shown we can handle the big games and we need to produce and keep on moving forward. There is no doubt about it, we are going to have to be at our best as they are all difficult games but I am expecting us to be positive and put on a good show. Southend are flying at the moment and they have some good players and I am not surprised they are going well and I won't be surprised if they last the pace."