Tilly: 'They are a good team with a big budget and will soon push on'
Blues boss Steve Tilson spoke to Blues Player: "Barney has been in great form for us this season and it would have been a real blow if he couldn't play against Southampton. He has scored 10 goals already and hopefully he won't suffer any further reaction to training and will be OK to play."
Blues boss Steve Tilson spoke to Blues Player: "Barney has been in great form for us this season and it would have been a real blow if he couldn't play against Southampton. He has scored 10 goals already and hopefully he won't suffer any further reaction to training and will be OK to play."
Tilly knows his team have to be at their best aginst the Saints even though they remain bottom of the table with only two points due to starting the season with a ten point deduction for entering administration.
He continued: "They are a good team with a big budget and will soon push on. They will be hard to play against and we will need a good performance."
The Roots Hall faithful will be able to give a warm welcome back to Roots Hall to left back Dan Harding whom played 20 games for the Shrimpers after joining on loan from Ipswich Town last season.
Tilly certainly looked to making the deal permanant but: "We couldn't match what Southampton offered Dan. He was weighing up his options and I wish him well there, apart from tonight, when I hope he has a stinker!"
Pardew: 'They have a good striker in Barnard'
Meanwhile, Saints boss Alan Pardew is bringing back rested players from Tuesday's JPT win on penalties at home to Torquay and expecting them to perform.
Pardew told www.saintsfc.co.uk: "We are obviously pleased with the Gillingham performance, (won 4-1), but obviously not so pleased with the Tuesday night game. We got ourselves in a bit of a pickle and some old habits returned to haunt us, but we managed to put it right in the end"
Southampton are still looking for their first away win of the season after three draws and two defeats.
He continued: "It's a difficult place to go, they play on a Friday night for a reason. It is a strategic move to get a better atmosphere and to fill the place up by attracting the people who might want to take in a Saturday game as well."
Actually the Old Bill tells us Alan but anyway, what does he think of his opponents to-night?
Pardew said: "It's a tough game, and one of the toughest away games of the season in my view, but we are in good fettle for it. Their team is strong and they have a good striker in Barnard, who plays in a different style from (Saints striker) Lambert, so it will be a good test for both of them on the night."