Sturrock: 'Sometimes thinks he's better than he actually is'; Jackson: 'In a relegation battle now'

Sturrock: 'Finishing in the top half would be a nice stepping stone for next season'

Blues boss Paul Sturrock was full of praise for his talented winger Ryan Hall who scopped everybody's man-of-the-match after the 4-0 hammering of the relegation threatened Bradford City.

Sturrock told the Press Association after the game: "Ryan Hall, in particular, was fantastic. He's got everything you need but sometimes he thinks he's better than he actually is. He worked hard and was involved in all of the goals to show why we offered him an extended contract and I'm looking forward to carrying on working with him."

On Luggy's mind as well are continued good results in the four remaining games to make sure the Shrimpers finish as high as possible which would help convince wavering season card holders to reinvest in a side that he wants challenging for honours next time around.

Sturrock concluded: "We want to keep this improved form up now and we're aiming to finish in the top half of the table because that would be a nice stepping stone for next season."

Indeed it would Luggs!

Sizzling Shrimpers batter Bantams:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/
southend_united_4_bradford_city_0_668527/index.shtml

Jackson: 'Still in our hands to stay up, but games are running out'

Meanwhile, Bantams interim boss Peter Jackson is feeling the opposite to the happy Shrimpers manager as he wonders what went wrong at Roots Hall Friday evening and sees his team still needed one win from four games to reach that magical 50-point mark and another season guaranteed of league football.

Jackson told www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk: "We have to remember that it's still in our hands - I will keep saying that to the players. There's games available. It is still in our hands to stay up, but as I say, games are running out. Tuesday is looking a must win game for us. I saw Burton play against Bury last week and I thought they looked a very decent side, so it's going to be a tough match. Defeats like tonight are bound to knock confidence, but it's my job, and the staff's job, to lift players' heads and raise their spirits. We will ensure the players are lifted and that they are up for it on Tuesday. I know it's hard to say after a defeat like tonight's, but we must be up for it."

No pressure then on a game that will be watched closely by at least half-a-dozen clubs still involved to keep out of those bottom two places and playing in the Conference next time around.

However, back to south-east Essex, where Bradford have still failed to win, and never looked like doing so once they missed a couple of decent chances to get back in the game early in the second half and finding Ryan Hall on such great form.

Jackson continued: "It's not easy to take. Nights like this are not easy to take for anyone, especially the amanger having to stand on the touchline. I am bitterly disappointed over the night's event, and we're now seriously in a relegation battle. We just have to hope the results go for us Saturday though we can't just rely on that, we must get a win from somehere. Hopefully that will be on Tuesday. No manager likes to blame things, but we had seven players out injured tonight, that doesn't help. We've got players playing out of position because of injuries we have, and that doesn't help as well."

And not playing former Shrimper Lewis Hunt whose available and can play in his position at right-back, but a 20th game would mean a guaranteed contract for next term at the wages he's on at the moment, something the bantams do not want so their own fault there.

Players should be back though for that huge match with the also relegation threatened Brewers and Jacko could only lament on those missed opportunities once again.

He said: "Switching off at the wrong times has once again hurt us. Things like the penalty and the free-kick for the second goal, I think we have gifted them probably three of their four goals Friday. We know that we are really struggling to score at the moment, so it's important that we are strong at the back. Dobie had a great chance at two nil, and that goes in it could be a different, different game. I thought that was the turning point in the game when Scott missed that chance."

We agree with that, but no doubt at all that overall Southend deserved the points.

The official Bantams report:
www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2339074,00.html

As for Saturday's results going for Bradford, not sure how Jacko will take this mixed bag, however Burton's 2-0 win over Cheltenham will catch his eye, even if it kept the Robins looking over their shoulder as well.

One thing is clear, on the afternoon Morecambe are the latest club to hit thr big five-o, Stockport are in serious shit!

League Two Results Saturday, April 16th

Accrington 0 Oxford United 0
Burton Albion 2 Cheltenham 0
Bury 2 Barnet 0
Chesterfield 2 Macclesfield 1
Crewe 1 Lincoln City 1
Gillingham 1 Morecambe 1
Rotherham 0 Hereford 0
Shrewsbury 2 Stockport 0
Stevenage 2 Stockport 0
Torquay 0 Port Vale 0
Wycombe 2 Northampton 2

Bottom League Two