Source: FOOTYMAD
Paterson on Southampton FC and Carlisle next up
Blues striker Matt Paterson has showed plenty of promise but knows he has start finding the net on a regular basis if his new club are to keep their League One status. Paterson:Part of the deal that took top scorer Lee Barnard to Southampton, striker Matt Paterson is still finding his feet at Roots Hall while finding himself in the middle of a relegation battle.Paterson told www.skysports.com: "We have got a good bunch of lads, who are all fighting for each other, and we have just been really unlucky in the last few games. Once we get into a rhythm and get that first win I'm sure we will be fine. There are still 11 games to go, so we have got 11 cup finals to look forward to. We need to work as hard as we can for each other and try to get ourselves out of the situation we are in." "Not at all," he said when asked whether he saw the troubles coming when he signed."They were doing well. They lost Lee Barnard in part of the deal with me, their top goalscorer with 17 goals, but as soon as I got here I noticed the quality within the squad. I just feel we have been really unlucky."The former Scotland U19 international has settled well at Roots Hall, despite everything going on around him, and is delighted to have already opened his account for his new employers."It's nice to get the first couple of goals out of the way, hopefully I can get a few more now," he said."I have got a good striker playing alongside me in Scott Vernon, so it's really good."I have got something in my own mind in terms of what I would like to achieve. But keeping the team up is my main target."Paterson set out on the road to professional stardom at Bournemouth, but made the move along the South Coast to Southampton in 2007.DevelopmentHaving graduated through the youth ranks at St Mary's, he was handed a first-team debut in September 2008.He soon began to slip down the pecking order, though, and despite penning a new contract last summer decided the time had come to move on once the Saints made their move for Barnard.Paterson said: "Obviously at Southampton they have got a very good strike force - Rickie Lambert, they have signed Barnard and David Connolly is still there. They are three fantastic strikers. "I felt I just had to develop as a player and Southend could offer me games."The opportunity came around very fast and I just felt that I needed to be playing more games. "I was very grateful for my opportunity there but sometimes you need to make a decision for yourself and hopefully develop somewhere else."Paterson could be forgiven for wondering what he has got himself into, with Southend's short-term future far from secure.He went through a similarly difficult period at Southampton, as they battled and ultimately slipped into administration, but having emerged unscathed from that episode with the Saints, he is confident the same outcome can be achieved at Roots Hall."I obviously went through the situation at Southampton with the administration and that, but that's football," he shrugged."I am just trying to enjoy my football and see what happens."It's not doom and gloom. We have got a good bunch of lads, a good manager and I'm sure we will kick on. We just need to keep moving forward and hopefully keep the club in League One."
