Source: FOOTYMAD
Brown: 'Would have enjoyed playing at Roots Hall in a hostile atmosphere' versus Preston North End
It's a 500-mile round trip for Preston North End & fans to face Southend United in a match that could go on well past ten as a result for the FA Cup first round replay has to be found on the night, all for the pleasure to face Oldham Athletic at home! Brown: 'Roots Hall is never an easy place to go' Preston boss Phil Brown has seen his team go though a dreadful run that has seen a couple of penalty shoot-out wins in the JPT and not very much else in recent weeks. Injuries have not helped the Lilywhite's cause and the Cup is probably a welcome ditracion from the league that has not seen his side gain three points since beating Wycombe away 4-3 on the 27th of September! Brown told www.pnefc.net: "We will set off to to Southend this afternoon and train at West Ham United's training ground on Tuesday morning in preperation for the game tomorrow. Travelling down on the day for four hours ahead of an evening game isn't the ideal way to prepare for a game. We try and prepare the players in the best possible way so they can supply enough energy for each game. That bit of quality seems to be eluding us at the minute. Once we get oer the winning line, and the confidence starts to come back then we will see the quality of play that we showed at the start of the season" The former Hull manager obviously laments the loss of so many first team regulars, especially up front. Brown continued: "Jonathan Forte is cup-tied tomorrow, however his fitness levels are looking better and he is starting to get match fit now. We have a couple of players who have slight niggles heading into the game. We have to consider starting Neil Mellor. There is a possibilty Graham Alexander couldn't be in the starting line-up, whilst Ian Ashbee has a slight concern regarding his knee. Ash gave a good account of himself against Southend last week, so we have got a problem in midfield heading into the cup tie." Finally, Brown spoke of fixtures past when he has stepped on to the hallowed turf in the past, time with Bolton and Hartlepool would have seen him do just that. He said: "Roots Hall is never an easy place to go, I always enjoyed playing there, the crowd are very close to you. I would have enjoyed playing at Roots Hall on a Tuesday night in a hostile atmosphere. I am hoping the players are going to step up to the plate, frustrate the home crowd and show the quality in fron of goal which we missed on Saturday against Rochdale." Not sure how 'hostile' it will be on a chilly night in November Phil, but we will try our best! The S24 Preview: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk Dag & Red 2 Southend 3: http://news.bbc.co.uk Preston 0 Rochdale 1: http://news.bbc.co.uk S24 is looking to build up it's editorial team, why not join us at the Shrimpers fastest growing unofficial site with up to and over 2,000 hits a day currently this month? If you have something to say on the present exciting times at Southend United or an idea for a new poll, then click on the link with your article or contact details and we will get in touch: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
