Tilly: 'We don't want to lose M'Voto for six weeks'
Blues boss Steve Tilson knows he's lost one defender in Osei Sankofa but is still not sure he can bring in Sunderland loanee centre half Jean-Yves M'Voto.
Tilly spoke to www.southendunited.co.uk: "I would love to be able to say that Jean will definitely play but we're not sure at this stage. He joined in a bit with training yesterday (Thursday) and will again today and we will see how he reacts. If he gives me the green light he will play but we won't take any risks because we don't want to make it worse and then lose him for six weeks."
As reported yesterday Tilly will play either Anthony Grant or Jean-Francois Christophe in defence if M'Voto fails to recover.
He knows the situation is not ideal against a side that has surprised a few people by finding themselves fifth in League One.
Tilly continued: "They are a good side and we will just have to battle with what we've got. They have two good strikers in Jo Kuffour and Chris Dickson, who was one we were looking at, and they will be a real test for us."
(Dickson has now been reported as 'doubtful', see below, which would be useful!)
Trollope: 'We cannot rest on our laurels'
After such a heavy defeat as the 5-1 result away to Norwich and then a fortnight to mull over it, how is the Rovers manager approaching the trip to south east Essex?
Trollope spoke to the Bristol Evening Post: "We were disappointed the Leeds game was called off, (due to international call-ups from the Yorkshire club), but we thought we could use the time to improve one or two aspects from the defeat. Southend will be the third away game on the bounce and to get six points from a possible nine would set us up nicely for a couple of home games to come."
They certainly don't fear another away game: "We have won four games on the road already this season, so we have a good away record and we can't forget that. It will be a challenge for us but the players have looked sharp in training and we go to Southend in a good mood. We are pleased with how things have been going but we cannot rest on our laurels."