Southend United's Paul Sturrock and Barnet's Paul Fairclough before the game after Torquay United

22 February 2011 13:26
Both Southend United's Paul Sturrock and Barnet's Paul Fairclough have their say before tonight's game, where one is happy with the form of a veteran, the other in the form of his whole side! Sturrock: 'I thought Graham Coughlan was terrific against Torquay' Blues boss Paul Sturrock was still reflecting on last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Torquay before this important clash at different ends of the table for Shrimpers and Bees, the home side just four points outside the play-off clashes.Sturrock spoke to www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk: "A draw was a fair result. We told the players at half-time that if we went out two gears up from what we were playing, we'd win. But some of our players are a bit leggy because we've had so many games. This is a hard place to come, and Torquay had run into a bit of form as well."Let's hope those legs are OK for this evening.But Luggy also wanted to make clear his admiration for two players in particular, Blues Two's boss Graham Coughlan, recalled after a late injury to centre-back Mark Phillips, and the surprisingly much-criticised top scorer Barry Corr! Sturrock continued: "We brought Graham Coughlan back into the defence, and I thought he was terrific - when you think of the work he's doing as a coach and the fact that he hasn't played much, it just showed the quality of the man."As for big Baz: "Sometimes you love him, and sometimes you hate him. He looks dog-tired one minute and fresh as a daisy the next. But he popped up with a goal when it was needed, and 14 goals is good for this standard at this time of the season. He just shows what a good attitude can do for you." try { FB.Event.subscribe('xfbml.render', function() { var fbTags = $('.facebookLike'); for(var i=0; iretweet--> try { FB.Event.subscribe('xfbml.render', function() { var fbTags = $('.facebookLike'); for(var i=0; iretweet-->Fairclough: 'Our recent away form is probably top eight in the league at the moment'Meanwhile, Bees caretaker boss Paul Fairclough was feeling a far more happier manager after his bottom-of-the-table side, who could go out of the relegation zone with a win, grabbed a point at Cheltenham at the weekend after a late Joe Devera header.Fairclough told www.barnetfc.com: "I'm hoping we can continue tonight at Southend like we finished on Saturday. Our recent away form is probably 7th or 8th best in the league at the moment, but we all know we need to turn these draws into victories. Yet at the same time I do not want us to get paranoid about this and leave ourselves exposed at the back. I think we are intellegent enough to go and do that, this team has certainly showed that it knows how to go and play away games."Fair enough Paul but we would still hope that the Shrimpers are in-form enough themselves to see off a side struggling to stay in the league, certainly the 2-0 win at Underhill last month showed that a professional performance by the home side should bring them the three points.Anyway, the Barnet veteran boss has seen it all in his time at the North London club, rescuing them from what looked like hopeless situations more than once, and will get his team in the best possible shape for the Roots Hall encounter.Fairclough concluded: "The last minute goal by Devera could be just what gives us all a tonic as we go into tonight's match. there was a good feeling between the supporters and the players and I expect more of the same this evening. Let's get going!"Let's get going indeed, see you in the Spread!

Source: FOOTYMAD