Sturrock: 'We're desperate for the win'; Jackson: 'We are in greater need of points'

Last updated : 15 April 2011 By westfield shrimper

Sturrock: New Shrimpers boss
Sturrock: 'The work-rate was back where we want it to be against Port Vale'

Blues boss Paul Sturrock is hopeful that his skipper Craig Easton will be fit enough to take up his usual position in midfield for the Friday night fixture at Roots Hall against Bradford City.

Sturrock told www.echo-news.co.uk: "Craig Easton is back training with us and it would be a big boost if we could have him back for tomorrow night's game with Bradford City. We will need to see how Craig comes through the sessions before making our mind up but it would be great if he could play because it would allow us to set up in a much better shape. It would also stop people having to play in positions which are alien to them but we will be sensible about Craig and see how he is."

And it would be great to see him back in what should be an interesting fixture, the Bantams still need a win to take them past that magical 50-point mark, while Luggy, fresh from seeing winger Ryan Hall put pen to paper for a further two years, will continue to talk to players about staying on for what he, and the much put upon Shrimpers faithful, hope will be a more serious promotion challenge next time around.

Sturrock continued: "We're very hopeful ahead of the Bradford game though after getting a good draw at Port Vale last weekend. The work-rate was back where we want it to be after we lost our way for a little bit and we will need to match that against Bradford. They're a big club and they will also be looking to get back on track against us after losing 3-0 at home to Torquay last Saturday. We're desperate for the win though and there's still plenty for us to play for as a number of players are out of contract at the end of the season."

All in all, hopefully it should be a decent crowd with some good, open football played on the pitch.

The S24 Preview:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/roll/ed61/
southend_united_v_bradford_city_667993/index.shtml


Ryan stays on:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/
shrimpers_star_signs_on_for_two_more_years_
hopefully_hell_build_on_his_obvious_potential_667921/index.shtml

Jackson: In confident mood
Jackson: 'Feel we need at least one more win to secure our league status'

Meanwhile, Bantams interim boss Peter Jackson is well aware of the importance of the fixture to the team, the fans, and to him personally as the Bradford-born boy who made 278 league appearances for the West Yorkshire club needs to make sure City are playing fourth tier football next season to have a chance of staying in the job.

And the hammering at home to Torquay United last Saturday was not part of the plan, as they remain just six points off the relegation zone with four games over the next eleven days.

Jackson told www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk: "We were all disappointed about last weekend. We came into the match on a real high after the good performance at Macclesfield and then we go and play as we did. it's the sort of inconsistancy which has caused us problems in the past. But we have two games in five days now to make our league position safe. I still feel that we need at least one more win to secure our league status, and it would be nice to do it on Friday."

Well, not nice to us but we get your drift.

Anyway Jacko, what do you think of the Shrimpers and how you're own team will cope with the pressure?

Jackson continued: "It's going to be a tough game, Southend have had a decent season given their financial problems at the start, but I firmly believe we can go there and put on a good performance. I understand any frustrations the fans may have felt after Saturday - if I was in the stands I think I would have been tempted to walk out as well towards the end of the match. You can't get more brutally honest than that. We need to remember that everything is still in our own hands."

Fair enough, and Bradford did win their last game away from Valley Parade 1-0 at Macclesfield.

Jackson said: "The players have the chance now at Southend to make amends for their performance against Torquay and to perform a whole lot better than they did in that game. I want to build on my decent away record since I have come here and I want us to be positive. Out of the two sides, we are in greater need of points and we need to show the hunger down there."

Then the former Huddersfield manager covers himself by bringing up the loss of players, for whatever reason, something we have had to cope with for most of the season in south-east Essex.

He conluded: "We know the squad is stretched to it's limits really at the moment. I felt we had most of our best players playing in their right position against Macclesfield and it showed. Unfortunately that wasn't the case for the Torquay match and perhaps that showed as well. We will be making no excuses about that, however, we will be approaching the game in a positive manner and looking for three points."

Interesting stuff.

However, whatever the injury problems, and don't go there with us please, if the club will not play a decent right-back in Lewis Hunt in his correct position just to escape a contractual clause that they agreed to earlier in the season, then maybe they deserve to sweat just a little bit longer.

Then again it looks as if they have enough points in the bag whatever the result Friday under the lights at the Hall.

A Bantams look at the game:
www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2337545,00.html

Lewis stitched up:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/
no_roots_hall_return_for_bradford_citys_lewis_hunt_667754/index.shtml