Sturrock: 'I know Gulls boss Paul Buckle from my Plymouth days'
Blues boss Paul Sturrock is well aware of the tough task facing his side as they try and finally end that 80-year record of five successive away wins.
Sturrock told www.southendunited.co.uk: "It's a very difficult trip on Saturday and a difficult opposition to play against. They have won their last three games and haven't let a goal in so they are difficult opposition for the players. It's a tight pitch and they know how to play on the surface so we know it is a hard game. If we can take our away form into the game then I am confident we can get a result. Paul Buckle has done very well there. I know him from my Plymouth days."
In what has turned out an important game for both sides who are only kept apart in the league by goal difference and are sitting a couple of points from the play-off zone.
Sturrock continued: "I haven't thought about us being one of the form sides in the division, the important thing is just keep winning football matches. We have a couple of games in hand on some of the teams above us and if we can pick up points in those we could put ourselves in a real good position."
Last Six Games (Yes Luggy, we are the form team, but look whose second!)6 4 1 1 12 7 13 6 4 1 1 9 8 13 6 4 0 2 12 5 12 6 3 2 1 11 6 11 6 3 1 2 8 5 10 6 3 1 2 11 9 10 6 3 1 2 8 7 10 6 2 3 1 12 8 9 6 3 0 3 11 7 9 6 2 3 1 7 5 9 6 2 3 1 8 7 9 6 2 3 1 5 4 9 6 2 2 2 7 9 8 6 1 4 1 8 7 7 6 1 4 1 9 9 7 6 2 1 3 10 15 7 6 2 0 4 5 10 6 6 1 2 3 5 9 5 6 0 4 2 7 10 4 6 1 1 4 6 9 4 6 0 4 2 2 7 4 6 1 1 4 6 15 4 6 0 3 3 5 10 3 6 0 3 3 6 13 3
Waddock: 'When we're ready and we go after teams Plainmoor is not an easy place to come'
Meanwhile, Gulls boss Paul Buckle also knows his team will have to be at their best to grab a fourth victory in a row against the well travelled Shrimpers.
Waddock told www.torquayunited.com: "It's a six-pointer. We lost by the odd goal down there earlier in the season but we have an opportunity on Saturday. Our whole football club has an opportunity to go out and try to get three valuable points, so we're hoping for a big crowd. We know the weather was awful on Tuesday night but we need the numbers to come through the gates. When we get a good crowd here at Plainmoor, the players respond."
He also wanted to remind the home faithful that the Gulls have had a pretty successful season already.
Buckle continued: "We're having a wonderful season and we hope the weather can be kinder on Saturday to bring the crowd in. Everything that has gone before, good and bad, is history. We are in good form but we won't take that for granted. We have to get it right and without the ball, and we have to dig in. we have to focus on the game, individually and collectively. When we're ready and we go after teams Plainmoor is not an easy place to come."