Sturrock: 'No football team should go through that number of games'
Both goals in the 1-1 draw at Roots Hall between Shrimpers and Cobblers came in the first half; John Johnson's strike being cancelled out only seven minutes later by Southend's 15-goal man Barry Corr and the points were shared leaving the Essex boys only one place outside the play-off positions.
However, Blues boss Paul Sturrock was worried about the effect of so many matches for both sides in such a short space of time, and thankful that his tired Shrimpers have a week off before they take the long trip to try and catch the Shrimps of Morecambe.
Sturrock told the Press Association: "We looked tired again and you say to yourself we have played nine or 10 games in the last 36 days and no football team should go through that. It showed with both sets of players and it spoilt the game. We have had a sickness bug going round the camp this week and Blair Sturrock has got out of his sick bed to play, and that shows you the problem. But we don't have a midweek game on Tuesday, so we can have a rest and then concentrate on the remainder of the season."
A season that has 14 games left and a final at Old Trafford as the ultimate prize, though only six points behind the automatics could keep the more optimistic of the faithful believing the play-offs could actually be bypassed!
The S24 Report:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/
southend_united_1_northampton_town_1_651193/index.shtml
A Cobblers view of the game:
www.ntfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10425~53070,00.html
Luggy and Crosby speak:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/
sturrock_weve_dug_ourselves_out_of_a_hole_
crosby_we_have_a_chance_of_getting_into_playoffs_651280/index.shtml