Source: FOOTYMAD
'10,000 gates put Bradford City under pressure at home but they have freedom when they play away'
Southend United manager Paul Sturrock knows his side have a good record against the Bantams at Roots Hall but that will mean nothing when the sides clash in the latest fixture Friday evening. Sturrock:The Shrimpers have a fine record to keep up against Bradford City in Friday's League Two game under the lights of Roots Hall where the West Yorkshire club have failed to win in any of their previous 13 visits.And however much Luggy wants to keep that record going, he knows the Bantams will be another neast this evening where victory will get them past that magical 50-point mark in their fight against relegation into the Conference. Sturrock told www.southendunited.co.uk: "It would be nice to extend that but Bradford are a different beast away from home and it will be a difficult test for us. At home they get crowds of 10,000 which can put a lot of pressure on them but they have more freedom when they play away. They also have some very dangerous players who will want to make life hard for us, but we're looking forward to the challenge and we want to carry on our improved home form." After a disastrous run on the hallowed turf earlier this season Luggy is now pleased that things have settled down a touch. Though one win in ten overall is nothing to get excited about, the Shrimpers last lost in south-east Essex on February 5th against Shrewsbury 2-0.Sturrock continued: "Early on in the season we were really struggling at home and that's why we don't have as many points as we would like at this stage. We want to keep it going in the home matches we have left this season and then also take it in to next." Which would be the final two games after this, Stevenage on Good Friday at 15.00, then Burton Albion, that could be important to the Brewers, also at 15.00 on Saturday, April 30th.Both Luggy and Jackson speak:www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/sturrock_were_desperate_for_the_win_jackson_we_are_in_greater_need_of_points_668002/index.shtmlThe S24 Preview:www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/roll/ed61/southend_united_v_bradford_city_667993/index.shtml
