Sturrock: 'We've had real difficulty naming a settled side in recent weeks'
After stopping the rot of three successive defeats with the 1-0 win over Rotherham at the weekend following a fine performance by his team at the weekend Blues boss Paul Sturrock would obviously like to see more of the same.
Sturrock told www.southendunited.co.uk: "It was a good result Saturday and we want another one tonight. We've got some catching up to do in this league to ensure teams above us don't get too far away. The only way we can do that is by winning games and going on a run of results."
However, he appreciates Cheltenham will not be in easy with the Robins lying in the play-off zone at the moment and in a good run of form.
It also doesn't help when half your defence is unavailable.
Sturrock continued: "We've had real difficulty naming a settled side in recent weeks which I think has impacted on results and performances. Gilbert, Barks and the boy Phillips are all out which makes things hard. Graham Coughlan come come in and play alongside Bilel but we have a decision to make at left-back."
Not a great endorsement for Johnny Herd!
Yates: 'Paul (Sturrock) has had plenty of his own problems down there'
Meanwhile, Robins boss Mark Yates can pick his side also on a high after a 4-2 away win at Accrington Stanley last weekend.
Yates told www.ctfc.com: "The players have to keep their feet on the ground and realise what made the performance against Accrington so good. On the whole our performances have been decent and we can take a lot of confidence from Saturday and the chances we created away from home. We have players in the treatment room that would probably get into my team most weeks but those who have stepped in have done a great job."
He turned his thoughts to the match kicking off in a few hours.
Yates continued: "We have a big week now and both the Southend and Morecambe games are massive. We will do what is necessary to be firing on all cylinders. I pick teams that can win games and at home we have been playing with two up front, so my dliemma is whether I can keep that system but we'll see what happens at seven."
And the Shrimpers?
The former Kidderminster manager concluded: "Southend had a great result at the weekend and they have some very good players. All clubs have had their problems and Paul has plenty of his own down there but I know he'll have his players fired up for the game. They are well organised and they play to their strengths so we need to deal with that. They are quite a big club in this division but we'll give anyone a game. It's been a strange league this season but it's working in our favour so far."
For Mark's full statement, including up-to-date injury news, go here:
www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~2203901,00.html