Source: FOOTYMAD
Sturrock: 'O's a strong team';Slade: 'Blues a big club in League 2'
It's Carling Cup time again at Roots Hall tonight, and both managers from Southend United & Leyton Orient had a say before the first round tie. Sturrock: 'I'm not sure how much of a derby it is'; it is Luggs old boy! Blues boss Paul Sturrock will make some changes tonight to the team that defeated the Bulls last weekend against our friends from the East End, but the canny Scot is certainly not using it a extended training session, the Roots Hall faithful wouldn't allow him if he did, this is Orient after all! Sturrock told www.southendunited.co.uk: "I'm looking forward to this game and I've been told our fans will be as well so of course I want to get in the win. I'm not sure how much of a derby it is but there might be more of an edge to the game and just because I might need to make a few changes that doesn't mean I'm not taking it seriously. We have players with knocks who I have to decide to risk them and there's also Bilel Mohsbi who is observing Ramadan at the moment so we need to check how he's feeling too." We can assure him where the Borient is concerned, it's a derby alright! For now let's let Luggy turn his attention to the O's who surprised everyone last season, especially us here at S24 Towers! Sturrock said: "Orient had a very good season last year and are a strong team. They only just missed out on the play-offs last time around and had a good cup run too, drawing with Arsenal. They lost to Walsall at the weekend which makes them a wounded animal tonight. We're going in to the game full of confidence after beating Hereford though and it would be great to get another good result at home." So where will the Shrimpers finish this season? VOTE HERE: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk Slade: O's boss Russell Slade, a manager we had a good record against when he was down at Brighton, is having to work with the bare bones himself after an injury-hit start to the the season, a start that included a 1-0 defeat to Walsall on Saturday. Slade told www.leytonorient.com: "Another game is exactly what you want. It gets players more time on the pitch and altough we've got a few injuries, whoever gets the shirt has an opportunity to stake a claim in the early stages of the season. We're going to Southend, our neighbours, and it promises to be a good cup tie. Every single game is important to us and from last year we know it's sometimes good to go on a cup run. For our own personal pride too it's important that we make sure we do things properly and start enjoying winning football matches again." Well, maybe not tonight Russell, but for now, he's glad to return the compliments that Luggy gave to his team. Slade said: "Southend are a big club really in League Two and Paul Sturrock's there trying to bring them back in again. He's had to juggle around, bring new faces in and try to galvanise the football club once again. He seems to be doing a good job there and they got off to a good start Saturday."
