Sturrock: 'This competition starts to get serious around this time'
Blues boss Paul Sturrock has never been to Wembley, and with the final only a possible four matches away, he wouldn't mind getting there this time around.
Sturrock told www.echo-news.co.uk: “This competition starts to get serious around this time and the team we’re picking will reflect that. There will be one or two alterations which I think are needed but there won’t be wholesale changes to the team. I have never taken a team to Wembley before and it would be nice to experience that with Southend. When I was at Sheffield Wednesday we played at the Millennium Stadium in the play-off final but success in cup competitions has always eluded me.”
However, a very good Oxford United side stand in his team's way, as they did only four days ago in the Legue, where Southend were forunate to come out 2-1 winners and keep the points in south-east Essex.
Sturrock continued: “Oxford will be out for revenge against us and we are going to have to bring our best game to beat them. We saw on Saturday that they’re a good side and they will again make things hard for us. However, we’re on a good run and want to keep it going because this is not a competition we belittle.”
Click on the link below for the full preview but certainly Ryan Hall could stay in the side having shaken off his virus, but the returning from suspension Bilel Mohnsi, along with Blair Sturrock and Lee Sawyer, could all be in the starting eleven.
Midfielder Jean-Paul Kalala though will not be travelling with the squad after a family bereavement.
Sturrock said: “We will give JP all the time he needs. He has more important things to worry about than football at this time and all our thoughts are with him at this time.”
The S24 Preview: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Source: FOOTYMAD
