Tilson: 'Nineteen more points to stay up!'; Ward: 'Boothroyd has trust in everybody here'

Tilly: 'The chances were there for us' 

Tilly spoke to www.southendunited.co.uk: "I'm pleased with our performance against Colchester, just not the result. The chances were there for us, with Francis Laurent, Scott Spencer and Matt Paterson all having opportunities to score, but we need to put them away."

However, the defence didn't get away with it.

The Southend manager continued: "We also need to cut out the slopiness at the other end too. I think Adam knows he should have done better for the first goal and I'm not sure if the pitch played part in what happened. The second goal was bad marking, which was disappointing, but we played some good stuff and now we need to bounce back against Tranmere."

And talking about the boys from Birkenhead the Shrimpers faithful will be hoping that after the game we've struck off three of the points needed to play League One football again next season.

Tilly explained: "I think we need six more wins and a draw to stay up. We're definitely in a relegation fight and I think we have been for two or three weeks now. It's not been an easy season as we have a small squad and we have been lacking continuity. But the players have showed again that we they have enough fight for the battle ahead."

Ward: 'We've dealt with the managers absence extremely well'

Col U assistant boss John Ward took charge of the home side after head Farmer Aidy Boothroyd missed the match at short notice due to a family illness.

Ward spoke after the game: "We talked at this club about dealing with things and it was something that was thrown on the plate at the very last minute. We've dealt with it extremely well as a group of people and I'm very pleased for him and for this group of players. He has trust in everybody here and hopefully we've proved that trust correct."

He added some word about midfielder Anthony Wordsworth after his brace in the derby game, this following on from the goal he got in the U's win at Roots Hall on Boxing Day.

The former Carlisle manager concluded: "It's smashing for Anthony. He's a young boy learning his trade and he's getting better and stronger. He's come up with a couple of goals that he'll remember and enjoy. He scored with a free-kick at Roots Hall just after Christmas and then two in this game so he'll enjoy that."